Rent Affordability Calculator
Find out how much rent you can comfortably afford based on your income, debts, and monthly expenses. See your rent-to-income ratio against the 30% rule and the landlord 30x rule.
Verdict
Risky
You are spending more than 40% of net income on rent. Most landlords and lenders consider this unaffordable.
Your share of rent
£1,200
per month
Rent-to-income
42.7%
of net monthly income
Your details
Enter your income, rent, and monthly outgoings.
Income
Includes income tax, social security, pension, etc.
Side income, benefits, or partner contribution.
Proposed rent
Other monthly expenses
About the Rent Affordability Calculator
The Rent Affordability Calculator helps you decide whether a rental property fits your budget before you sign a lease. It combines two industry-standard tests — the 30% rule (rent should be no more than 30% of your net income) and the landlord 30x rule (annual gross income should be at least 30 times the monthly rent) — with a full monthly budget breakdown so you can see exactly how much you have left after rent, bills, and debts.
The tool supports gross or net income, weekly, monthly or annual pay, and lets you split rent between housemates. It works with multiple currencies, so it is equally useful in the UK, US, Eurozone, Canada, and Australia. Whether you are comparing a single flat or shortlisting several, the verdict at the top of the page tells you instantly if the rent is comfortable, stretched, or risky.
Affordability is more than passing a landlord reference check. By entering your existing debt repayments, utilities, food, transport, and savings target, you can see whether the proposed rent leaves you anything to live on — or whether it pushes you into deficit each month.
How to Use the Rent Affordability Calculator
1. Enter your income
Pick annual, monthly, or weekly, then type the number on your contract or payslip. Choose gross to estimate after-tax pay or net to enter your actual take-home directly.
2. Add the proposed rent
Type the total monthly rent. If you are sharing with housemates, enter the number of tenants splitting the rent so the calculator uses your share, not the full amount.
3. Fill in monthly expenses
Add your debts, utilities, food, transport, and savings goal. These determine how much you actually have left after rent each month.
4. Read the verdict
The header card shows your rent-to-income ratio and an instant verdict — comfortable, stretched, or risky — plus the recommended rent at 28%, 30%, and 40% of net income.
Common use cases
First-time renters
Check whether a flat fits your starter salary before booking a viewing.
Moving to a new city
Compare rent levels in different cities against the same income to see where you can live comfortably.
Sharing a flat
Use the rent split field to check that your individual share works for your income, not just the total rent.
Pre-qualifying for a tenancy
See whether you pass the standard landlord 30x annual income test before submitting an application.
Negotiating a rent renewal
Plug in the proposed new rent to see if a renewal increase would push you above the 30% threshold.
Career change planning
Test whether a lower-paid role still supports your current rent, or what salary you need to keep your lifestyle.
Rent Affordability Calculator FAQ
How much rent can I really afford?
A widely used guideline is the 30% rule: your rent should not exceed 30% of your monthly net (take-home) income. Some landlords use a 30% gross income test, while lenders sometimes accept up to 40% of gross. Once you cross 40% of net income on rent alone, most financial advisers consider you "rent burdened." This calculator shows your ratio against all three thresholds.
Should I use gross or net income?
Use net (after-tax) income for personal budgeting — that is the money you actually have to spend each month. Use gross income if you are checking whether you will pass a landlord or letting agent income test, since most reference checks use 30 times the monthly rent against gross annual salary (the "30x rule").
What is the 30x rent rule landlords use?
Many landlords and letting agents require that your gross annual income is at least 30 times the monthly rent. So a £1,200 monthly rent typically requires £36,000 in annual gross salary. Below that threshold you may need a guarantor, larger deposit, or rent paid up front.
Should I include my partner's or housemate's income?
Only include other income that is genuinely available to pay your share of the rent. If you are sharing a flat and each person pays their own share, set the "Number of people splitting rent" field instead — your share of rent is what gets compared against your own income.
Why does the calculator subtract debt and bills separately?
The 30% rule assumes a relatively normal financial profile. If you have heavy student loan repayments, car finance, or credit card debt, the same rent that is "affordable" on paper can become impossible in practice. By entering your real monthly outgoings, the calculator shows whether the rent leaves you anything to save or spend.
Is the 30% rule realistic in expensive cities?
In cities like London, New York, Sydney, and San Francisco, average renters often spend 40–50% of net income on rent. That is achievable but leaves very little margin. If you are renting in a high-cost area, prioritise an emergency fund and avoid taking on additional debt while rent is at the high end.
What other costs should I budget for beyond rent?
On top of rent, plan for council tax or property tax, utilities (electricity, gas, water, internet), contents insurance, and one-off costs like a security deposit (typically 4–6 weeks of rent), moving costs, and any agency fees that apply in your jurisdiction.
Pro Tips
- • Lenders and landlords use gross income tests; your own budget should use net income — keep both numbers in mind.
- • A common safety check: total housing costs (rent + utilities + council tax) should stay below 35% of net income.
- • Save 4–6 weeks of rent for the deposit, plus one extra month as an emergency cushion before signing a lease.
- • If your rent-to-income ratio is above 40%, postpone non-essential debt (new car finance, credit card balances).