Can A Pharmacist Afford Rent in Bellingham, WA?

Comfortably affordable — rent takes 15.9% of gross income.

Bellingham rent: June 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Washington state estimate).

Bellingham median rent
$1,976/mo
Pharmacist salary (Washington)
$148,680/yr
Rent as % of income
15.9%
Gross monthly income works out to about $12,390, and the 30% rule supports up to $3,717/mo in rent. Bellingham's median rent of $1,976 leaves roughly $1,741/mo of headroom under that threshold. A pharmacist works roughly 27.6 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 Washington cities have lower median rent than Bellingham, which improves the affordability math on a pharmacist salary:

Ferndale, WA
$1,971/mo (15.9% of income)
Shoreline, WA
$1,971/mo (15.9% of income)
Port Orchard, WA
$1,971/mo (15.9% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Bellingham

View full rent data for Bellingham, WA

Frequently asked questions

Can a pharmacist afford rent in Bellingham, WA?

Median rent in Bellingham is $1,976 a month. A typical pharmacist in Washington earns about $148,680 a year, which makes that rent 15.9% of gross monthly income. Under the 30% rule, the answer is yes.

How much rent can a pharmacist afford in Bellingham?

Using the 30% rule, a pharmacist salary in Washington (~$148,680/yr) supports up to $3,717 a month in rent. Bellingham's current median rent is $1,976/mo, which leaves a $1,741/mo buffer.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $71 an hour, a pharmacist in Washington works roughly 27.6 hours a month to cover Bellingham's median rent of $1,976.

Where is rent cheaper than Bellingham for a pharmacist?

Nearby Washington cities with lower median rent include Ferndale ($1,971/mo), Shoreline ($1,971/mo), Port Orchard ($1,971/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a pharmacist salary.

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