Free online Rent Affordability Calculator — calculate how much rent you can afford based on your monthly income and expenses. Follows the 30% rule for smart renting decisions. | No sign-up · Data never leaves your device
Zero dependencies · Works offlineEnter your monthly income and fixed expenses to calculate a reasonable rent budget
| Rule | Description | Recommended Ratio |
|---|---|---|
| 30% Rule | Rent should not exceed 30% of monthly income — the most widely used standard | ≤30% |
| 50/30/20 Rule | 50% needs, 30% wants, 20% savings | ≤30% |
| 28% Mortgage Rule | Mortgage/rent should not exceed 28% of monthly income | ≤28% |
| 36% DTI Rule | Total debt (including rent) should not exceed 36% of income | ≤36% |
| 40x Rule | Annual income should be 40x the monthly rent | ≤30% |
1. Enter your monthly income (pre-tax) and select your currency.
2. Fill in your monthly fixed expenses (car loans, insurance, subscriptions, etc.) and savings goal.
3. Adjust the rent-to-income ratio (default 30%) based on your personal situation.
4. Enter other monthly living expenses (food, transportation, entertainment, etc.).
5. Click "Calculate" to see your recommended rent range, remaining disposable income, and budget health analysis.
The 30% rule is a widely used standard from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD): rent (including utilities) should not exceed 30% of household monthly income. Exceeding 30% is considered "rent burdened," and exceeding 50% is "severely rent burdened."
The traditional 30% rule uses pre-tax income. However, a more conservative approach is to use post-tax (take-home) income, which better reflects actual available funds. This calculator uses pre-tax income by default — you can adjust the ratio to match post-tax scenarios.
Yes. Enter your mortgage payment under "Monthly Fixed Expenses." The calculator will assess how much additional housing expense you can afford from your remaining income.
In major cities (NYC, London, Shanghai), rent-to-income ratios may reach 40-50%. You can adjust the ratio slider to match your city's reality. However, try to keep it under 40% whenever possible.