Rent Affordability Calculator
See how much rent fits your income at the 30% housing cost line, and check whether a rent you are considering would leave you cost-burdened.
A common affordability line is 30% of gross income for rent and utilities together. On $60,000 a year, that is $1,500.00 a month; with $150 of utilities, rent of up to $1,350.00 stays at or under the line. A $1,500 rent plus $150 of utilities would take 33.0% of income, which counts as cost-burdened.
This calculator applies the 30% and 50% housing cost-burden lines to the income and costs you enter for general planning; it is not financial advice. It uses gross income, before taxes, and counts only rent and the utilities you enter, not renter's insurance, fees, deposits or debts. Landlords and housing programs set their own income rules, and what you can comfortably afford depends on your full budget.
Housing costs here are rent plus the utilities you pay. Leave the rent blank to see only the limits.
Rent that keeps housing at or under 30% of income
$1,350.00 a month
$1,500.00 for rent and utilities together, on $5,000.00 a month
- Rent at 50% (severe burden line)
- $2,350.00
- Your rent plus utilities
- $1,650.00, 33.0% of income
- Status
- Over 30%: cost-burdened
- Income needed for 30%
- $66,000.00 a year
A percentage shown as 30.0% can still be just over the line; the status uses the exact figure.
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About the Rent Affordability Calculator
Housing is usually called affordable when it takes no more than 30% of a household's income, and the federal housing statistics credited below count anyone over that line as cost-burdened and anyone over 50% as severely cost-burdened. This calculator uses gross income, before taxes, and counts housing costs as rent plus the utilities you pay. On $60,000 a year, gross monthly income is $5,000.00, and 30% of it is $1,500.00 for rent and utilities together. With $150 of utilities, the rent that fits is $1,350.00; the 50% line allows $2,350.00. Check a specific apartment by entering its rent: at $1,500 plus utilities, housing comes to $1,650.00, or 33.0% of income, just past the line. To stay at or under 30% with that cost, you would need $66,000.00 a year, since staying at 30% takes 40 times the monthly housing cost in yearly income. Monthly pay works too: $4,000 a month allows $1,200.00 of housing cost at 30% and $2,000.00 at 50%. A $2,200 rent with no utilities on $45,000 a year takes 58.7% of income, well into severe burden; the 30% line would need $88,000.00.
Frequently asked questions
How much rent can I afford?+
Multiply your gross monthly income by 0.30, then subtract what you pay for utilities. On $5,000.00 a month that is $1,500.00 for housing, or $1,350.00 of rent with $150 of utilities.
What does cost-burdened mean?+
It is the federal housing statistics term for a household that spends more than 30% of its income on housing costs. More than 50% is severely cost-burdened. Exactly 30% is at the line, not over it. For renters, this calculator counts rent and the utilities you pay as housing costs.
What income do I need for a given rent?+
Multiply the monthly rent plus utilities by 40 to get the yearly gross income at which it is exactly 30%. A $1,650.00 monthly housing cost needs $66,000.00 a year.
Is the 30% line right for everyone?+
No. It is a statistical yardstick, not a budget. Debt payments, childcare, taxes and where you live can make 30% too much for one household and comfortable for another, and landlords set their own income requirements.
Cost-burdened above 30% and severely cost-burdened above 50% of income on housing costs (HUD definition): U.S. Census Bureau, release CB24-150.
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