How much rent can I afford? Rent-to-income calculator

Two rules decide most rentals: the 30% rule (rent should not exceed 30% of gross income) and the landlord rule that gross monthly income must be at least three times the rent. Check both, for yourself or for an applicant.

The rules landlords and housing programs use

• 30% rule: HUD and most housing research call a household “cost-burdened” when gross rent (rent plus utilities) takes 30% or more of gross income, and “severely cost-burdened” at 50% or more. Max affordable rent = annual income × 0.30 ÷ 12.
• 3× rent rule: many landlords and property managers require gross monthly income of at least three times the monthly rent, which equals a rent-to-income ratio of 33%. Some use 2.5× (40%) or “40 times the monthly rent per year” (30%).
• Fair housing: apply the same income rule to every applicant. Many states and cities ban source-of-income discrimination, so voucher payments must count as income; some places also limit income multiples. Check local law before you reject an applicant.

Compare by county

Pick a county to compare your result with HUD's two-bedroom Fair Market Rent (FY2027) and the Census median gross rent and renter income (ACS 2020–2024). Rankings: Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Puerto Rico, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin, Wyoming.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates 2020–2024 and 2015–2019 (tables B25064, B25119, B25070). ± = margin of error at 90% confidence. Dollar figures are not adjusted for inflation. FMR: HUD FY2027, effective October 1, 2026. Not financial or legal advice.