How much should I spend on rent?
See what percent of your income your rent really takes, against the 30% guideline — and what the comfortable ceiling is for you.
$1,400 on $4,000 take-home is 35% of your income. The 30% guideline caps rent at $1,200.
- Rent as % of take-homeThat's stretched.
- 35%
- The 30% ceiling for youA common comfort line — not a hard rule. High-cost cities often push past it.
- $1,200
- Room under 30%
- $0
When rent runs over 30%, every other number has to flex. OneTruth Money shows what's actually safe to spend once rent and the rest of your fixed bills are accounted for.
Plan around itHow to use the rent affordability calculator
- 1Use take-home, not gross. The 30% guideline is most useful against the money that actually reaches your account.
- 2Compare to 30%. Under 30% is comfortable, 30–40% is stretched, over 40% is rent-burdened and worth a plan.
- 3Remember the rest of housing. Rent isn't the whole cost — utilities, renters insurance, and commuting all ride alongside it.
Go deeper
How much should I spend on rent? The 30% rule, honestly
How much should I spend on rent? The 30% rule says keep rent at or under 30% of take-home — but it's a guideline, not a law. Here's how to read it.
Read the guide
Want this to just happen?
When rent runs over 30%, every other number has to flex. OneTruth Money shows what's actually safe to spend once rent and the rest of your fixed bills are accounted for.
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