Rent Affordability Calculator
Wondering how much rent you can afford? This free rent affordability calculator checks your income against the classic 30% rule, the 40× landlord rule, and a debt-adjusted figure — then shows you a realistic max rent, updated instantly as you type.
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Enter your income to see how much rent you can afford.
How to use this calculator
Enter your monthly gross income (before taxes) and your monthly debt payments — the minimums you already pay on loans and credit cards. Then use the slider to set the target rent percentage, starting at the classic 30%. The calculator recalculates instantly, showing you three different max-rent figures and a recommended maximum.
Use the recommended max as your starting budget when browsing listings. If your city or lifestyle pushes you toward the top of the slider, the donut chart helps you see exactly what would be left over after rent and debts.
How it works
This calculator applies three well-known rules to your numbers:
- The 30% rule: max rent = gross monthly income × your target percentage. This is the most widely used affordability guideline — at the default 30%, a $5,000 income gives a $1,500 budget. It uses gross income (before tax), so your real spending share of take-home pay will be higher.
- The 40× rule: max rent = (gross monthly income × 12) ÷ 40. This isn't a budgeting rule — it's the income screen many landlords actually use. At $5,000 a month, the 40× rule also gives $1,500, but it doesn't account for debt, and it can be more restrictive than the 30% rule at higher rent percentages.
- The debt-adjusted figure: max rent = (gross income − debt payments) × your target percentage. This is the most conservative of the three: it recognizes that money already committed to debt isn't available for rent.
The recommended max is simply the lower of the 30% rule and the debt-adjusted figure — the stricter of the two budgeting rules. With no debt, all three agree; with debt, the debt-adjusted figure becomes the binding one.
Assumptions (estimates): these are broad rules of thumb, not a lender's or landlord's actual decision. They ignore taxes, local cost of living, utilities, renter's insurance, and your savings goals. Treat the results as a planning estimate — this is general information, not financial advice.
Frequently asked questions
What is the 30% rule for rent?
The 30% rule says you should spend no more than 30% of your gross monthly income on rent. For example, if you earn $5,000 a month before taxes, your rent budget under this rule is $1,500 a month. It's a guideline — some expensive cities make it hard to hit, and some budgets feel tight even below it.
What is the 40x rent rule?
The 40× rule is a common landlord screening guideline: landlords often require your annual income to be at least 40 times the monthly rent. If you earn $60,000 a year, the most rent you'd qualify for under the 40× rule is $1,500 a month ($60,000 ÷ 40). Passing this screen doesn't mean the rent fits your budget — it only checks income, not debt or spending.
How much rent can I afford on $5,000 a month?
Under the 30% rule, you can afford $1,500 a month in rent on a $5,000 monthly income ($5,000 × 0.30). If you have $300 a month in debt payments, the debt-adjusted figure is $1,410 a month (($5,000 − $300) × 0.30), which is the safer number to shop with.
Should I count my debts?
Yes — for a safer number, subtract your minimum monthly debt payments from your income before applying the rent percentage. Debt payments still come out of your paycheck, so ignoring them can leave you overcommitted on rent. This calculator's debt-adjusted figure and recommendation do this automatically.
Is spending 50% of income on rent too much?
It's generally considered a stretch: spending half your income on rent leaves little room for savings, emergencies, or other expenses. It can be workable in very high-cost cities, but it's not a position most financial guidance recommends. This is general information, not financial advice.