Rent affordability calculator
Turn your income into a monthly rent budget, then check whether the typical rent in a town fits inside it.
Compare with a town (optional)
Results are estimates for planning, not financial advice or a loan offer. Starting figures marked as examples are placeholders: replace them with your own quotes. See the disclaimer and terms.
The rules of thumb
The most common guide is to spend no more than 30% of gross income on rent. This tool also shows 25%, for a more comfortable budget, and 33%, which is close to the "income of three times the rent" that many landlords ask for.
Rent is only part of the cost of a home. Utilities, renter's insurance, parking and a deposit come on top, so leave room for them.
The town comparison
The typical rent is the Census Bureau's median gross rent for the town, from the American Community Survey. It includes tenants who have lived in their homes for years, so rent for a home you search for today is often higher.