🏠 Rent Affordability Calculator
Enter your yearly gross income (before tax). You get a comfortable rent budget and the income most landlords expect for a given rent.
How the Rent Affordability Calculator works
The common 30% rule keeps rent at or below 30% of gross monthly income. Many landlords also ask for a yearly income of at least 40 times the monthly rent, which works out to the same 30%.
Step-by-step calculation
- 1Enter your gross yearly income.
- 2Divide by 12 for monthly income.
- 3Multiply by 30% (or your chosen share).
Worked example
With a $60,000 gross income: 60,000 ÷ 12 × 0.30 = $1,500 a month. A $1,500 rent needs about $60,000 of yearly income under the 40x rule.
Rent Affordability Calculator examples
| Gross yearly income ($) | Affordable monthly rent |
|---|---|
| 30,000 | $750 / month |
| 45,000 | $1,125 / month |
| 60,000 | $1,500 / month |
| 75,000 | $1,875 / month |
| 90,000 | $2,250 / month |
Other inputs kept at the calculator's default values. Results calculated by this calculator.
Why use a Rent Affordability Calculator?
Set a rent budget before apartment hunting.
Important factors that can affect your results
- Utilities and renter's insurance.
- High-cost cities often need more than 30%.
- Debt payments leave less room for rent.
Frequently asked questions
Should utilities count?
Many people keep rent plus utilities near 30%. If utilities are not included, aim a little lower than the result.
What if I have big debts?
Then a smaller share, such as 25%, leaves more room for loan payments and savings.
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Last reviewed November 2026 · How we build and check our tools · Report a problem