Rent Affordability Calculator
Two calculators in one: find out how much rent you can afford on your salary, or work backwards from a target rent to the income you'd need.
Affordability by city
City-specific calculators with local rent and income data.
How the 30% rule works
The 30% rule keeps rent at or below 30% of gross (pre-tax) income. The Census Bureau flags households paying more than 30% of income on rent as "cost-burdened". In expensive markets, 40%+ is common, but leaves less for savings, transit, and unexpected bills. The calculator above lets you dial the percentage up or down so you can see what works for your budget.
Frequently asked
How much rent can I afford on my salary?
The standard guideline is to keep rent at or below 30% of pre-tax income. On a $60,000 salary that works out to about $1,500 a month, on $80,000 about $2,000, and on $120,000 about $3,000. The calculator above lets you enter your exact salary and dial the percentage up or down if your situation is different.
What salary do I need to afford a given rent?
Multiply the monthly rent by 12, then divide by 0.30. A $2,000/mo apartment needs about $80,000/yr to stay inside the 30% rule. A $3,000/mo apartment needs $120,000/yr. Switch to the "Rent to Salary needed" tab above to compute any target rent instantly.
Is the 30% rent rule still realistic?
It is a benchmark, not a hard cap. The rule traces back to 1969 federal housing policy and is still used by the Census Bureau to identify cost-burdened households. In high-cost cities like San Francisco, New York, and Boston, 35% to 45% is common. The rule is most useful as a warning line: when rent pushes well past 30%, savings, debt payments, and emergency buffers usually take the hit.
Should I use gross or net income?
Most affordability guidelines, including the 30% rule, use gross (pre-tax) income. That keeps comparisons simple across states with different tax rates. If you want a tighter personal budget, run the calculator with your take-home pay instead; a 30% of gross target is roughly 40% of net after federal and state income tax in most states.
Does this calculator include utilities and fees?
No. It uses monthly rent only, consistent with how median rent is reported on RentDataNow. Utilities, renter's insurance, parking, and pet fees typically add $100 to $400 a month on top of rent. A safe practice is to treat the calculator's "afford" figure as a ceiling on rent itself and budget those extras separately.
Why do city pages show a lower affordability than my result?
City pages compare the local median rent to the local median household income, which is often lower than an individual renter's salary. If you earn above the local median, your personal affordability will be better than the city-wide figure. Open any city's affordability page to see both numbers side by side.