How much rent can you afford in Newark, NJ?
Run your salary against Newark's current rent, or find the income you'd need for a target rent. Powered by live RentDataNow medians.
The 30% rent rule, in Newark
At a median rent of $2,111/mo, Newark is stretched for most renters when measured against Newark median household income of $52,060/yr. Rent would consume roughly 49% of pre-tax income, and a salary of about $84,440 keeps rent at the recommended 30% threshold.
How Newark compares nearby
Median rent for the closest cities with data.
Frequently asked
How much rent can I afford in Newark?
On a $52,060 salary (the Newark median household income), the recommended ceiling is 30% of pre-tax income, or about $1,302/mo. Newark's median rent is $2,111/mo. Use the calculator on this page to run your own salary.
What salary do I need to live in Newark?
To keep Newark's $2,111/mo median rent under 30% of income, you'd need about $84,440/yr. Lower your target share (e.g. 25%) to need more, or raise it (e.g. 40%) to need less.
Is Newark affordable on the median New Jersey income?
Newark is stretched for most renters on a $52,060 income. Rent would take 49% of pre-tax pay, outside the recommended 30% threshold.
What's the 30% rent rule?
The 30% rule is a long-standing budgeting guideline that keeps rent at or below 30% of gross (pre-tax) income. It leaves enough room for utilities, transit, savings, and debt service. In high-cost markets, many renters exceed 30%, and the Census Bureau classifies households paying more than 30% of income on rent as "cost-burdened".