Rent Affordability Calculator | Find Your True Number (DTI + 30% Rule)

How Much Rent Can I Afford? Calculate With DTI & the 30% Rule

Use this rent affordability calculator to get a quick, realistic estimate of the rent that fits your budget. A fast rule is 25–30% of gross income (stretch up to 40% if debts are low). If you carry loans, use DTI: add monthly debts first, then aim for housing + debt ≈ 36% of gross so cash flow stays safe.

How to Use the Calculator

• Pick income mode: gross (pre-tax) or net (take-home).
• Add debts and fixed bills (loans, car, credit cards, childcare).
• Include housing extras: average utilities, internet, parking, and renters insurance.
• Add roommates (by % or room size) and move-in cash (first/last/security + fees).
• Compare methods: 30% rule, DTI, or a custom % you choose.

You will see three bands: Lean, Standard, and Stretch. These show the floor, the comfortable middle, and the upper limit. This helps you know how much rent you can afford.

Methods That Match How You Actually Budget

• 30% Rule — Quick check: shows 25%, 30%, and 33–40% ranges. This allows you to determine, "What Rent Can I Afford?" instantly.
• DTI (Debt-to-Income) — Subtracts monthly debts first, then calculates safe rent from what’s left—ideal if loans are significant.
• Custom % — Set your comfort zone and get warnings if you exceed common screening thresholds.

Each method displays your rent-to-income ratio and estimated leftover cash after essentials.

Example: From Question to Number

• Net income: $3,500/month
• Debts: $400/month
• 30% rule ≈ $1,050/mo.

DTI at ~36% (housing + debt) lowers safe rent to ~$860/mo because debt uses part of your budget. Seeing both side by side helps you avoid overspending.

Local Taxes & Location Presets

Taxes and deductions vary by country and state. Switch between gross and net views. Choose a regional preset or enter your exact rate. This way, results will show local taxes and your take-home pay.

Typical tax patterns include:

- United States: There are federal and state taxes, or sometimes none. They also include FICA. Some cities add local taxes.

- UK: Taxes include Income Tax and National Insurance.

- Canada: There are federal and provincial taxes.

- Australia and the EU have national and regional taxes. They also require certain contributions. If you’re unsure, start with your net income (your payslip take-home) or let the calculator estimate.

Prorate Rent Calculator

Moving in on the 18th? Use the built-in prorate rent calculator to charge only for days used. Choose your day-count method (actual days, 30-day standard, or 360/banker’s). It also explains how to calculate prorated rent step-by-step.

This sentence explains how to calculate prorated rent when you include utilities. Just turn them on so the daily rate shows the real cost.

Net Rent Calculator vs Net Effective Rent Calculator

• Net rent calculator: Budget with take-home pay. Many people plan in net terms even if landlords screen by gross.
• Net Effective Rent Calculator: Do you have a free month or a substantial discount? Smooth incentives across the lease to compare apartments fairly and see the “true” monthly cost.

How to Calculate Monthly Rent

1. Pick 30% / DTI / custom.
2. Enter income (gross or net).
3. Add debts and recurring bills.
4. Include utilities/insurance if not bundled.
5. If you’re splitting with roommates, apply a fair % or room-weight.
6. Divide move-in cash (deposits/fees) across the lease months to see your real monthly outflow.

The result shows your rent amount and your rent-to-income ratio. It also includes a budget pie. This shows you what is left for transport, groceries, and savings.

Commercial Property Rent Calculator (For Offices, Retail, Studios)

Commercial leases use different math. Switch to commercial mode to estimate the price per square foot. You can choose monthly or annual rates. Select the lease type: N, NN, or NNN, which includes taxes, insurance, and maintenance.

Use the net effective rent calculator for concessions and tenant improvements. This doubles as a quick commercial property rent calculator for early budgeting before you negotiate.

How to Calculate Rent to Income Ratio

Formula: Monthly Rent ÷ Gross Monthly Income.

If rent is $1,200 and gross income is $4,000, your ratio is 30%. Many landlords check about 30-40% of applicants.

We alert you when you exceed common limits. We also suggest changes, like raising income, lowering rent, adding a roommate, or reducing fixed debts. For deeper modeling, try our rent-to-income ratio calculator.

Tips to Lower Rent Without Lowering Your Standards

• Time your search near the month-end when more units hit the market.
• Use data to negotiate: offer a longer lease or flexible move-in to get a better rate.
• Bundle cleverly: parking or storage can cost less when negotiated upfront.
• Use roommate math: split by room size or windows, not just 50/50.
• Target total housing cost, not just rent—utilities and insurance matter.

Home & Mortgage Calculators to Plan Your Next Move

• Interest only mortgage calculator: Estimate your payments during the interest-only period. See what happens when the loan changes to full amortization.
• Mortgage loan APR calculator: Compare offers fairly by including lender fees and points in the true annual percentage rate.
• Reverse amortization calculator: Model scenarios where payments don’t cover all interest, so principal grows (useful for ARMs, deferments, or negative-amortization cases).
• Land loan calculator with down payment: Calculate your costs for buying land or property easily. Larger down payments and shorter terms are usual.
• House Affordability Calculator: Size a realistic purchase budget based on income, debts, taxes, insurance, and local costs.
• To check if you qualify for a VA home loan, estimate your debt-to-income (DTI) ratio. Also, check the standard residual income criteria before you apply.aa
• Early mortgage payoff calculator: See how extra principal each month shortens your term and slashes total interest.
• VA cash-out refinance calculator: Estimate how much equity you can tap, your new payment, and when you will break even.
• Rental property ROI calculator: Use it to check cash flow, cap rate, and ROI. You can input rent, vacancy, financing, and operating costs to assess your investments.
• Rent vs Buy Calculator: Compare long-term costs of renting versus owning, including payments, taxes, insurance, maintenance, HOA, and opportunity cost of the down payment.

Assumptions & Methodology

• Bands: 25% / 30% / 33–40% of income labeled as Lean / Standard / Stretch.
• DTI framing: A common budgeting guardrail is housing + debt ≈ 36% of gross (adjust for your comfort).
• Gross vs net: Screening often uses gross; day-to-day budgeting prefers net. You can switch between the two views at any time.