Rent Affordability Calculator
Find how much rent you can comfortably afford.
Result
Results are estimates for general information only and are not professional advice.
How much rent you can afford
The widely used guideline is that rent should not exceed 30% of gross monthly income. It exists because housing is the payment that cannot be reduced in a bad month: groceries and travel flex, rent does not. Once rent passes roughly a third of income, everything else in the budget starts to compete with it, and saving is usually the first casualty.
The formula behind it
The recommended maximum is monthly income × 0.30, with a comfortable band from about 25% to 30%. On an income of 4,000 that is 1,200 at the limit and around 1,000 at the comfortable end. Many landlords apply the same test in reverse and require annual income of roughly 30–40 times the monthly rent before approving an application.
How to use this calculator
Enter your gross monthly income. The result shows the recommended maximum rent and a comfortable range. If you are sharing, enter only your own share of the income and compare it against your share of the rent.
What the guideline misses
Rent is rarely the whole housing cost: utilities, internet, council tax or service charges, parking and contents insurance can add a substantial amount. A cheaper flat with a long commute may cost more in travel and time than a closer one. And the 30% rule assumes ordinary circumstances — with high debt payments or an unstable income, staying nearer 25% buys resilience that is worth more than the extra space.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Rent Affordability Calculator?
Find how much rent you can comfortably afford. It runs instantly in your browser and is completely free to use.
What do I need to enter to use the Rent Affordability Calculator?
The Rent Affordability Calculator asks for a single value: Monthly income. Enter it and the result appears immediately — the calculation runs on your own device, so nothing you type is sent to a server.
How accurate is the Rent Affordability Calculator?
The Rent Affordability Calculator uses standard, widely-accepted formulas, so its figures are reliable estimates for everyday planning. They are not a substitute for advice from a qualified professional.
Is the Rent Affordability Calculator free, and do I need an account?
Yes. The Rent Affordability Calculator — and every other calculator on Calculatis — is completely free, with no registration, no download and no limit on how often you use it.