Rent Calculator
Find out how much rent you can comfortably afford based on your income and debts — with a safe range from conservative to stretch.
The rule of thumb: keep rent under 30% of gross income. On $72,000/yr that's about $1,800/mo — less if you carry other debt.
$1,800
comfortable rent on a $72,000/yr income (the 30% rule)
30%
of gross income is the classic rent affordability benchmark
$1,500
a conservative target (25%) that leaves more room to save
How much rent can you really afford?
Three simple guidelines landlords and lenders actually use.
Start with the 30% rule
Take 30% of your gross monthly income as a baseline rent budget. On $6,000/mo that's $1,800 — enough to live well while keeping money for savings, food, transport, and fun.
Factor in your other debts
Rent doesn't exist in a vacuum. A widely used guideline keeps rent plus debt payments under 36% of income. If you have a car loan or student loans, your safe rent ceiling drops accordingly — this tool does that math for you.
Know the landlord's math
Most landlords screen for income of about 3× the monthly rent. Knowing the income a place requires before you apply saves time and protects your credit from unnecessary application checks.
How the Rent Calculator Works
Formula
Comfortable rent = Gross monthly income × 30%
Conservative = × 25% · Stretch = × 35%
Debt-adjusted ceiling = (Gross monthly × 36%) − monthly debts
Recommended = min(your target %, debt-adjusted ceiling)
Landlord rule: income ≥ 3 × monthly rentEnter your gross income
Pre-tax annual income is the standard basis.
Add your monthly debts
Car, student loans, credit card minimums, etc.
Set your target %
30% is the default; lower to save more.
See your rent budget
A recommended figure plus a safe range.
Check the landlord math
We show the income a place typically requires.
Rent is usually the biggest line in a monthly budget, so getting it right matters. The 30% rule is the simplest benchmark: on $72,000/yr ($6,000/mo), a comfortable rent is about $1,800. Spending much more squeezes everything else — savings, debt payoff, and breathing room.
Two extra checks sharpen the estimate. First, the 36% guideline: rent plus your other debt payments should stay under about 36% of gross income, so existing loans lower your ceiling. Second, the landlord 3× rule: most require income of roughly three times the rent. Treat the result as a smart starting point and adjust for your city, goals, and lifestyle.
Frequently Asked Questions
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