Rent Affordability Calculator
See the maximum rent you can comfortably afford from your income using the 30% rule and the stricter 3x rent-to-income check.
How much rent can you afford?
The old rule says keep rent under 30% of gross income; landlords often want your income to be at least 3× the rent. This shows both, then a conservative number after your other debts.
Recommended max rent
$1,200
Tightest of the limits below
30% rule
$1,500
30% of gross monthly income
3× rent check
$1,667
Income ÷ 3 — the landlord's screen
After other debts
$1,200
30% budget minus your monthly debts
How it works
The classic advice is to keep rent under 30% of your gross income, which leaves room for everything else — food, transportation, savings, and a little breathing space. This tool starts there, then layers on the check most landlords actually run.
That check is the 3x rule: many landlords want your monthly income to be at least three times the rent before they'll approve you. It's a bit stricter than 30% in some cases, so the tool shows both and then a conservative number that also nets out your other monthly debts.
On $60,000 a year, your gross monthly income is $5,000. The 30% rule caps rent around $1,500, the 3x rule lands close by, and if you carry $300 in other debts the after-debts figure trims it a little further. The recommended number is the tightest of the three, so you don't overcommit.
Frequently asked questions
Is the 30% rule based on gross or take-home pay?
Traditionally it's gross, pre-tax income, which is also what landlords screen against. If you'd rather budget from take-home pay, expect the comfortable rent to come out lower, since a chunk of gross goes to taxes before you ever see it.
What is the 3x rent rule?
It's a landlord screening standard: your gross monthly income should be at least three times the monthly rent. On $1,500 rent, they'd want to see about $4,500 a month in income. Some strict markets push it to 3.5x or higher.
Should I count roommates' income?
If they're on the lease and jointly responsible, landlords usually combine everyone's income against the total rent. Run each person's share through the 30% rule separately too, so no single roommate is stretched thin.