Household money / Renting
Rent Affordability Calculator: How Much Rent Can I Afford?
Find a comfortable monthly rent from your income with the common rules side by side: 30% of gross income, the landlords' 40 times rule, a 36% limit that counts your debt payments, and 25% of take-home pay.
Rent Affordability Calculator: How Much Rent Can I Afford?: On a gross income of 60,000 a year, 30% is 1,500 a month, the same as the 40 times rule (60,000 ÷ 40). With 400 of monthly debt payments, the 36% limit leaves 1,400 for rent, and 25% of a 3,900 take-home pay is 975. The range runs from the strictest limit to the loosest: 975 to 1,500. Runs 100% locally in your browser with zero server file uploads.
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The best-known guide is to spend no more than 30% of your gross income on rent; many landlords ask for a yearly income of 40 times the monthly rent, which is the same limit. Counting debts, lenders like housing and debt payments together to stay within about 36% of gross income. Basing the rent on 25% of take-home pay leaves the most room for saving. Rent here means rent alone; add utilities if your rent does not include them.
Example
Someone earning 48,000 a year with no debts can afford about 1,200 a month by the 30% rule and 1,440 by the 36% limit; with 500 of car and card payments, the 36% limit falls to 940.
Renting or buying
To compare the cost of renting with buying over the years, use the rent vs buy calculator.
How to use it
- Enter your yearly income before tax.
- Add your monthly take-home pay and debt payments.
- Read the rent range and each rule's limit.
Privacy & limitations
Everything is calculated in your browser.
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Frequently asked questions
Is the 30% rule realistic?
In expensive cities many people pay more, but going above it leaves less for saving and emergencies; on a low income, even 30% can be too much once essentials are paid.
What is the 40 times rule?
Many US landlords require a yearly gross income of at least 40 times the monthly rent, which is the same as rent being 30% of income.
Should utilities be included?
If they are not in the rent, add your expected utilities to the rent before comparing it with the limits.
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