Rent affordability calculator
Page last updated: August 28, 2026 · How we source & update
Enter your income to see a budget-friendly rent range. This uses the common guideline of spending about a quarter to a third of gross income on rent — a starting point, not a rule.
This is an educational tool, not legal or financial advice. Renter Shield is not a law firm, and no attorney-client relationship is created by your use of the app. Renter Shield does not store what you enter here.
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How this calculator works
It applies the common 30% guideline — rent at or below 30% of gross monthly income — and, when you enter monthly debts, shows how rent plus debts compare to your income. Assumptions & limits: 30% is a budgeting convention (used in federal housing-affordability definitions), not a rule about what you may rent; real budgets differ with taxes, utilities, household size, and local prices. An estimate here does not determine what any landlord must accept and creates no legal rights.