Can A Physical Therapist Afford Rent in Torrance, CA?

Stretched but workable — rent takes 30.6% of gross income.

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

Torrance median rent
$2,997/mo
Physical Therapist salary (California)
$117,658/yr
Rent as % of income
30.6%
Gross monthly income works out to about $9,805, and the 30% rule supports up to $2,941/mo in rent. Torrance's median rent of $2,997 exceeds that threshold by $56/mo, putting a physical therapist salary into the rent-burdened range here. A physical therapist works roughly 53 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 Torrance, which improves the affordability math on a physical therapist salary:

Costa Mesa, CA
$2,996/mo (30.6% of income)
Berkeley, CA
$2,996/mo (30.6% of income)
Oxnard, CA
$2,996/mo (30.6% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Torrance

View full rent data for Torrance, CA

Frequently asked questions

Can a physical therapist afford rent in Torrance, CA?

Median rent in Torrance is $2,997 a month. A typical physical therapist in California earns about $117,658 a year, which makes that rent 30.6% of gross monthly income. Under the 30% rule, the answer is no — rent exceeds the 30% threshold.

How much rent can a physical therapist afford in Torrance?

Using the 30% rule, a physical therapist salary in California (~$117,658/yr) supports up to $2,941 a month in rent. Torrance's current median rent is $2,997/mo, which is $56/mo over the affordability threshold.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $57 an hour, a physical therapist in California works roughly 53 hours a month to cover Torrance's median rent of $2,997.

Where is rent cheaper than Torrance for a physical therapist?

Nearby California cities with lower median rent include Costa Mesa ($2,996/mo), Berkeley ($2,996/mo), Oxnard ($2,996/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 Torrance, CA. Affordability applies the 30% rule (rent ≤ 30% of gross income). Real take-home varies with taxes, household composition, overtime, tips, and benefits.