How Much Rent Can I Afford? 2026 Calculator + Salary Table

Quick answer

How much rent can I afford? Most renters should spend no more than about 30% of gross monthly income on rent. That is about $1,250 a month on a $50,000 salary or $1,500 on $60,000. Many landlords also require yearly income of at least 40 times the monthly rent. Add utilities and debts to check that the budget still works.

Finding the right rent is about more than what a landlord will approve. Our free calculator checks the 30% rule, the landlord 40x income test and your other debts, so you know what rent truly fits your budget. Updated for 2026.

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Rent Affordability Calculator

See how much rent you can afford using the 30% rule, the landlord “40 times the rent” income test, and a budget that counts your other debts.

Gross annual income ($)

Monthly debt payments ($)

Expected utilities ($ per month)

Share of income for rent

Rent you can afford

–

Landlord 40x test max–

After debts (36% total)–

Rent + utilities–

The 30% rule

The best-known guideline is to spend no more than 30% of your gross (before-tax) monthly income on rent. On a $60,000 salary that is $5,000 a month gross, so about $1,500 a month in rent. The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) uses 30% of income as its line for being “cost-burdened” by housing. In expensive cities many renters pay more, but going above 30% leaves less room for savings and emergencies. For a big-city example, see the average rent in Los Angeles, including median 1- and 2-bedroom prices. For a West Coast example, see the average rent in Seattle and the income it takes.

The landlord 40x rule

Many landlords and property managers require your annual income to be at least 40 times the monthly rent (some use 3 times the monthly rent in monthly income, which is about 36 times). For a $1,500 apartment, that means earning about $60,000 a year. If you do not meet it, landlords may ask for a guarantor, a co-signer or a larger deposit. Also plan the cash due upfront: see how much money to move into an apartment.

How much rent can i afford – Person at a desk with a calculator and notebook — Check both the 30% rule and the landlord income test.

Rent you can afford by salary

Annual income	30% rule	40x landlord test
$30,000	$750/mo	$750/mo
$40,000	$1,000/mo	$1,000/mo
$50,000	$1,250/mo	$1,250/mo
$60,000	$1,500/mo	$1,500/mo
$75,000	$1,875/mo	$1,875/mo
$100,000	$2,500/mo	$2,500/mo
$150,000	$3,750/mo	$3,750/mo

Before taxes. The 30% rule and the 40x test give almost the same number, which is why they are both widely used.

Low-angle view of a high-rise apartment building — City rents often push renters above 30%

Apartment living room with a large window — City rents often push renters above 30%

Don’t forget the other costs of renting

Utilities: electricity, gas, water, trash and internet can add $100 to $300 a month.
Renters insurance: usually about $10 to $30 a month.
Parking and pet rent: common in cities and newer buildings.
Upfront costs: first month’s rent, a security deposit (often one month), application fees and sometimes a broker fee.
Moving and furniture: see how much it costs to move and what it costs to furnish an apartment.

A good apartment budget is rent plus utilities under about a third of your income, with money left to save.

Try the 50/30/20 budget

Another simple way to check: put 50% of take-home pay toward needs (rent, utilities, groceries, transportation, minimum debt payments), 30% toward wants and 20% toward savings and extra debt payments. If rent alone eats most of the 50%, the apartment is probably too expensive.

Living room with a large window — A slightly smaller or older apartment can free up hundreds a month.

Ways to afford a better place

Get a roommate: splitting a two-bedroom is often cheaper than a one-bedroom alone.
Look a little farther from downtown or near transit.
Ask about move-in specials and longer leases for a lower rate.
Pay down debts to pass landlord income and credit checks.
Negotiate: ask whether the rent is flexible, especially in winter when demand is lower.

Couple looking at a phone surrounded by moving boxes — Splitting rent with a roommate or partner stretches your budget.

Modern apartment building with glass balconies

Before you sign a lease

Rent under about 30% of gross income.
Check the 40x income test.
Add utilities and insurance.
Budget for deposit and moving.
Leave room to save.

Thinking about buying instead? Try our house affordability calculator and rent vs buy calculator. Renting abroad? See London rent prices and Dubai rent costs.

How much rent can I afford by hourly wage?

If you are paid by the hour, multiply your wage by about 2,080 hours (40 hours a week for 52 weeks) to get a yearly income, then apply the 30% rule. These are planning numbers for full-time work before taxes.

Hourly wage	Yearly income (full time)	Rent at 30%	Income needed for that rent (40x)
$15	$31,200	about $780	$31,200
$18	$37,440	about $936	$37,440
$20	$41,600	about $1,040	$41,600
$25	$52,000	about $1,300	$52,000
$30	$62,400	about $1,560	$62,400
$40	$83,200	about $2,080	$83,200
$50	$104,000	about $2,600	$104,000

Rent you can afford by hourly wage

If your hours change from week to week, use your lowest typical month, not your best one, so rent is always covered. If the math comes out tight, these tips on how to find cheap apartments can bring the number down.

How debts change what rent you can afford

The calculator’s “after debts” number uses a common lender-style guideline: total monthly debt payments, including rent, at or below about 36% of gross income. On a $60,000 salary ($5,000 a month gross), 36% is $1,800. Here is how other debt payments shrink the room left for rent:

Other monthly debt payments	Room for rent under 36%	Compared with 30% rule ($1,500)
$0	$1,800	30% rule is the tighter limit: $1,500
$300	$1,500	Both rules agree: $1,500
$600	$1,200	Debts now limit rent to $1,200
$900	$900	Debts limit rent to $900

Effect of car, student loan and card payments on rent ($60,000 salary)

This is why two people with the same salary can afford very different rents. Paying off a car loan or a credit card before you move can raise your comfortable rent by hundreds of dollars.

