🏠 Rent Affordability Calculator
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The 30% Rule (and When to Break It)
The standard advice is to spend no more than 30% of gross income on rent. On a $5,000/month gross income, that is $1,500. But this rule was created in 1981 when housing costs were dramatically lower. In 2026, many renters in major cities spend 35-50% of income on housing — not by choice, but by necessity.
A more practical approach: calculate your take-home pay after taxes, subtract debt payments, savings goals, and essential expenses, then see what is left for rent. If 30% of gross leaves you comfortable after all obligations, great. If you need to spend 35% to live in a safe area near work, that is a reasonable trade-off — just adjust savings or other spending accordingly.