Can A Pharmacist Afford Rent in Memphis, TN?

Comfortably affordable — rent takes 12.6% of gross income.

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

Memphis median rent
$1,280/mo
Pharmacist salary (Tennessee)
$122,130/yr
Rent as % of income
12.6%
Gross monthly income works out to about $10,178, and the 30% rule supports up to $3,053/mo in rent. Memphis's median rent of $1,280 leaves roughly $1,773/mo of headroom under that threshold. A pharmacist works roughly 21.8 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 Memphis, which improves the affordability math on a pharmacist salary:

Gallatin, TN
$1,279/mo (12.6% of income)
Smyrna, TN
$1,274/mo (12.5% of income)
Jonesborough, TN
$1,274/mo (12.5% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Memphis

View full rent data for Memphis, TN

Frequently asked questions

Can a pharmacist afford rent in Memphis, TN?

Median rent in Memphis is $1,280 a month. A typical pharmacist in Tennessee earns about $122,130 a year, which makes that rent 12.6% of gross monthly income. Under the 30% rule, the answer is yes.

How much rent can a pharmacist afford in Memphis?

Using the 30% rule, a pharmacist salary in Tennessee (~$122,130/yr) supports up to $3,053 a month in rent. Memphis's current median rent is $1,280/mo, which leaves a $1,773/mo buffer.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $59 an hour, a pharmacist in Tennessee works roughly 21.8 hours a month to cover Memphis's median rent of $1,280.

Where is rent cheaper than Memphis for a pharmacist?

Nearby Tennessee cities with lower median rent include Gallatin ($1,279/mo), Smyrna ($1,274/mo), Jonesborough ($1,274/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 Memphis, TN. Affordability applies the 30% rule (rent ≤ 30% of gross income). Real take-home varies with taxes, household composition, overtime, tips, and benefits.