RentBudget

Rent Affordability Calculator

The 30% rule says housing should cost no more than 30% of gross income — but existing debts change the math.

Monthly gross income

Housing budget (% of income)

Other monthly debts

What you entered

Monthly income: $5,000Budget rule: 30%Monthly debts: $300

1
Max housing cost (30% of income)
$5,000.00 × 30%= $1,500.00
2
Subtract existing debts
$1,500.00 − $300.00= $1,200.00
3
Remaining after rent + debts
$5,000.00 − $1,200.00 − $300.00= $3,500.00

Result

Max rent: $1,200

Based on the 30% rule with $300 in existing debts, you can afford up to $1,200 per month in rent.

Affordable rent by income and the rule you apply

Each cell applies the percentage-of-income rule in the column heading to gross monthly income, assuming no other debt payments. The last column shows the 30% rule once $500 a month of other debt is subtracted.

Gross monthly income	At 25%	At 30%	At 35%	At 40%	At 30% with $500 debt
$3,000	$750	$900	$1,050	$1,200	$400
$4,000	$1,000	$1,200	$1,400	$1,600	$700
$5,000	$1,250	$1,500	$1,750	$2,000	$1,000
$6,000	$1,500	$1,800	$2,100	$2,400	$1,300
$8,000	$2,000	$2,400	$2,800	$3,200	$1,900
$10,000	$2,500	$3,000	$3,500	$4,000	$2,500

The 30% rule is a convention, not a law of finance, and it strains in expensive cities where 40% is common. Compare the last two columns to see how much other debt costs you: at $3,000 a month, $500 of loan payments cuts affordable rent from $900 to $400, more than halving it, because the debt comes straight off the top. Landlords often work the other way and require gross annual income of roughly 40 times the monthly rent. All figures are gross, so at a 25% effective tax rate a $1,500 rent on $5,000 gross is closer to 40% of what actually reaches your account.

Where the 30% rule comes from

The 30% guideline originated from the 1981 Brooke Amendment to US housing policy. While it's a useful starting point, expensive cities often require spending 40-50% on housing — the key is ensuring the remaining 70% covers all other necessities and savings.

Why existing debts matter

If you already have car payments, student loans, or credit card minimums, those eat into the 30% budget — this calculator subtracts existing debts from your housing budget to give you a realistic maximum rent.

What landlords look for

Most landlords require gross income of 2.5–3× the monthly rent (equivalent to spending 33–40% on rent). Some require a minimum credit score (650+) and clean rental history. Knowing these thresholds helps you target apartments where you'll actually get approved.

Frequently asked questions

How much rent can I afford on my salary?

The 30% rule says multiply gross monthly income by 0.3. On a $60,000 salary ($5,000/month), you can afford $1,500/month rent. But this doesn't account for debts — if you pay $400/month in student loans and $300 car payment, your comfortable rent drops to ~$800/month.

Is the 30% rule realistic?

In many major cities, no. Average rent in NYC, SF, and LA often requires 40–50% of income. The 30% rule works well for mid-cost areas. In high-cost cities, 40% may be unavoidable — but above 50% puts you at serious risk of financial stress. Consider roommates, suburbs, or remote work to stay closer to 30%.

What income do I need for $2,000/month rent?

Using the 30% rule: $2,000 ÷ 0.30 = $6,667/month gross income, or about $80,000/year salary. Most landlords want income of 40× monthly rent ($80,000) or 3× monthly rent ($6,000/month minimum). Having a co-signer, larger security deposit, or proof of savings can help if you're slightly under.