Rent Affordability Calculator
How much rent you can realistically afford.
Enter your values
Enter the gross annual income in $.
Enter the monthly debt payments in $.
Enter the share of income for rent in %.
Results update instantly as you type — no submit needed. Your values are remembered on this device, and the shareable link reopens the calculator with exactly these numbers.
- Maximum monthly rent
- $1,800.00
- Conservative target (after debts)
- $1,575.00
- Income landlords usually require
- $72,000.00 per year
- Rent-to-income ratio at max
- 30%
- Left for everything else
- $3,750.00
Working
- 1Max rent = ($72,000.00 ÷ 12) × 30% = $1,800.00
Quick answer
The standard guideline caps rent at 30% of gross income, and most landlords want annual income of at least 40× the monthly rent.
Max rent = gross monthly income × 0.30
At a glance
| What it does | How much rent you can realistically afford. |
|---|---|
| Category | Real Estate |
| Inputs needed | Gross annual income, Monthly debt payments, Share of income for rent |
| Main output | Maximum monthly rent |
| Formula | Max rent = gross monthly income × 0.30 |
| Cost | Free — no sign-up, no download |
How to use the Rent Affordability Calculator
- 1Enter your gross annual income before tax.
- 2Add your monthly debt payments.
- 3Adjust the percentage if you want to be stricter.
Inputs explained
- Gross annual income($)
- Enter the gross annual income in $.
- Monthly debt payments($)
- Enter the monthly debt payments in $.
- Share of income for rent(%)
- Enter the share of income for rent in %.
Worked example
Using the values the calculator loads with:
Inputs
- Gross annual income72000 $
- Monthly debt payments450 $
- Share of income for rent30 %
Results
- Maximum monthly rent$1,800.00
- Conservative target (after debts)$1,575.00
- Income landlords usually require$72,000.00 per year
- Rent-to-income ratio at max30%
- Left for everything else$3,750.00
- Max rent = ($72,000.00 ÷ 12) × 30% = $1,800.00
Frequently asked questions
Is the 30% rule outdated?
In high-cost cities many renters pay 40–50%, but above 30% you're formally 'rent burdened' and saving becomes very hard.
Do landlords use gross or net income?
Almost always gross — typically requiring 40× the monthly rent in annual gross income.
What do I need to enter into the Rent Affordability Calculator?
Just 3 values: gross annual income, monthly debt payments, share of income for rent. Every field starts with a realistic example, so you can change one number at a time and watch the result update instantly.
How does the Rent Affordability Calculator work out the answer?
The standard guideline caps rent at 30% of gross income, and most landlords want annual income of at least 40× the monthly rent. It applies the formula Max rent = gross monthly income × 0.30 and shows the working so you can check each step by hand.
Is the Rent Affordability Calculator free, and do I need an account?
It is completely free with no sign-up, no download and no usage limit. Everything is calculated in your browser, so the numbers you type never leave your device.
Results are estimates for general information. For medical, legal, structural or financial decisions, confirm with a qualified professional.