Can A Physical Therapist Afford Rent in Arcata, CA?

Comfortably affordable — rent takes 16.5% of gross income.

Arcata rent: June 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (California state estimate).

Arcata median rent
$1,615/mo
Physical Therapist salary (California)
$117,658/yr
Rent as % of income
16.5%
Gross monthly income works out to about $9,805, and the 30% rule supports up to $2,941/mo in rent. Arcata's median rent of $1,615 leaves roughly $1,326/mo of headroom under that threshold. A physical therapist works roughly 28.6 hours a month to cover that rent.

About rent and a physical therapist salary

Physical therapist pay covers comfortable rent across most US metros. At the national-average PT salary, the 30% rule supports about $2,493 a month in rent, which is above the median in most cities tracked here.

Cheaper rent nearby

These California cities have lower median rent than Arcata, which improves the affordability math on a physical therapist salary:

Paradise, CA
$1,614/mo (16.5% of income)
Marysville, CA
$1,612/mo (16.4% of income)
Placerville, CA
$1,611/mo (16.4% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Arcata

View full rent data for Arcata, CA

Frequently asked questions

Can a physical therapist afford rent in Arcata, CA?

Median rent in Arcata is $1,615 a month. A typical physical therapist in California earns about $117,658 a year, which makes that rent 16.5% of gross monthly income. Under the 30% rule, the answer is yes.

How much rent can a physical therapist afford in Arcata?

Using the 30% rule, a physical therapist salary in California (~$117,658/yr) supports up to $2,941 a month in rent. Arcata's current median rent is $1,615/mo, which leaves a $1,326/mo buffer.

How many hours does a physical therapist work to cover rent in Arcata?

At an hourly equivalent of about $57 an hour, a physical therapist in California works roughly 28.6 hours a month to cover Arcata's median rent of $1,615.

Where is rent cheaper than Arcata for a physical therapist?

Nearby California cities with lower median rent include Paradise ($1,614/mo), Marysville ($1,612/mo), Placerville ($1,611/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a physical therapist salary.

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