Can A Pharmacist Afford Rent in Stafford, VA?

Comfortably affordable — rent takes 22.6% of gross income.

Stafford rent: July 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Virginia state estimate).

Stafford median rent
$2,549/mo
Pharmacist salary (Virginia)
$135,405/yr
Rent as % of income
22.6%
Gross monthly income works out to about $11,284, and the 30% rule supports up to $3,385/mo in rent. Stafford's median rent of $2,549 leaves roughly $836/mo of headroom under that threshold. A pharmacist works roughly 39.2 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 Stafford, which improves the affordability math on a pharmacist salary:

Reston, VA
$2,548/mo (22.6% of income)
Dumfries, VA
$2,542/mo (22.5% of income)
Dumfries, VA
$2,539/mo (22.5% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Stafford

View full rent data for Stafford, VA

Frequently asked questions

Can a pharmacist afford rent in Stafford, VA?

Median rent in Stafford is $2,549 a month. A typical pharmacist in Virginia earns about $135,405 a year, which makes that rent 22.6% of gross monthly income. Under the 30% rule, the answer is yes.

How much rent can a pharmacist afford in Stafford?

Using the 30% rule, a pharmacist salary in Virginia (~$135,405/yr) supports up to $3,385 a month in rent. Stafford's current median rent is $2,549/mo, which leaves a $836/mo buffer.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $65 an hour, a pharmacist in Virginia works roughly 39.2 hours a month to cover Stafford's median rent of $2,549.

Where is rent cheaper than Stafford for a pharmacist?

Nearby Virginia cities with lower median rent include Reston ($2,548/mo), Dumfries ($2,542/mo), Dumfries ($2,539/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 Stafford, VA. Affordability applies the 30% rule (rent ≤ 30% of gross income). Real take-home varies with taxes, household composition, overtime, tips, and benefits.