Rent Calculator
Estimate how much rent you can afford based on your income.
Try an example
$1,500.00/mo
About this calculator
How This Rent Calculator Works
Enter your annual gross income, and the calculator returns a recommended maximum monthly rent using the widely used 30% rule, along with a more conservative and a higher upper-limit range.
Worked Example
On a $60,000 annual income ($5,000/month gross), the recommended rent is up to $1,500/month — with a conservative range around $1,250 and an upper limit of $2,000.
The Formula
Recommended rent = Monthly gross income × 30%. This "30% rule" has its roots in US federal housing policy, which has long used 30% of income as a benchmark for housing being "affordable" — spending meaningfully more is generally considered cost-burdened.
Why This Is a Starting Point, Not a Rule
The right number for you depends on factors this simple percentage can't see — existing debt payments, how much you're saving, whether you have dependents, and your local cost of living. In high-cost cities, many renters spend well above 30% out of necessity; in lower-cost areas, spending less leaves more room for savings. Use this as a sanity check against your full budget, not a hard ceiling — the Budget Calculator can help place rent within your complete monthly picture.
Worked example
On a $60,000 annual income ($5,000/month), the 30% rule recommends a rent of up to $1,500/month, with a conservative range of $1,250 and an upper limit of $2,000.
Frequently asked questions
Why 30% of income?
It's a long-standing rule of thumb for keeping housing costs manageable alongside other expenses, though it's a guideline, not a hard rule — your actual budget depends on debt, savings goals, and cost of living.
Should I use gross or net income?
This calculator uses gross (pre-tax) income, matching how most landlords and rental applications calculate the rent-to-income ratio.
What if my rent needs to be higher than the recommended range?
It's still possible to manage, but it leaves less room in your budget for savings and unexpected expenses — review your full budget before committing.