Rent Affordability Calculator
Find the rent you can genuinely afford using the 30% rule, the stricter 25% budget, and the 40x-income test landlords apply.
Max rent (30% rule)
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Conservative budget (25%) —
After debts (30% of income − debts) —
Income needed for this rent (40x) —
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How it works
30% rule: rent ≤ gross monthly income × 0.30; landlord test: annual income ≥ 40 × rentFrequently Asked Questions
How much rent can I afford on my salary?
The classic guideline caps rent at 30% of gross monthly income: on $60,000/year that is $1,500/month. Landlords in competitive markets often require annual income of 40× the rent, which works out to the same threshold.
Is the 30% rule still realistic?
In expensive cities many renters exceed it, but crossing 30% is officially 'cost-burdened' — it crowds out saving. If you have heavy debt payments, the 25% figure shown here is a safer ceiling.
Do landlords look at gross or net income?
Gross — the 40× test uses pre-tax annual income. Your own budget should sanity-check the rent against take-home pay, which is why this calculator shows both views.