How Much Rent Can I Afford?
Enter income for the selected period to compare monthly, weekly, 4-week, and annual rent targets at income-share percentages. The result is a reference point, not a personal affordability decision.
Enter your income for the selected period. Currency symbols, commas, and decimals are accepted.
Based on the income amount and period selected above.
These are income-share estimates. Actual affordability depends on your full budget.
How this calculator worksHow much rent can I afford?
Use income, target rent, and rent-to-income rules as a starting point for a realistic rent budget. The useful question is not only the maximum number, but what the rent leaves behind for everything else.
What this calculation clarifies
- 1Income rules are shortcuts, not approvals
A 30% rule, 2.5x rent rule, or 3x rent rule can screen a rental budget quickly, but landlords and personal budgets can use different standards.
- 2Rent is only one housing cost
Utilities, renters insurance, parking, deposits, moving costs, debt payments, and savings goals can all change what feels affordable.
- 3Gross and take-home income tell different stories
Gross income is useful for common qualification rules. Take-home income is often better for monthly cash-flow planning.
Worked examples
$60,000 per year gives a rough rent target of $1,500 per month at 30% of gross income. That still needs to be checked against take-home pay and bills.
For $1,800 rent, a 3x rule points to about $5,400 monthly income, or $64,800 per year. Some landlords may calculate this before tax.
A rent that looks fine against salary can feel tight if take-home pay is lower because of taxes, benefits, debt, or irregular hours.
Useful context
- Use the result as a planning number before you apply, not as a guarantee of approval.
- If you are comparing rent to paychecks, the paycheck calculator may be more practical than an annual salary rule.
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When affordability context helps
- Setting a rent cap before touring or applying.
- Comparing a rent number with salary, monthly income, or take-home pay.
- Understanding whether rent leaves enough room for bills, savings, and debt.
Check before relying on it
- This is not a landlord approval decision, legal advice, or a full household budget.
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Frequently Asked Questions
These answers explain how rent targets are estimated from income and why actual affordability can differ.