Can A Pharmacist Afford Rent in Portsmouth, VA?
Comfortably affordable — rent takes 14.2% of gross income.
Portsmouth rent: July 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Virginia state estimate).
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 Virginia cities have lower median rent than Portsmouth, which improves the affordability math on a pharmacist salary:
Compare with full rent data for Portsmouth
View full rent data for Portsmouth, VA →Frequently asked questions
Can a pharmacist afford rent in Portsmouth, VA?
Median rent in Portsmouth is $1,599 a month. A typical pharmacist in Virginia earns about $135,405 a year, which makes that rent 14.2% of gross monthly income. Under the 30% rule, the answer is yes.
How much rent can a pharmacist afford in Portsmouth?
Using the 30% rule, a pharmacist salary in Virginia (~$135,405/yr) supports up to $3,385 a month in rent. Portsmouth's current median rent is $1,599/mo, which leaves a $1,786/mo buffer.
How many hours does a pharmacist work to cover rent in Portsmouth?
At an hourly equivalent of about $65 an hour, a pharmacist in Virginia works roughly 24.6 hours a month to cover Portsmouth's median rent of $1,599.
Where is rent cheaper than Portsmouth for a pharmacist?
Nearby Virginia cities with lower median rent include Highland Springs ($1,598/mo), Newport News ($1,596/mo), Powhatan ($1,595/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a pharmacist salary.