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CalculatorBuddy

Rent Calculator

Compare monthly rent planning scenarios from pre-tax income and entered monthly debt payments.

Maintained by CalculatorBuddy TeamEditorial methodology

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ExampleSample values — edit any field to see your result.

$

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

Results update as you type.

36% income-and-debt scenario

$2,400.00

Estimated result

The 28% planning scenario leaves $1,867 per month after entered debt; the 36% income-and-debt scenario leaves $2,400.

28% planning scenario
$1,866.67
One-third income screen
$2,222.22

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Compare scenarios

Keep a baseline, then change an assumption to see its effect side by side.

36% income-and-debt scenario$2,400.00

Compare three monthly rent screening scenarios from gross income and recurring debt: 28% of income, 36% including entered debt, and one-third of income. These are reference ratios rather than a personal affordability decision.

How to use this calculator

Enter income and housing assumptions for the same period. Treat the suggested rent as a budget estimate, then compare it with your own recurring costs and savings needs. Utilities, deposits, and moving expenses can change what fits your budget.

Examples

$80,000 annual income

With no monthly debt, the 28% scenario is about $1,867, the 36% scenario is $2,400, and one-third of gross monthly income is about $2,222.

Formula

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

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

What to include before choosing rent

HUD uses housing-cost burden measures that include utilities, but this calculator subtracts only the debt you enter and returns rent amounts. Add utilities, renters insurance, parking, fees, deposits, moving costs, taxes, benefit deductions, savings, and irregular expenses in a full cash-flow budget. Landlord screening rules vary and may use different income documentation or ratios.

Frequently asked questions

How much income should go to rent?
The page shows 28% as an editable-input planning scenario derived from gross income. It is not a universal affordability rule; actual capacity depends on take-home pay, utilities, insurance, savings, family needs, and local costs.
How does monthly debt affect affordable rent?
The calculator subtracts entered monthly debt from the 28% and 36% gross-income scenarios.
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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