Rent Affordability Calculator
Compare rent by a percent-of-income rule you set with rent left in your monthly budget after debts, essentials, savings and utilities, and the income a rent needs.
Interactive calculator · Method RENT-AFFORDABILITY-1.0 · Last reviewed: 2026-11-04
Calculate your scenario
Rent by rule = monthly income × rule %.
Your inputs
Default worked example. Edit the inputs to calculate your scenario.
Default worked example
Rule: $5,000.00 × 30% = $1,500.00; budget: $5,000.00 − $2,300.00 = $2,700.00; the lower is $1,500.00 a month.
How to use the calculator
Choose gross or take-home income and enter it monthly, then your debt payments, other essential spending, savings goal and expected utilities. Set the rule percent you want to use and a rent you are considering.
What the result means
On $5,000 a month, a 30% rule allows $1,500 and the budget after $2,300 of other costs leaves $2,700, so the rule sets the $1,500 limit; an $1,800 rent needs $6,000 a month at 30%.
Formula and units
Rent by rule = monthly income × rule %. Rent by budget = income − debt payments − essential spending − savings goal − utilities (never below zero). Budget limit = the lower of the two; annual rent = limit × 12. Income needed for a rent = rent ÷ rule %. Budget left after your rent = income − all entered costs − that rent.
Worked examples
$5,000 gross a month with a 30% rule: Monthly income: 5000 $/month; Monthly debt payments: 400 $/month; Other essential spending (food, transport, insurance, care): 1200 $/month; Monthly savings goal: 500 $/month; Utilities estimate: 200 $/month; Rent rule, percent of income (example 30%): 30 %; A rent you are considering: 1800 $/month; Income entered as: gross.
Example result: Budget limit (lower of rule and budget): $1,500.00; Rent by your rule: $1,500.00; Rent left in your budget: $2,700.00; Annual rent at the budget limit: $18,000.00; Income needed for your rent at the rule: $6,000.00 gross a month; Budget left after your rent: $900.00.
$3,800 take-home with a 35% rule and tight budget: Monthly income: 3800 $/month; Monthly debt payments: 300 $/month; Other essential spending (food, transport, insurance, care): 1300 $/month; Monthly savings goal: 400 $/month; Utilities estimate: 150 $/month; Rent rule, percent of income (example 30%): 35 %; A rent you are considering: 1400 $/month; Income entered as: net.
Example result: Budget limit (lower of rule and budget): $1,330.00; Rent by your rule: $1,330.00; Rent left in your budget: $1,650.00; Annual rent at the budget limit: $15,960.00; Income needed for your rent at the rule: $4,000.00 net a month; Budget left after your rent: $250.00.
Limitations and common mistakes
An illustration from your own numbers, not financial advice or a landlord’s income test; landlords and programs use their own ratios and may count gross income only. The 30% rule is an example to change. Renter’s insurance, deposits, moving costs, parking and irregular expenses are only counted if you include them above.
Applying a rent rule to gross income and then paying from take-home pay can leave less room than expected; check the budget figure, not just the rule.
Sources and assumptions
Method RENT-AFFORDABILITY-1.0; last formula review 2026-11-04. Sources and their supported claims. Calculation methodology.