How Much Rent Can I Afford?
This free rent affordability calculator shows how much rent fits your take-home pay, salary or hourly wage. Enter your numbers and your results update right away. Nothing you enter is saved.
Your pay
Use your take-home pay, the amount that reaches your bank account after taxes and deductions.
Car, student loan, and credit card minimums
Many people aim for 25% to 35%.
Your estimate
Enter your pay to see a suggested rent.
How to use the rent affordability calculator
- Choose take-home pay, a yearly gross salary, or an hourly wage.
- For an hourly wage, enter the hours you work in a week. Monthly gross pay is the rate times those hours times 52, divided by 12.
- Add monthly debt payments if you have a car, student loan, or credit card minimum.
- Leave the share of pay at 30%, or type your own. Results update right away.
Nothing you enter is saved.
What is the 30% rule for rent?
The 30% rule is a common guideline that keeps rent around 30% of your pay. This calculator starts there and also shows a comfortable range from 25% to 35%. If you have other debt payments, a lower share can leave more room for the rest of the month.
How much rent can I afford on $20 an hour?
At $20 an hour and 40 hours a week, gross monthly pay is $3,467. Rent at 30% of that pay is about $1,040. A landlord using the 3x rule would look for rent of about $1,156 or less. The table uses the same math for a few other wages.
| Hourly wage | Gross monthly pay | Rent at 30% |
|---|---|---|
| $15 | $2,600 | $780 |
| $20 | $3,467 | $1,040 |
| $25 | $4,333 | $1,300 |
| $30 | $5,200 | $1,560 |
How much rent can I afford on a $50,000 salary?
A $50,000 salary works out to $4,167 a month in gross pay. Rent at 30% is $1,250. The 3x rule would mean rent of about $1,389 or less.
| Yearly salary | Gross monthly pay | Rent at 30% |
|---|---|---|
| $40,000 | $3,333 | $1,000 |
| $50,000 | $4,167 | $1,250 |
| $60,000 | $5,000 | $1,500 |
| $70,000 | $5,833 | $1,750 |
| $80,000 | $6,667 | $2,000 |
Gross pay vs take-home pay: which should you use?
Take-home pay. Landlords often look at gross income, but your budget runs on what you actually get paid after taxes and deductions.
If you enter a yearly salary or an hourly wage, your results are based on gross pay, so they will run higher than a take-home estimate.
Do landlords require 3x the rent?
Many landlords ask for gross income of at least 3 times the rent. On the $20 an hour row above, that cap is about $1,156. On the $50,000 salary row, it is about $1,389. Enter a salary or an hourly wage and the calculator shows that dollar cap. The 3x check uses gross pay, so if you enter take-home pay, the calculator explains the rule instead of showing a dollar cap.
How rent fits into a 50/30/20 budget
In a 50/30/20 budget, half of your pay goes to needs. Rent is one of those needs, along with groceries, utilities, insurance, and minimum debt payments. The calculator puts that needs budget next to the suggested rent. See your full 50/30/20 budget.
Frequently asked questions
How much of my income should go to rent?
A common guideline is about 30% of your pay. This calculator uses take-home pay, so the number reflects what actually reaches your bank account. If you have car or student loan payments, aiming lower gives you more breathing room.
How much rent can I afford on $3,000 a month?
About $900 a month, using 30% of $3,000 in take-home pay. This is an estimate. A range of 25% to 35% would be about $750 to $1,050.
How do I figure out my monthly take-home pay if I get paid biweekly?
Multiply one paycheck by 26, then divide by 12. If you get paid weekly, multiply by 52, then divide by 12. For example, $2,000 every two weeks is about $4,333 a month.
What if rent is more than 30% of my income?
Plenty of people pay more than 30%, especially where rent is high. The calculator still shows what is left after rent and debt. If those two together take more than half your pay, a lower rent or paying down debt first gives you more room.
Should utilities count toward rent?
The 30% guideline is usually the rent itself. Utilities, internet, and renters insurance are extra housing costs. Count those in the needs half of a 50/30/20 budget, or subtract them from what is left after rent.
Is my information saved?
No. The numbers you enter stay in your browser and are not stored.
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