Rent Affordability Calculator: How Much Rent Can I Afford?
Enter your salary, monthly pay, or hourly wage to see the rent your income supports under the 30% rule, the landlord 3x rent rule, 2.5x, and a 50/30/20 budget. Free, instant, no signup.
Landlord or property manager? Use the rent-to-income calculator to see the income standard for a given rent.
How to figure out how much rent you can afford
Start with your gross monthly income: your pay before taxes and deductions. Divide a yearly salary by 12, or for hourly pay multiply your wage by weekly hours and 52, then divide by 12. Then apply one of the rules below. Each gives a slightly different answer, which is why the calculator shows all of them side by side along with a comfortable range.
The common rent rules
- The 30% rule. Spend no more than about 30% of gross monthly income on rent. On $5,000 a month, that is $1,500. It is the classic budgeting guideline and a reasonable default.
- The 3x rent rule. Many landlords look for gross monthly income of at least three times the rent. Flip it around and your max rent is income divided by 3, or about 33% of gross. On $5,000 a month, that is about $1,667.
- The 2.5x rule. Some landlords, especially in high-rent markets, use 2.5x instead. That allows rent up to 40% of gross income, about $2,000 on $5,000 a month. Just because a landlord accepts it does not mean it fits your budget.
- The 50/30/20 budget. Put 50% of take-home pay toward needs, 30% toward wants, and 20% toward savings. Rent, utilities, groceries, insurance, and minimum debt payments all come out of the needs bucket, so the figure the calculator shows is a ceiling for rent, not a target.
How much rent can I afford by salary?
Quick reference figures with no monthly debts:
| Yearly salary | Monthly gross | 30% rule | 3x rent rule |
|---|---|---|---|
| $40,000 | $3,333 | $1,000 | $1,111 |
| $50,000 | $4,167 | $1,250 | $1,389 |
| $60,000 | $5,000 | $1,500 | $1,667 |
| $75,000 | $6,250 | $1,875 | $2,083 |
| $100,000 | $8,333 | $2,500 | $2,778 |
Found a place? Be ready to show your income
Landlords often ask for proof of income with a rental application. If you are self-employed, paid in cash, or between pay stubs, that can be the slowest part of applying. Income Checker lets you connect your bank read-only and generates an estimated monthly income report from the deposits in the accounts you choose, which you can share with a landlord. See what counts as proof of income.
Frequently asked questions
How much rent can I afford?
A common starting point is 30% of your gross (pre-tax) monthly income. On a $60,000 salary that is $5,000 a month gross, so about $1,500 in rent. Many landlords use the 3x rent rule, which works out to about 33% of gross, or roughly $1,667 on the same income.
What is the 30% rule for rent?
The 30% rule is a long-standing budgeting guideline that housing costs should take no more than about 30% of gross monthly income. It is a rule of thumb, not a requirement, and it does not account for debts, local costs, or savings goals.
How much rent can I afford on an hourly wage?
Multiply your hourly wage by hours per week and by 52, then divide by 12 to get gross monthly income. At $25 an hour and 40 hours a week that is about $4,333 a month, so roughly $1,300 in rent under the 30% rule or $1,444 under the 3x rent rule.
Do landlords use gross or net income?
Most landlord income standards, like 3x rent, are applied to gross income before taxes. Your own budget is better judged against take-home pay, which is why the 50/30/20 view in this calculator uses an estimated take-home figure.
Should I include debt payments?
Yes, if you have them. Car loans, student loans, and credit card minimums reduce how much rent is comfortable. A common guideline is to keep rent plus debt payments under about 36% of gross income, which is how this calculator caps its comfortable range.
What if my income is below 3x the rent?
The 3x standard is a convention, not a law. Many landlords accept 2.5x, and some consider a co-signer or guarantor, a larger deposit, savings, or a strong rental history. Showing clear documentation of your income can also help a landlord review your application.
This calculator provides illustrative, informational budgeting figures only. It does not make or predict eligibility decisions. Landlords set their own screening standards, subject to fair housing and source-of-income laws.