Rent Affordability Calculator
Rent ≤ (income/12) × your %. Click any i for detail.
Income
Annual income ($)
i
Income
Gross is the usual 30% rule; net is stricter. |
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Income basis
i
Basis
Label only — the math is the number you typed. |
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Percent of income (%)
i
Percent
30 is the common rule of thumb; 25–35 is a band people argue about. |
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Other housing / month ($)
i
Other
Utilities, parking, renter’s insurance you want inside the cap. 0 to ignore. |
How to use this calculator
- Enter annual income (gross or take-home, your choice).
- Set the percent of income cap (30 is common).
- Subtract other monthly housing costs if you want them inside the cap.
- Read suggested maximum rent.
Results explained
Cap = (income/12) × percent − other housing. The 30% rule is a rough sketch; landlords and lenders use their own overlays.
Quick reference: rent cap
$84,000 × 30% / 12 = $2,100 per month before other costs.
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| 30% rule | common planning sketch on gross |
| Take-home basis | stricter if you pick net income |
| Other costs | utilities, parking, renters insurance subtract from cap |
| Mortgage DTI | house affordability uses debt ratios, not this rent % |
Local rent-to-income laws are not looked up.
How the estimate is built
cap = (annual_income / 12) × (pct/100) − other_monthly.
Example scenario
$84,000 at 30% → $2,100/mo before subtracting other costs.
FAQ
Should I use gross or net?
Landlord rules often cite gross; budgeting with net is stricter and sometimes safer.
Does this include utilities?
Only if you type them in Other housing/month.
I'm buying a house instead?
Mortgage affordability pages model PITI and DTI, not rent percent.