🏠 Can I Afford This Apartment?
Plug in your salary and the rent you're looking at. We'll tell you if it's green, yellow, or red — and show you exactly what your budget looks like after all the essentials.
Your Situation
$
$
55% (high taxes / lots of deductions)85% (low tax state, no deductions)
🚨
Red Zone
This will stretch your budget dangerously thin. Consider roommates or a different unit.
Rent is 32.7% of gross
Rent is 45.5% of take-home
Max Rent Recommendations
30% of Gross Income
$1,375/mo
Traditional guideline
30% of Take-Home Pay
$990/mo
More realistic rule
Monthly Budget After Rent
Monthly take-home: $3,300
Monthly Take-Home$3,300
🏠 Rent− $1,500
Utilities (electric, gas, water)− $150
Groceries & Food− $400
Transportation (gas / transit)− $200
Phone Bill− $80
Subscriptions (Netflix, Spotify, etc.)− $50
Left for everything else$920
✅ You'd have $920/month after essentials for savings, dining out, emergencies, and fun.
FAQs
What's the 30% rule?
Spend no more than 30% of gross monthly income on rent. If you make $60k ($5k/month), max rent = $1,500. In expensive cities this is hard, but it's a useful target.
Gross or net income?
The classic rule uses gross, but using take-home is smarter. After taxes, your $60k salary might only be $42–45k. Basing rent on gross is optimistic.
What about roommates?
A roommate can cut your housing costs 40–50%. In expensive cities, getting a 2BR with someone is often the only way to hit the 30% target.
What if I'm over the limit?
You're not alone — most major cities make this impossible. Short-term, it's survivable if you cut other expenses. Long-term, plan for a raise or a move.
Sources: HUD Affordable Housing, BLS Consumer Expenditure Survey, CFPB Renter Resources. Last updated March 2026.