Affordable rent
$0.00
Your estimated monthly rent budget after debt and utilities.
Real Estate utility
Rent Affordability Calculator
Work out a realistic monthly rent budget from income, debt payments, utilities, and your preferred housing ratio.
Target housing budget
$0.00
The housing budget before subtracting debt and utilities.
Conservative range
$0.00
A more cautious monthly rent level.
Stretch range
$0.00
A higher monthly rent level if the rest of your budget can support it.
How to use the affordability range
The main affordable-rent number is a budgeting guide, not an approval guarantee from a landlord or bank. It helps you work backwards from your income and fixed monthly obligations before you start viewing units.
If you want a safer buffer for savings, travel, childcare, or variable expenses, stay closer to the conservative range. If your debt is temporary or your income is very stable, you may be comfortable closer to the stretch range.
A rent budget is more useful than a listing wishlist
Rent affordability is easier to manage when you decide your budget before you start browsing listings. It keeps you from getting attached to properties that look good but squeeze the rest of your monthly finances.
Why a simple percentage rule is not enough on its own
Rules like 30% of income are useful starting points, but they ignore debt, utility costs, and the spending habits that make one renter comfortable at a number that would feel risky to someone else.
Use the final rent number as a ceiling, not a target
If the calculator says a rent level is possible, that does not mean you need to spend all the way up to it. Many renters intentionally stay below the limit to protect savings and keep more room in the monthly budget.
Frequently asked questions
How much rent can I afford on my salary?
A common starting point is to keep housing around 30% of monthly income, then adjust for debt, utilities, and the rest of your budget. This calculator helps you make that adjustment instead of relying on the headline rule alone.
Should I use gross income or take-home pay?
Use the figure you actually budget from. Some renters prefer gross income because landlords often qualify tenants that way, while others prefer take-home pay because it reflects the real cash available each month.
Why do debt payments matter for rent affordability?
Debt payments reduce the money left for housing each month. Two people with the same income can have very different affordable-rent levels if one of them is already carrying car loans, student loans, or credit-card balances.
Are utilities included in rent affordability?
They should be. A unit with lower rent but expensive utilities can still stretch your monthly budget more than expected. This page subtracts utilities so the rent estimate is closer to real life.
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