Rent Affordability Calculator
Find out how much rent fits your budget. Enter your income and the share you want to spend on housing to see your maximum monthly rent, what you'll have left, and what landlords using the 40× rule will approve.
Rent you can afford
1,500
Check the highlighted fields to see your result.
- Left after rent
- 3,500
- Rent per year
- 18,000
- Max rent by 40× rule
- 1,500
Results are estimates for information only and do not constitute financial, medical, or legal advice.
How it works
The calculator turns your income into a monthly amount and multiplies it by the share you choose for rent. The common guideline is 30% of your gross income. It also shows the maximum rent under the 40× rule that many landlords use to approve tenants.
The formulas
Max rent = monthly income × 30%
40× rule: max rent = yearly income ÷ 40
Worked example
You earn $60,000 a year before taxes.
- Monthly income: $60,000 ÷ 12 = $5,000.
- 30% rule: $5,000 × 0.30 = $1,500 a month.
- 40× rule: $60,000 ÷ 40 = $1,500, so both rules agree here.
Frequently asked questions
Where does the 30% rule come from?
US housing programs have long used 30% of income as the line for affordable housing. Households that spend more than that are called "cost-burdened." It's a guideline, not a law, and it may be too high or too low for your situation.
What is the 40× rent rule?
Many landlords, especially in big US cities, ask that your yearly income be at least 40 times the monthly rent. With $60,000 a year, that's a maximum rent of $1,500. If you don't qualify, some landlords accept a guarantor.
Should I use my gross or take-home income?
The 30% rule and the 40× rule use gross income, before taxes. If you have large debts or high costs like childcare, try a lower percentage, such as 25%, or work from your take-home pay to be safe.
Does rent include utilities?
Usually not. Budget separately for electricity, gas, water, internet, and renter's insurance, or lower the percentage so they fit within the same share of your income.