Rent Affordability Calculator
Use the 30% rule to determine if rent is affordable for your income. Enter your annual household income, select your state and desired bedroom size to see a detailed affordability analysis.
Rent Affordability Calculator
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How the Rent Affordability Calculator Works
The 30% Rule
Financial experts recommend spending no more than 30% of your gross monthly income on housing costs. This is known as the 30% rule and is used by HUD to define "cost-burdened" households.
Fair Market Rents (FMR)
FMRs are set annually by HUD and represent the 40th percentile of gross rents for standard quality units in a given area. They are used to determine Housing Choice Voucher payment amounts.
Rent Burden
If rent exceeds 30% of income, a household is considered "cost-burdened." Above 50% is "severely cost-burdened." About 46% of US renters are currently cost-burdened.
Utility Estimates
When utilities are included, we add estimated monthly costs: ~$80 for studios, scaling up to ~$190 for 4-bedroom units. Actual costs vary by location and usage.
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