Before you sign that lease, check if the rent fits your budget. Enter your numbers and get an honest answer in seconds.
Finding an apartment is exciting — until you do the math. "Can I really afford this place?" Our calculator gives you a clear answer based on the industry-standard 30% rule.
The 30% rule is a simple guideline: your monthly rent should not exceed 30% of your gross monthly income.
| Ratio Range | Rating | What It Means |
|---|---|---|
| 0% - 25% | Safe | Very comfortable. Plenty of room for savings. |
| 25% - 35% | Caution | Manageable but tight. Track discretionary spending. |
| 35% - 40% | High | Stretching your budget. Reduce other expenses. |
| 40%+ | Danger | Severely rent-burdened. May struggle with costs. |
Important: In high-cost cities, many renters pay 40-50% of income on rent. What matters is whether you have enough left for your lifestyle and goals.
Most calculators only look at income vs. rent. Ours asks about fixed expenses too. With $5,000 income and $1,200 in fixed costs, you only have $3,800 of "usable" income. A $1,500 rent eats up 39.5% of that — tighter than the 30% ratio suggests.
The 30% rule states you should spend no more than 30% of your gross monthly income on rent.
Most landlords use gross income. For personal budgeting, net income gives a more realistic picture.
In high-cost cities, spending 40-50% on rent is common. Focus on the "after expenses" number instead.
Include average utility costs in the "Fixed Expenses" field or add them to the rent amount.