Rent Affordability Calculator
Find how much rent you can afford on your income using the 30% rule and a stricter 28% housing ratio — plus the income a given rent needs.
How it works
Max rent = gross monthly income × 30% (or 28%) · Income needed = rent × 12 ÷ 30%
The classic guideline is to keep rent at or under 30% of gross (pre-tax) monthly income; a stricter 28% leaves more room for everything else. Because existing debt eats into your budget, a back-end check caps total debt plus housing near 36% of income — subtracting your other payments shows what is realistically left for rent. Many landlords screen the other direction, requiring gross income around three times the monthly rent.
Worked example
On $60,000 a year — $5,000 a month — the 30% rule suggests about $1,500 in rent, and 28% suggests $1,400. With $300 of other monthly debt, the 36% back-end check leaves about $1,500. To rent a $1,800 apartment, you would typically need around $72,000 in gross income.
Frequently asked questions
Is the 30% rule before or after tax?
It uses gross, pre-tax income — the same figure landlords screen against. Since you actually live on take-home pay, budgeting closer to 25%–28% of gross often feels more comfortable once taxes and other costs are counted.
What if rent is more than 30% where I live?
In expensive cities that is common. You can make it work by trimming other spending, adding a roommate, or accepting a smaller savings rate — just go in with eyes open, since rent above about 35%–40% squeezes everything else.
Do landlords really require 3× the rent?
Many do — a gross income of roughly three times the monthly rent (which mirrors the 30% rule) is a widespread screening standard. Some accept a co-signer, extra deposit or proof of savings if you fall short.
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This is an educational estimate, not financial or tax advice. Confirm figures with a professional.