Rent-to-Income Ratio Calculator
Check what share of your income goes to rent, whether it clears the 30% rule landlords use, and the most rent you can afford at that threshold.
How it works
Ratio % = monthly rent ÷ gross monthly income × 100 · Max affordable rent = income × 30%
Landlords and lenders widely use the 30% rule: housing costs above about 30% of gross income leave less room for savings, debt and emergencies. Many rental applications require your income to be roughly three times the rent, which is the same 33% test. In expensive metros the practical line drifts to 40%, but crossing it is the official definition of "rent-burdened" used in housing statistics.
Worked example
Rent of $1,500 against $5,000 gross monthly income is 1,500 ÷ 5,000 = 30% — right at the guideline. To stay under 30%, the most you would pay is 5,000 × 0.30 = $1,500, so this apartment is at the ceiling.
Frequently asked questions
Should I use gross or net income?
Landlords screen on gross (pre-tax) income, so this ratio uses gross. For your own budgeting, checking rent against take-home pay is stricter and more realistic.
Why do landlords want 3× the rent?
Income of three times the rent is the same as a 33% rent-to-income ratio. It gives the landlord confidence you can cover rent plus your other living costs.
Is over 30% always a problem?
Not necessarily. In high-cost cities many people spend 35–45% on rent by choice, offsetting it with low transport or childcare costs. The 30% figure is a guideline, not a hard limit.
Related calculators
Educational estimate, not financial advice.