Rent Affordability Calculator

About this calculator

Before signing a lease, it helps to know whether the rent really fits your budget — and how much cash you need just to get the keys. This calculator measures your rent against the widely-used 30%-of-income rule, shows what is left each month after rent and utilities, and totals the upfront cash to move in. It is a planning guide built on a common rule of thumb, not financial advice.

How to read your results

The headline is the cash you need to move in: first month's rent plus the security deposit, any broker or agency fee, and your moving costs. The gauge shows your rent as a percentage of net income against three zones — green up to 30% (comfortable), amber from 30–40% (stretched), and red above 40% (over budget). "Housing burden" adds utilities on top of rent so you see the full share of income going to your home, and "left after housing" is what remains each month for everything else.

Worked example

Net take-home income of $4,000 a month, rent of $1,200, $200 of utilities, a $1,200 deposit, no broker fee, and $300 in moving costs.

Rent is $1,200 ÷ $4,000 = 30% of net income, which sits right on the 30% rule, so the status is comfortable. Adding utilities, the housing burden is ($1,200 + $200) ÷ $4,000 = 35%, leaving $4,000 − $1,200 − $200 = $2,600 a month for everything else. To move in you need $1,200 + $1,200 + $0 + $300 = $2,700 in cash.

Frequently asked questions

What is the 30% rule for rent?

It is a long-standing rule of thumb that you should spend no more than about 30% of your income on rent. The US Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) uses the same 30% line to define a household as "cost-burdened" when housing takes more than that share of income. It is a useful guideline rather than a hard limit — people on higher incomes can often spend more comfortably, while in expensive cities staying under 30% is not always realistic.

Should I use gross or net income?

This calculator uses net, take-home income — what actually lands in your account after tax and deductions — because that is the money you have to pay rent from. Some landlords and the original rule of thumb use gross (pre-tax) income, which makes the percentage look smaller. If a landlord quotes a gross-income requirement (often rent ≤ 30% of gross, or income ≥ 40× the rent), bear in mind they are measuring a different number than the net figure here.

What counts as the cash needed to move in?

Typically the first month's rent plus a refundable security deposit, and sometimes a broker or agency fee and your own moving costs (movers, a van, packing supplies). Some places also ask for the last month's rent upfront. This tool sums the first month's rent, deposit, broker fee, and moving costs so you can see the real cash hurdle, which is often far larger than the monthly rent alone.

Is being over the 30% mark a problem?

Not automatically. The 30% rule is a guideline, and many people in high-cost areas spend 35–45% on rent out of necessity. What matters is whether the rest of your budget still works: can you cover utilities, food, transport, debt payments, and some saving on what is left? The "left after housing" figure is there to help you judge that. If the remainder feels tight, a lower rent, a roommate, or higher income are the usual levers.

How it's calculated

Rent-to-income % = rent ÷ net monthly income × 100. Housing burden % = (rent + utilities) ÷ net monthly income × 100. The status comes from the rent-to-income figure: 30% or less is "comfortable", above 30% up to 40% is "stretched", and above 40% is "over budget". This follows the long-standing 30%-of-income rule of thumb; the US Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) defines households spending more than 30% of income on housing as "cost-burdened" (and more than 50% as severely cost-burdened). Upfront cash = first month's rent + security deposit + broker fee + moving costs. Left after housing = income − rent − utilities. Everything is arithmetic on the figures you enter; sensible thresholds vary by city, income level, and circumstances, so treat the result as a starting point, not advice.