Free tool
Rent affordability calculator
Compare a common rent-to-income guideline with your actual monthly budget. See which limit matters and what remains after the costs you enter.
Monthly income
Monthly commitments
Use stable monthly averages. Add groceries, transportation, insurance, childcare, and other required spending under non-housing essentials.
Planning ceiling
$1,750/month
Your entered monthly budget is the lower limit. This equals 25% of gross monthly income.
30% income guideline
$2,100
Personal cash-flow limit
$1,750
$0 remains beyond your entered savings goal
At the planning ceiling, after the monthly costs entered here. Irregular and omitted expenses are not included.
A starting point, not financial advice or rental approval. Landlords may use different income requirements, and your actual costs can change.
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Income rules are only half the picture
A percentage guideline is quick, but two households with the same income can have very different room for rent. Comparing gross income with take-home cash flow exposes that difference without pretending one rule fits every renter.
Common questions
How much rent can I afford?
A common starting point is to keep rent near 30% of gross household income, but that guideline does not account for debt, taxes, childcare, transportation, savings, or other personal costs. This calculator compares the income guideline with the money actually left in your monthly budget.
Should rent be based on gross or take-home income?
Rent-to-income guidelines and landlord qualification rules often use gross income before tax. Your personal budget is better tested against take-home pay because that is the money available to cover rent and other monthly costs. This calculator shows both views.
What should I include as non-housing essentials?
Include recurring needs such as groceries, transportation, insurance, childcare, medical costs, phone service, and minimum household spending. Do not include rent or utilities because they have separate fields.
Does this result mean I will be approved?
No. Each landlord may use different income, credit, guarantor, or screening criteria. The result is a personal planning estimate and does not guarantee approval or that a particular rent will remain comfortable.
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