🏠 Rent Affordability Calculator
Find out exactly how much rent you can safely afford based on landlord guidelines.
Enter Your Income
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If you know your monthly income instead, multiply it by 12.
Maximum Affordable Monthly Rent
$0
Based on the standard 30% / 40x rule
The 30% Rule Limit
$0
30% of Gross Monthly Income
The 40x Rent Rule Limit
$0
Annual Income ÷ 40
How Much Rent Can I Afford?
When searching for a new apartment, you don't want to become "house poor" (spending so much on rent that you can't afford groceries or savings). Landlords and financial experts use two primary rules to determine affordability:
- The 30% Rule: You should spend no more than 30% of your gross (pre-tax) monthly income on rent.
- The 40x Rule: Your gross annual income must be at least 40 times the monthly rent. This is an extremely common requirement used by property management companies in cities like New York and San Francisco.
Mathematically, these two rules give you almost the exact same number. For example, if you make $60,000 a year, the 40x rule limits you to $1,500/month rent ($60k / 40). The 30% rule limits you to $1,500/month rent ($5k monthly * 0.30). Our calculator displays both!
Frequently Asked Questions
Do landlords look at Net or Gross income? +
Landlords almost always calculate your rent-to-income ratio using your Gross Income (your income before taxes and deductions). You will usually need to provide pay stubs or an offer letter proving your gross income.
What if I don't meet the 40x rule? +
If your income doesn't meet the landlord's requirement, you typically have three options: get a guarantor (a co-signer who usually must make 80x the rent), pay several months of rent upfront, or use a third-party guarantor service.