Rent Affordability Calculator
The 30% rule — spend no more than 30% of gross income on housing — is the landlord's screen and the budget's oldest guardrail. This calculator applies it instantly, then adds the check that matters when you actually have debts: a 36% debt-to-income ceiling that lowers the honest ceiling by exactly what your car loan, student loan and cards already eat.
The "left for everything else" stat is the reality check most rent calculators skip: rent is the largest line, but groceries, transport and savings still have to fit underneath it. Three budget rules are on offer — 25% for aggressive saving, 30% classic, 35% for high-cost cities — and the page remembers your numbers so re-budgeting after a raise takes one field.
How to use
- Enter gross monthly income and any monthly debt payments — the rent ceiling appears instantly.
- Pick the budget rule that fits your city and goals; the DTI line shows the lender's view.
- Read what's left for the rest of life, then share the budget in one tap.
Frequently asked questions
How much rent can I afford on my salary?
The classic rule caps rent at 30% of gross monthly income — $4,800 income means a $1,440 ceiling. If you carry debts, lenders count them against a 36% DTI instead, and that line becomes the honest number. The calculator shows both and takes the lower one.
Is the 30% rule still realistic?
In high-cost metros, 35-40% of gross is increasingly common — which is why the rule selector includes 35%. Treat it as a pressure gauge rather than law: above 30%, the "left for everything else" stat tells you exactly how thin the rest of the budget runs.
Does the 30% rule use gross or net income?
Traditionally gross (before tax), which is also how landlords screen applicants. Budgeting on net pay feels stricter but survives contact with reality better — if your gross-based ceiling feels heavy, run the same rent against take-home and see what remains.
What counts as monthly debt for the DTI check?
Minimum payments on loans, credit cards, car notes and child support — not utilities, subscriptions or the balance itself. Enter the payment amounts, not the balances, and the DTI ceiling adjusts accordingly.