Can A Pharmacist Afford Rent in Richmond, VA?

Comfortably affordable — rent takes 14.9% of gross income.

Richmond rent: June 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Virginia state estimate).

Richmond median rent
$1,682/mo
Pharmacist salary (Virginia)
$135,405/yr
Rent as % of income
14.9%
Gross monthly income works out to about $11,284, and the 30% rule supports up to $3,385/mo in rent. Richmond's median rent of $1,682 leaves roughly $1,703/mo of headroom under that threshold. A pharmacist works roughly 25.8 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 Virginia cities have lower median rent than Richmond, which improves the affordability math on a pharmacist salary:

Winchester, VA
$1,681/mo (14.9% of income)
Christiansburg, VA
$1,680/mo (14.9% of income)
East Highland Park, VA
$1,680/mo (14.9% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Richmond

View full rent data for Richmond, VA

Frequently asked questions

Can a pharmacist afford rent in Richmond, VA?

Median rent in Richmond is $1,682 a month. A typical pharmacist in Virginia earns about $135,405 a year, which makes that rent 14.9% of gross monthly income. Under the 30% rule, the answer is yes.

How much rent can a pharmacist afford in Richmond?

Using the 30% rule, a pharmacist salary in Virginia (~$135,405/yr) supports up to $3,385 a month in rent. Richmond's current median rent is $1,682/mo, which leaves a $1,703/mo buffer.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $65 an hour, a pharmacist in Virginia works roughly 25.8 hours a month to cover Richmond's median rent of $1,682.

Where is rent cheaper than Richmond for a pharmacist?

Nearby Virginia cities with lower median rent include Winchester ($1,681/mo), Christiansburg ($1,680/mo), East Highland Park ($1,680/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a pharmacist salary.

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