Rent Affordability Calculator

The most common rule is that rent should not exceed 30% of your gross monthly income. This calculator applies that guideline alongside a conservative 25% threshold, calculates your remaining monthly budget after rent and debt payments, and assesses how your current or target rent compares to your income — giving you a clearer picture of affordability before signing a lease. Whether you are evaluating your first apartment, comparing options in a new city, or checking whether your rent is sustainable given a recent change in income, the results help you quickly see whether your housing cost is comfortable, manageable, stretched, or at high risk based on standard financial benchmarks. Entering your existing debt payments allows the remaining budget figure to reflect your true disposable income after both housing and debt obligations, which is the most practical number for day-to-day budget planning. Many landlords and lenders use the 30% rule as a qualification threshold, so knowing exactly where your rent falls relative to that line can prepare you for what to expect in the application process.

The 30% rule states that your recommended maximum rent equals your gross monthly income multiplied by 30%. This is the threshold most commonly used by landlords, lenders, and housing programmes to assess rental affordability. The 25% rule is a more conservative threshold recommended by some financial advisors, particularly for those with significant debt obligations or irregular income. Remaining budget is calculated as monthly income minus the 30% rent maximum minus monthly debt payments — this figure shows how much is left each month for food, utilities, savings, and discretionary spending. The assessment verdict compares your current or target rent directly against your income as a percentage, placing it in one of four bands: comfortable (≤25%), manageable (25–30%), stretched (30–40%), or high risk (above 40%).