Rent Affordability Calculator
What share of your income a rent payment takes up, versus the standard 30% threshold.
Every calculation runs locally in your browser. "Gross income" means before taxes — lenders and landlords typically use this figure, not take-home pay.
Rent-to-income ratio
28%
Affordable
Recommended max rent (30% of income)
$1,500
For informational and educational purposes only — not financial, investment, or tax advice, and not a substitute for consulting a qualified professional about your specific situation. TrueMeasureKit is not liable for decisions made based on these results. See our Terms of Service.
Where the 30% rule actually comes from
The 30% guideline traces back to US federal housing policy from the 1980s, and the US Department of Housing and Urban Development still uses it to define "cost burdened" households today — spending more than 30% of gross income on housing leaves less room for savings, debt payments, and unexpected expenses. Crossing 50% is classified as "severely cost burdened," a threshold associated with meaningfully higher financial stress. It's a rule of thumb, not a hard limit — the right number for any individual depends on the rest of their budget, debts, and local cost of living.
Frequently asked questions
Where does the 30% rule come from?
A long-standing US guideline (originating from public housing policy) suggesting housing costs shouldn't exceed 30% of gross income. It's a rule of thumb, not a hard limit — many renters in high-cost areas exceed it.
Should I use gross or net income for this calculation?
This calculator uses gross (pre-tax) income, matching the standard convention landlords and lenders typically use, so your result is comparable to what a property manager would calculate when screening an application.