Can A Pharmacist Afford Rent in Roanoke, VA?

Comfortably affordable — rent takes 12.4% of gross income.

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

Roanoke median rent
$1,394/mo
Pharmacist salary (Virginia)
$135,405/yr
Rent as % of income
12.4%
Gross monthly income works out to about $11,284, and the 30% rule supports up to $3,385/mo in rent. Roanoke's median rent of $1,394 leaves roughly $1,991/mo of headroom under that threshold. A pharmacist works roughly 21.4 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 Roanoke, which improves the affordability math on a pharmacist salary:

Waynesboro, VA
$1,392/mo (12.3% of income)
Salem, VA
$1,392/mo (12.3% of income)
Bristol, VA
$1,390/mo (12.3% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Roanoke

View full rent data for Roanoke, VA

Frequently asked questions

Can a pharmacist afford rent in Roanoke, VA?

Median rent in Roanoke is $1,394 a month. A typical pharmacist in Virginia earns about $135,405 a year, which makes that rent 12.4% of gross monthly income. Under the 30% rule, the answer is yes.

How much rent can a pharmacist afford in Roanoke?

Using the 30% rule, a pharmacist salary in Virginia (~$135,405/yr) supports up to $3,385 a month in rent. Roanoke's current median rent is $1,394/mo, which leaves a $1,991/mo buffer.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $65 an hour, a pharmacist in Virginia works roughly 21.4 hours a month to cover Roanoke's median rent of $1,394.

Where is rent cheaper than Roanoke for a pharmacist?

Nearby Virginia cities with lower median rent include Waynesboro ($1,392/mo), Salem ($1,392/mo), Bristol ($1,390/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 Roanoke, VA. Affordability applies the 30% rule (rent ≤ 30% of gross income). Real take-home varies with taxes, household composition, overtime, tips, and benefits.