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CalculatorBuddy

Rent Calculator

Estimate how much monthly rent you can afford from pre-tax income and monthly debt payments.

ExampleSample values — edit any field to see your result.

$
Income Frequency
$

Car or student loans, credit cards, and other monthly debt.

Results update as you type.

Maximum affordable rent

$2,400.00

Estimated result

A conservative target is $1,867 per month; the 36% debt limit is $2,400.

Recommended rent ceiling
$1,866.67
One-third income rule
$2,222.22
Maximum affordable rent$2,400.00

Estimate an affordable monthly rent from gross income and recurring debt. The calculator shows a conservative 28% target, a 36% income-and-debt ceiling, and the common three-times-rent landlord screen.

Formula

recommended rent = monthly gross income × 28% − monthly debt. maximum rent = monthly gross income × 36% − monthly debt. The landlord rule is monthly gross income ÷ 3.

Examples

$80,000 annual income

With no monthly debt, the recommended ceiling is about $1,867, the 36% maximum is $2,400, and one-third of gross monthly income is about $2,222.

Treat the result as a ceiling, not a target. Budget separately for utilities, renters insurance, deposits, moving costs, parking, and savings.

Frequently asked questions

How much income should go to rent?
A common planning target is 28% of gross monthly income, though the right amount depends on taxes, utilities, savings goals, and local costs.
How does monthly debt affect affordable rent?
The calculator subtracts entered monthly debt from the 28% recommendation and the 36% total debt ceiling.
What is the one-third income rule?
Some landlords look for gross monthly income near three times the rent, making one-third of monthly income a screening estimate.
Does rent include utilities?
Not automatically. If utilities, parking, insurance, or recurring fees are separate, leave room for them below the displayed rent ceiling.

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