How Much Rent Can I Afford?
Free · no sign-up · reviewed July 2026
Apartment hunting and not sure what you can actually afford? This shows a comfortable monthly rent based on your income, using the classic 30% rule, and factors in the landlord requirement that your income be at least three times the rent.
Adjust the percentage to see a conservative, recommended, or stretch budget.
Drag to adjust
You can comfortably afford about
$1,500
30% of a $60,000 income
💡 On a $60,000 income, keeping rent near $1,500 (30% of gross) leaves room for saving, debt and life. Many landlords also require your gross income to be at least 3x the rent, about $1,667 in your case.
$1,250
Conservative
25% of income
$1,500
Recommended
30% of income
$1,750
Stretch
35% of income
- Rent$1,500
- Other debt$0
- Everything else$3,500
- Gross monthly income
- $5,000
- Recommended rent (30%)
- $1,500
- Conservative (25%)
- $1,250
- Landlord 3x-income max
- $1,667
- Left after rent & debt
- $3,500
The 2-minute guide
The 30% rule
A long-standing guideline is to spend no more than 30% of your gross (pre-tax) monthly income on rent. It's a starting point, not a law: in expensive cities people often go higher, while a lower share frees up more for saving and debt.
The landlord 3x rule
Most landlords want to see gross monthly income of at least three times the rent, which is the same as the 33% guideline. If your income is below 3x, you may need a co-signer, a bigger deposit, or a cheaper place.
Count your other debts
Rent doesn't exist in a vacuum. Car payments, student loans and credit cards all compete for the same paycheck. Keeping rent plus other debt under about 43% of income leaves breathing room for everything else.
Don't forget move-in and extras
Budget for a security deposit (often one month), first and sometimes last month up front, utilities, renters insurance and commuting. The sticker rent is rarely the full monthly cost.
Frequently asked questions
How much rent can I afford on my salary?
A common rule is 30% of your gross monthly income. On a $60,000 salary ($5,000 a month), that's about $1,500 in rent. Adjust up or down based on your other debts and savings goals.
What is the 30% rule for rent?
It suggests spending no more than 30% of your gross (pre-tax) income on rent. It's a guideline for keeping housing affordable, not a strict limit, and many people in high-cost areas spend more.
Why do landlords want 3x the rent?
Requiring gross income of at least three times the rent is how landlords check you can reliably cover it. It's roughly the same as the 33% affordability guideline. Below that, expect to need a co-signer or larger deposit.
Should rent be based on gross or net income?
The 30% and 3x rules use gross (pre-tax) income, because that's what landlords verify. Just remember your take-home pay is lower, so also sanity-check rent against what actually lands in your account.
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