Free Rent Affordability Calculator

See how much rent you can afford.

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What is the Rent Affordability Calculator?

Before you fall for an apartment, it helps to know your ceiling. The old rule of thumb — spend no more than 30% of your income on rent — is a fast way to set that ceiling, and this calculator does the maths from your income in one step.

It runs in your browser and lets you adjust the percentage to fit your real budget.

Last updated: Aug 30, 2026

What does this tool do?

Enter your income (annual or monthly) and the share you want to spend on rent, and it shows a recommended maximum monthly rent. It defaults to the 30% rule but you can dial it up or down — lower if you carry other debts or want to save more, higher only if the rest of your budget is very light.

It's a quick sanity check to keep your rent in proportion to what you earn.

Key features

Max rent figure

A recommended monthly ceiling.

30% rule default

The common guideline, built in.

Adjustable share

Set 25%, 35% or your own.

Annual or monthly

Enter income either way.

Instant

Updates as you type.

Example

Input

$60,000 a year at the 30% guideline.

Processing

It takes 30% of $5,000 monthly income.

Output

About $1,500 a month as a suggested max.

Common use cases

Renters — Set a budget before you search.
First-time movers — Learn what's realistic.
Roommates — Work out each person's share.
Relocators — Gauge affordability in a new city.
Budgeters — Keep housing in proportion.
Anyone — Answer 'how much rent can I afford?'

Benefits

A fast, sensible rent ceiling.
Adjust the rule to your situation.
Works from annual or monthly income.
Free and private.

Tips

Base it on gross income to match how landlords screen — many want income around 3× the rent.
If you have significant debt payments, use 25% rather than 30% to leave room.
Remember rent isn't the whole housing cost — add utilities, renters' insurance and parking.
In expensive cities, some spend more than 30%, but that squeezes savings and flexibility.
Leave margin for rent increases at renewal, not just today's price.

Common mistakes to avoid

Maxing out the ceiling

Fix: The figure is a maximum, not a target — spending under it leaves room for savings and surprises.

Ignoring utilities and extras

Fix: Add utilities, insurance and parking to see true housing cost.

Using take-home to match a 3× rule

Fix: Landlords usually screen on gross income; use gross for an apples-to-apples check.

Forgetting other debts

Fix: With loans or cards, drop the share to 25% so the budget still works.

How it works

1
Enter your income
Annual or monthly, before tax.
2
Set the percentage
30% by default, adjustable.
3
See your max rent
A recommended monthly ceiling.

Frequently asked questions

A common guideline is to keep rent at or below 30% of your gross income. Enter your income and adjust the percentage for your budget and other debts.

The rule of thumb that housing should cost no more than 30% of gross income. It's a starting point, not a hard limit — a tight budget may call for less.

Many require your gross income to be about 3× the monthly rent, which is roughly the same as the 30% guideline.

A common guideline is rent at or below 30% of gross income. Enter your income and adjust the percentage for your budget and other debts.

The rule of thumb that housing should cost no more than 30% of gross income — a starting point, not a hard limit.

Many require gross income of about 3× the monthly rent, which is roughly the same as the 30% guideline.

Yes — free, no sign-up.

Conclusion

Set a sensible rent ceiling from your income with the 30% rule, adjustable to your real budget. Treat it as a maximum rather than a target, add utilities and insurance to the picture, and drop the share if other debts are eating into your month.