A sample monthly budget with rent

Here is how the 50/30/20 budget might look for someone on a $60,000 salary. Take-home pay depends on taxes, retirement savings and benefits, so this example assumes take-home of about $4,000 a month for illustration.

Category	Share of take-home	About per month	Includes
Needs	50%	$2,000	Rent, utilities, groceries, transportation, minimum debt payments, insurance
Wants	30%	$1,200	Dining out, subscriptions, hobbies, travel
Savings and extra debt payments	20%	$800	Emergency fund, retirement, extra debt payoff

50/30/20 budget example on $4,000 take-home

With $2,000 for all needs, a $1,500 rent leaves only $500 for utilities, food, transportation and debt minimums, which is very tight. In practice, many people in this situation choose a rent closer to $1,200 to $1,300, find a roommate, or trim wants to make the budget work.

Rent you can afford with a roommate or partner

Landlords usually look at combined income, which makes larger apartments easier to qualify for:

Two people earning $40,000 each ($80,000 combined): the 30% rule and the 40x test both point to about $2,000 a month, or about $1,000 each.
Two people earning $50,000 and $30,000: combined income is also $80,000, but splitting rent by income (about $1,250 and $750) can feel fairer than 50/50.
Three roommates earning $35,000 each ($105,000 combined): about $2,625 a month in total rent, or $875 each.

Put everyone on the lease and agree in writing how rent, utilities and the deposit are shared.

How to figure out your rent budget, step by step

Start with gross income and apply the 30% rule.
Check the landlord test: divide your yearly income by 40 to find the highest rent most landlords will approve.
Subtract debts using the 36% guideline above.
Add utilities and insurance, usually $110 to $330 a month combined.
Check your take-home budget with 50/30/20 so you can still save.
Compare with local rents. See typical prices in Houston, Atlanta or New York City.
Plan move-in cash for the deposit, first month and fees.

Common rent budgeting mistakes

Using the landlord limit as your budget. Approval at 40x does not mean the rent is comfortable.
Forgetting utilities and fees. Parking, pet rent and amenity fees can add a lot.
Ignoring irregular income. Budget on your lowest typical month.
No emergency fund. Aim to keep at least one month of rent in savings after you move in.
Signing a long lease at the top of your budget. If money is tight, a cheaper place leaves room for raises and surprises.

The right answer to how much rent can I afford is the number that passes the landlord test and still lets you save each month. Use the calculator above to find yours.

How to calculate how much rent I can afford

To calculate how much rent you can afford, multiply your gross monthly income by 0.30, divide your yearly income by 40 for the landlord test, and take the lower of the two. Then subtract other debt payments if they push your total above about 36% of gross income.

Formula	What it tells you	Example: $54,000 salary
Gross monthly income x 0.30	Comfortable rent under the 30% rule	$4,500 x 0.30 = $1,350
Yearly income ÷ 40	Highest rent most landlords approve	$54,000 ÷ 40 = $1,350
(Gross monthly x 0.36) minus other debts	Rent room left after debts	$1,620 – $300 car loan = $1,320
Take-home pay x 0.25 to 0.33	A stricter net-pay check	$3,600 x 0.25 to 0.33 = $900 to $1,190

Your answer is the lowest number that still fits your goals. Here: about $1,200 to $1,320.

If you carry several loans, check your number with our debt-to-income ratio calculator.

What can I afford for rent based on take-home pay?

If you prefer to budget from what actually lands in your bank account, a common planning range is to keep rent at about 25% to 33% of take-home pay. Use this lookup:

Monthly take-home pay	Rent at 25%	Rent at 33%
$2,500	$625	$825
$3,000	$750	$990
$3,500	$875	$1,155
$4,000	$1,000	$1,320
$5,000	$1,250	$1,650
$6,000	$1,500	$1,980

Planning ranges only. Net pay depends on taxes, benefits and retirement savings.

Before you apply at your target rent

Check the credit score landlords look for so a borderline score does not cost you the application fee.
Budget move-in cash, including a typical security deposit of about one month’s rent.
Keep at least one month of rent in savings after move-in.

Helpful resources: For more on how much rent can i afford, see the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development and Consumer Financial Protection Bureau.

How much rent can i afford: frequently asked questions

How much rent can I afford on $50,000 a year?

About $1,250 a month, using the 30% rule and the landlord 40x income test. If you have car or student loan payments, a lower rent may be safer.

Is the 30% rule based on gross or net income?

It is usually based on gross (before-tax) income. If you want a more conservative budget, aim for 30% of take-home pay instead.

What does 40 times the rent mean?

Many landlords require your yearly income to be at least 40 times the monthly rent. For $1,500 rent, you would need to earn about $60,000 a year.

What if I don’t make 40 times the rent?

You can ask about a guarantor or co-signer, offer a larger security deposit, show savings, or find a roommate to share the rent.

How much rent can I afford making $20 an hour?

At $20 an hour full time, yearly income is about $41,600, so the 30% rule points to rent of about $1,040 a month. That also passes the landlord 40x test.

How much rent can I afford on $80,000 a year?

About $2,000 a month using the 30% rule and the 40x landlord test. If you have large car or student loan payments, aim lower so total debts stay near 36% of gross income.

How do I calculate how much rent I can afford?

Multiply gross monthly income by 0.30, divide yearly income by 40, and use the lower result. Then make sure total debt payments including rent stay near 36% of gross income.