Rent Affordability Calculator

How much rent can you afford? Start with your income, then try an apartment's rent.

Your Income

Enter your pay before taxes and deductions.

$5,000 per month before tax.

Have loans, bills, or a savings goal?

Monthly rent guideline

$1,500/ month

30% of your income, before housing bills. A 25% target would be $1,250.

Can I afford this apartment?

Enter its monthly rent, or slide to explore.

$0$2,400
Right at the 30% guideline

Compared with 30% of your before-tax income, including any housing bills entered. Your actual budget may differ.

A starting point for your search. Your take-home pay and expenses determine what fits.

Updates as you type. No signup required.How this is calculated

Two ways to find your number

Quick estimate takes 30% of your monthly income before tax, then subtracts any housing bills you add. Hourly pay assumes your weekly hours continue for 52 weeks. The 25% figure is a lower comparison point.

My actual budget starts with take-home pay and subtracts your other spending, savings, and housing bills. What remains is available for rent. Include all your costs: an omitted bill makes the result too high.

These are planning estimates, not rental approval criteria. Sources: HUD's affordability definition and CFPB's monthly budget worksheet.

Start with your income

A few common starting points. Every amount is editable.

$18 an hour$20 an hour$22 an hour$25 an hour$60,000 a year$70,000 a year

A few things worth knowing

How much rent can I afford?

Thirty percent of gross monthly income is a common housing-cost guideline, not a personal guarantee. Use the quick estimate as a starting point, then check your take-home pay, spending, and savings in My actual budget.

Should I use gross or take-home pay?

Quick estimate uses gross income: your pay before taxes and deductions. My actual budget uses take-home pay: the money that reaches your account. It subtracts the spending, savings, and housing bills you enter to show what remains for rent.

Does the 30% guideline include utilities?

Yes. HUD includes utilities in housing costs. Add any housing bills you pay separately from rent, and the calculator subtracts them from the housing allowance. Do not add utilities again if they are already included in your rent.

What about the rest of your budget?

Work backward from your expenses to the salary you need.

Try the living wage calculator →