Rent affordability calculator
Rent you can live on, not just qualify for
I make $ a .
Debts are $ a month.
You can comfortably pay
$1,200
a month. Landlords will approve up to $1,675.
Eyeing a place at $?
You find it. Big windows, good light, ten minutes from work.
The landlord runs the numbers. You're approved for up to $1,675.
So you sign.
Three months in, every paycheck is spoken for before it lands. The car payment, the loans, the $600 a month the application never asked about.
Landlords check if you can pay. Not if you can live. Know your number first. Then go look.
Three steps
- 1
Cap the rent
Keep rent under 28% of your income, before tax.
$5,000×28%=$1,400 - 2
Make room for debts
Rent plus debts should stay under 36%. That's $1,800 here.
$1,800−$600=$1,200 - 3
Take the lower one
That's your comfortable rent.
$1,400vs$1,200→$1,200
Approved isn't affordable
What's comfortable
Rent under 28%, all debts under 36%. Leaves room to save, and to breathe.
Add the fees →What landlords approve
Your income ÷ 3. It checks that you can pay, not what's left after.
Cash to move in →Quick reference
| Salary | Comfortable | Approved |
|---|---|---|
| $40,000 | $925 | $1,100 |
| $50,000 | $1,175 | $1,400 |
| $60,000 | $1,400 | $1,675 |
| $75,000 | $1,750 | $2,075 |
| $100,000 | $2,325 | $2,775 |
Per month, with no other debts. Debts lower the comfortable number.
Good to know
How much of my income should go to rent?+
About 30% is the classic rule. Under 28% is more comfortable, especially if you have debts.
What's the 3× rule?+
Landlords want your monthly income to be at least 3× the rent. It's a screening rule, not a budget.
Why do I qualify for more than is comfortable?+
Landlords check your income. Not your debts, savings, or life. The gap is where people get stretched.
Is rent the only cost?+
No. Add utilities, insurance, and the cash to move in. An affordable rent can still sting the month you sign.