Can A Pharmacist Afford Rent in Columbia, TN?

Comfortably affordable — rent takes 15.5% of gross income.

Columbia rent: June 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Tennessee state estimate).

Columbia median rent
$1,580/mo
Pharmacist salary (Tennessee)
$122,130/yr
Rent as % of income
15.5%
Gross monthly income works out to about $10,178, and the 30% rule supports up to $3,053/mo in rent. Columbia's median rent of $1,580 leaves roughly $1,473/mo of headroom under that threshold. A pharmacist works roughly 26.9 hours a month to cover that rent.

About rent and a pharmacist salary

Pharmacist pay covers comfortable rent in nearly every US city. At the national-average pharmacist salary, the 30% rule supports about $3,319 a month in rent — above median rent in all but a handful of high-cost coastal metros.

Cheaper rent nearby

These Tennessee cities have lower median rent than Columbia, which improves the affordability math on a pharmacist salary:

Millington, TN
$1,579/mo (15.5% of income)
Louisville, TN
$1,579/mo (15.5% of income)
Springfield, TN
$1,579/mo (15.5% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Columbia

View full rent data for Columbia, TN

Frequently asked questions

Can a pharmacist afford rent in Columbia, TN?

Median rent in Columbia is $1,580 a month. A typical pharmacist in Tennessee earns about $122,130 a year, which makes that rent 15.5% of gross monthly income. Under the 30% rule, the answer is yes.

How much rent can a pharmacist afford in Columbia?

Using the 30% rule, a pharmacist salary in Tennessee (~$122,130/yr) supports up to $3,053 a month in rent. Columbia's current median rent is $1,580/mo, which leaves a $1,473/mo buffer.

How many hours does a pharmacist work to cover rent in Columbia?

At an hourly equivalent of about $59 an hour, a pharmacist in Tennessee works roughly 26.9 hours a month to cover Columbia's median rent of $1,580.

Where is rent cheaper than Columbia for a pharmacist?

Nearby Tennessee cities with lower median rent include Millington ($1,579/mo), Louisville ($1,579/mo), Springfield ($1,579/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a pharmacist salary.

Methodology: Salary uses the BLS-derived Tennessee state estimate from OEWS May 2024. Rent is the most recent ZORI monthly value for Columbia, TN. Affordability applies the 30% rule (rent ≤ 30% of gross income). Real take-home varies with taxes, household composition, overtime, tips, and benefits.