Rent Calculator

Use it when you want to test the exact inputs on this page: Estimate a monthly rent ceiling before apartment hunting. Compare 25%, 30%, and 35% rent budget targets. The result is a check against your assumptions, not proof that a lender, tax app, broker, platform, or provider will use the same number.

Monthly income means the income number you want to budget from. Use gross monthly income for a quick landlord-style check, or take-home pay for your own safer budget. Target rent percent means the share of income you want rent to use, such as 25, 30, or 35. A lower percent leaves more room for food, transport, savings, and surprises. Monthly debts means payments you already owe each month, such as student loans, car loans, credit cards, or personal loans. Estimated utilities means monthly bills you expect to pay on top of rent, such as electricity, gas, water, sewer, trash, or internet when they are not included.

Use gross monthly income if you are checking a rough landlord-style rent rule. Use take-home pay if you want a safer personal budget. If those answers are far apart, treat the lower rent number as the warning light.

No. Thirty percent is a common starting point, but it is not magic. A person with high debt, expensive transport, childcare, medical costs, or no savings buffer may need a lower target.

No. Landlords may check gross income, credit, rental history, deposits, local rules, and lease terms. This page is for your budget first, not proof that an application will pass.

In plain language: The calculator multiplies monthly income by the target rent percentage, then subtracts monthly debts and estimated utilities to produce a rent ceiling. $5,200 x 30% gives $1,560. Subtract $350 of debts and $180 of utilities, and the rent ceiling becomes $1,030.

Max monthly rent is the main ceiling. Annual rent multiplies that by 12. Monthly debts and utilities show what reduced the rent number. Income left shows what remains before other living costs.

This is a simple rent budget estimate. It does not include deposits, application fees, moving costs, renters insurance, parking, pet fees, local market prices, lease terms, or landlord screening rules. Compare the estimate with real listings, the lease, local tenant rules, and your full monthly budget before treating the number as affordable.

Check whether income is gross or take-home, whether debts are monthly, and whether utilities are included in the lease. Then add deposits, application fees, renters insurance, parking, pets, moving costs, and savings before signing.

Use it to find your own rent ceiling first. If roommates are involved, compare each person separately, then split the actual rent in a way everyone can explain and afford. This page does not split rent by bedroom size or square footage.

Utilities are still housing costs when you pay them outside the rent. Subtracting them keeps a $1,300 rent plus $200 utilities from looking the same as a true $1,300 all-in housing cost.

No. The calculator runs in your browser tab. Recent answers stay only on the page while you use it, and they are not sent to a server.