🏠 Rent Affordability Calculator

Find out how much rent you can comfortably afford. Use the 30% Rule for a quick estimate, or switch to the Budget Method to account for all your monthly expenses and find out exactly what's left for rent.

Monthly Income (after tax) ($)

Rent Percentage

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Max Affordable Rent

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% of Income

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Remaining After Rent

Rent at Different Income Percentages

% of Income	Max Rent	Remaining

Rent Affordability Formulas

30% Rule: Max Rent = Monthly Income × 0.30

Budget Method: Max Rent = Income − (Food + Transport + Utilities + Savings)

The 30% rule is a quick heuristic but doesn't account for your specific spending habits. The Budget Method gives a personalised figure by subtracting your known expenses from income — whatever remains is the maximum you can sustainably spend on rent.

How to Use the Rent Affordability Calculator

1

Enter Your Monthly Income

Enter your take-home (after-tax) monthly income. If you have multiple income sources, add them together. Use a conservative estimate if your income varies.
2

Choose Your Method

The 30% Rule gives a quick guideline. For greater accuracy, switch to the Budget Method and enter your actual monthly expenses across food, transport, utilities, and savings goals.
3

Adjust the Percentage (30% Rule)

Try the 25%, 30%, or 35% buttons to see how each changes your maximum rent. This helps you understand the trade-off between rent and discretionary spending.
4

Review the Breakdown Table

The table at the bottom shows your maximum rent at 25%, 30%, 35%, and 40% of income — useful for comparing rental options at different budget levels.

Example Calculation

Monthly take-home income $5,000. Expenses: food $400, transport $300, utilities $150, savings $500:

30% Rule: Max Rent = $5,000 × 30% = $1,500/month

Budget Method: Total fixed expenses = $400 + $300 + $150 + $500 = $1,350

Max Rent = $5,000 − $1,350 = $3,650/month

(Budget method leaves no discretionary spending buffer — always add an allowance for personal spending)

'Should I spend more than 30% on rent?', 'answer' => 'In high-cost cities like New York or San Francisco, spending 35–40% on rent is common and may be unavoidable. Whether it\'s sustainable depends on your overall financial picture — if you have low debt, no dependents, and steady income, spending more on rent can be reasonable. Conversely, if you\'re paying off student loans or saving for a home, staying under 25% is a better target.'], ['question' => 'How do I calculate my rent budget?', 'answer' => 'The most accurate approach is the Budget Method: list all your non-negotiable monthly expenses (food, transport, utilities, debt repayments, subscriptions), add a savings target, then subtract the total from your take-home income. The remainder is the theoretical maximum rent. Practical advice: leave at least $200–400 for unexpected expenses and leisure.'], ['question' => 'What expenses should I count when calculating rent affordability?', 'answer' => 'Beyond the four main categories (food, transport, utilities, savings), also consider: health insurance premiums, gym or subscription services, phone bills, loan or credit card repayments, childcare, and entertainment. Forgetting these creates a false sense of affordability. Use your last 3 months of bank statements to build a realistic expense list.'], ]" />