Rent affordability calculator
See how much rent fits your income and debt. Outputs the 30% rule number, landlord screening thresholds, and a conservative-to-aggressive range.
Your Income & Debt
Car, student loans, credit cards. Not utilities
Recommended Maximum Rent (30% Rule)
$1,500
Conservative (25%)
$1,250
More room for savings
Recommended (30%)
$1,500
Standard guideline
Aggressive (35%)
$1,750
Tighter budget
Landlord screening: Most landlords require income of at least 3x the rent. Based on your income, you'd qualify for up to $1,667/mo under this standard.
Adjusted for debt: After your $500/mo in debt payments, the 30% rule suggests no more than $1,350/mo on rent.
See what rents look like in your area
Search any zip code to see median rents and market trends, so you know what your budget gets you.
The 30% rule: how much should you spend on rent?
The most widely used guideline says spend no more than 30% of gross monthly income on rent. This has been the standard since 1981 when the U.S. government set it as the threshold for "affordable" housing. Spending more is considered "cost-burdened." In practice, millions of renters in high-cost cities pay well above 30%. Nobody enforces the number. It's just the target most rent budgets get built around.
Why landlords use the 3:1 rule
Most landlords screen tenants by requiring gross income of at least 3 times the monthly rent. This is roughly equivalent to the 33% rule and ensures tenants can comfortably cover rent plus other expenses. Knowing this threshold before you start searching saves time. You can focus on rentals you're likely to qualify for.
Want to see what rents look like in a specific area? Check our Fair Market Rent lookup to see HUD rent data by zip code, or create a free PropMetrics account to browse real-time rental listings and market data.
What if you can't find anything in your budget?
If the 30% rule puts you well below median rents in your area, you have a few options. Try nearby zip codes where rents run lower, or split costs with a roommate. You could also stretch to the 35% threshold. It's tighter, but it's reality for many renters in high-cost markets. Either way, know your number before you start searching so you don't waste time on places you can't afford.
For landlords: setting rent that tenants can afford
If you own rental property, look at affordability from the tenant's side. Price a unit above what local incomes support and it sits vacant longer, with fewer qualified applicants walking through the door. Check our guide to setting rent for a comp-based approach to pricing.
See what it actually rents for
Search any U.S. address and get a rent estimate with the comps behind it. 3 free searches a month, no credit card.
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