How much rent can you afford in New York, NY?
Run your salary against New York's current rent, or find the income you'd need for a target rent. Powered by live RentDataNow medians.
The 30% rent rule, in New York
At a median rent of $4,170/mo, New York is expensive when measured against New York median household income of $80,483/yr. Rent would consume roughly 62% of pre-tax income, and a salary of about $166,800 keeps rent at the recommended 30% threshold.
How New York compares nearby
Median rent for the closest cities with data.
Frequently asked
How much rent can I afford in New York?
On a $80,483 salary (the New York median household income), the recommended ceiling is 30% of pre-tax income, or about $2,012/mo. New York's median rent is $4,170/mo. Use the calculator on this page to run your own salary.
What salary do I need to live in New York?
To keep New York's $4,170/mo median rent under 30% of income, you'd need about $166,800/yr. Lower your target share (e.g. 25%) to need more, or raise it (e.g. 40%) to need less.
Is New York affordable on the median New York income?
New York is expensive on a $80,483 income. Rent would take 62% 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".