Rent calculator
Most rental budgeting guidelines suggest spending no more than 30% of your gross (pre-tax) monthly income on rent.
Use the rent calculator below to find your specific rental budget based on your income and expenses.
How much rent can I afford?
Enter your information below and your results will update as you type. Adjust the slider to see how your rental budget changes when you spend 25%, 30%, 35%, or 40% of your income on rent. Adding your monthly debt payments and estimated utilities will factor them into your result.
This calculation is based on budgeting recommendations, and is not financial advice. Review all lease terms before signing a lease.
Your recommended rent spend
$18,000 per year
$5,000 × 0.30 = $1,500 · 30% of gross
Search listings at or below $1,500 a month.
Rent affordability by income, at a glance
A quick look at rental budgets by income, using three rent-to-income ratios. Read 30% as the standard or default, 25% as a conservative estimate or if you have debts, and 35% as a stretch option if needed.
| Gross monthly income | Annual equivalent | 25% (cautious) | 30% (standard) | 35% (stretch) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $2,500 | $30,000 | $625 | $750 | $875 |
| $4,167 | $50,000 | $1,042 | $1,250 | $1,458 |
| $6,250 | $75,000 | $1,563 | $1,875 | $2,188 |
| $8,333 | $100,000 | $2,083 | $2,500 | $2,917 |
| $12,500 | $150,000 | $3,125 | $3,750 | $4,375 |
How to calculate rent you can afford
There are three popular methods for determining rent affordability: gross income, the most commonly used; net income, based on your take-home pay; and debt-adjusted income, which accounts for debt payments, like student loans, for a wider picture of your liquidity.
Gross-income method — the standard
Landlords screen against gross income, so this is the number that matches most applications.
$72,000 ÷ 12 = $6,000 gross monthly → $6,000 × 0.30 = $1,800 max rent. At 25% it is $1,500.
Net-income method — more realistic
Uses the money that actually lands in your account. Budget 35% of take-home pay.
$6,000 gross − ~22% taxes = $4,680 net → $4,680 × 0.35 = $1,638 max rent, which is $162 less than the gross-income method.
Debt-adjusted method — with loans
Caps rent plus recurring debt at 35% of gross — the debt-to-income ceiling lenders use.
$6,000 × 0.35 = $2,100, minus $450 student loan and $350 car = $1,300 max rent, or 22% of gross.
Apartments for rent under $1,500/mo
Search any location with your budget already applied.
Definitions
Commonly used terms in rental budgeting and what they mean.
Gross income
Your total pay before taxes and deductions. This is, the figure landlords ask for on a rental application, and the input the 30% rule is applied to.
Net income
Your take-home pay. Usually, this is what lands in your account after tax deductions, health insurance payments, and retirement contributions. You can calculate this yourself using tools online from ADP.
Rent-to-income ratio
Monthly rent divided by gross monthly income, expressed as a percentage; 30% or less is the conventional affordability threshold, and above 30% is officially "rent burdened."
Debt-to-income (DTI)
All recurring monthly debt payments plus housing, divided by gross monthly income; 35% is the ceiling most lenders and screening services use.
Housing costs (rent + utilities)
Everything you pay to occupy the unit: rent, electricity, gas, water, trash, internet, renters insurance, and mandatory fees such as parking or pet rent. Not all properties include utilities in their monthly rent payments, but some apartments have other fees. On Zumper, the number you see is the total housing cost, inclusive of any fees required by the property. If utilities are included, it will be noted.
Rent affordability FAQ
How much rent can I afford on $50,000 a year?
About $1,250 a month. $50,000 ÷ 12 = $4,167 gross monthly, and $4,167 × 0.30 = $1,250. The cautious 25% target is $1,042 and the 35% stretch is $1,458. With $400 of monthly debt payments, the debt-adjusted cap drops to $1,058 ($4,167 × 0.35 = $1,458, minus $400).
How much rent can I afford on $100,000 a year?
About $2,500 a month. $100,000 ÷ 12 = $8,333 gross monthly × 0.30 = $2,500 (25% is $2,083; 35% is $2,917). That clears the median one-bedroom in Chicago ($2,200) and Austin ($1,250) but not New York ($4,580) or San Francisco ($4,400). City figures are examples, accurate as of September 2026 per Zumper's National Rent Report.
Is the 30% rule outdated in high-cost cities?
Yes. In many major cities, especially for renters living alone, average rents are outpacing incomes and often require spending more than 30% of income on rent. In New York City, the median 1-bedroom rent reached $4,580/month in September 2026, which would require a renter adhering to the 30% rule to make $15,267 a month, or $183,200 annually. Many renters look for roommates or live further out. Stay up to date with Zumper's National Rent Report, updated monthly.
Should I use gross or net income?
Gross for applications, net for your own budget. Landlords screen on gross income and usually want rent at or below one-third of it. For your own planning, 35% of net gets closer: $6,000 gross is about $4,680 net, so $1,638 rather than $1,800.
What income do landlords require?
Many will ask to see that a renter's annual salary is either 40× the monthly rent, or that their monthly salary is 3× the rent. For $1,800 rent, that means earning at least $72,000 a year (40× rule) or $5,400 a month (3× rule). Falling short usually means a guarantor, a co-signer, or extra months of rent up front.
How much should I budget for utilities?
Budget for roughly $150-$250 for a one bedroom, but utilities can range significantly depending on location, seasonality, and apartment size. Utilities you might want to account for include electricity, gas, water, and trash, but these (and their costs) might change depending on your city's local laws, providers, and usage.
Does moving in winter lower my rent?
Usually by a few percent. Chicago rents run roughly 4% below the July peak in February. Rents nationally are highest in summer and softest in December through February. On a $2,000 apartment, a winter lease can save $80–$100 a month for the full term.
Methodology: How this calculator works
The 30% guideline is a common threshold used in both US and Canadian housing policies. In the US, the 1969 Brooke Amendment capped public-housing rent at 25% of income, and Congress raised it to 30% in 1981. HUD has used 30% as its affordability line ever since. It is applied regardless of the rental market and rent levels. The Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation uses a similar 30% benchmark to help identify what constitutes affordable housing.
This calculator applies the ratio you choose on the slider, from 25% to 40%, to your gross monthly income. If you enter monthly debt payments, it also runs a debt-to-income check of 35% of gross income minus those payments, and shows whichever of the two amounts is lower. If your debt would push that below 20% of gross income, it shows 20% instead and notes that your debt leaves little room for rent. Utilities are reflected in the figures below your result rather than in the rent target itself. Rent medians come from Zumper listings data. Sources: HUD, Harvard Joint Center for Housing Studies, and the American Housing Survey.
