Rent affordability
How much rent can you afford?
Keep rent, utilities, internet, and renters insurance within 30% of gross income. At the U.S. median household income of $81,604, that is $2,040 a month, or about $1,803 for rent after typical utilities, internet, and insurance. Rent is set by the metro, so city pages carry the local numbers. This national version uses federal tax only.
Max rent in the U.S.
$1,803/mo
30% of gross income is $2,040 a month. Utilities, internet, and renters insurance take $237, which leaves $1,803 for rent.
Rent depends on the metro. Open a city below to compare its median with your max.
- Take-home
- $5,520/moAfter estimated federal tax and FICA.
- Move-in cash
- $3,606First month and a one-month deposit, at your max rent.
- Landlord screen
- $2,266/moHighest rent if a landlord wants income of 36× the rent.
Monthly budget
Where take-home pay of $5,520 goes at your max rent of $1,803. Each slice is its share of take-home.
- Rent33%$1,803
- Electric, gas, water3%$146
- Internet1%$77
- Renters insurance<1%$14
- Left over63%$3,480
Housing comes to $2,040 a month, 30% of gross income and 37% of take-home. That leaves $3,480 for food, transportation, savings, and everything else.
Largest cities
- New York, NY$2,145 1-bed
- Los Angeles, CA$1,890 1-bed
- Chicago, IL$1,536 1-bed
- Houston, TX$1,136 1-bed
- Phoenix, AZ$1,139 1-bed
- Philadelphia, PA$1,388 1-bed
- San Antonio, TX$970 1-bed
- San Diego, CA$1,932 1-bed
- Dallas, TX$1,224 1-bed
- Jacksonville, FL$1,117 1-bed
- San Jose, CA$2,965 1-bed
- Austin, TX$1,143 1-bed
In 169 of 218 metros, a typical 1-bedroom takes more than 30% of the median renter household's income. See the rent affordability rankings.
Calculators by state
- Alabama7 cities
- Alaska1 city
- Arizona13 cities
- Arkansas2 cities
- California51 cities
- Colorado13 cities
- Connecticut4 cities
- Delaware1 city
- District of Columbia1 city
- Florida38 cities
- Georgia15 cities
- Hawaii1 city
- Idaho4 cities
- Illinois6 cities
- Indiana8 cities
- Iowa3 cities
- Kansas4 cities
- Kentucky3 cities
- Louisiana7 cities
- Maine1 city
- Maryland6 cities
- Massachusetts6 cities
- Michigan7 cities
- Minnesota5 cities
- Mississippi3 cities
- Missouri6 cities
- Montana2 cities
- Nebraska2 cities
- Nevada4 cities
- New Hampshire1 city
- New Jersey4 cities
- New Mexico3 cities
- New York5 cities
- North Carolina15 cities
- North Dakota2 cities
- Ohio7 cities
- Oklahoma6 cities
- Oregon5 cities
- Pennsylvania6 cities
- Rhode Island1 city
- South Carolina10 cities
- South Dakota2 cities
- Tennessee10 cities
- Texas46 cities
- Utah4 cities
- Virginia16 cities
- Washington13 cities
- Wisconsin2 cities
- Wyoming1 city
How much rent you can afford by salary
Max rent is 30% of gross pay minus about $237 a month for typical 1-bedroom utilities, internet, and renters insurance. The landlord column is the highest rent at a screen of 36× the monthly rent; New York, New Jersey, and Connecticut landlords often ask for 40×.
| Salary | Gross / month | 30% budget | Max rent | Landlord screen |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $30,000 | $2,500 | $750 | $513 | $833 |
| $40,000 | $3,333 | $1,000 | $763 | $1,111 |
| $50,000 | $4,167 | $1,250 | $1,013 | $1,388 |
| $60,000 | $5,000 | $1,500 | $1,263 | $1,666 |
| $70,000 | $5,833 | $1,750 | $1,513 | $1,944 |
| $80,000 | $6,667 | $2,000 | $1,763 | $2,222 |
| $90,000 | $7,500 | $2,250 | $2,013 | $2,500 |
| $100,000 | $8,333 | $2,500 | $2,263 | $2,777 |
| $120,000 | $10,000 | $3,000 | $2,763 | $3,333 |
| $150,000 | $12,500 | $3,750 | $3,513 | $4,166 |
Household income in the United States
The U.S. Census Bureau's 2024 American Community Survey 1-year estimates put median household income in the United States at $81,604. That was up 2.0% from $80,002 in 2023. The margin of error on the 2024 figure is $128. The estimate covers income of everyone age 15 or older in the household, in 2024 inflation-adjusted dollars.
Household utility bills in the United States
These are typical monthly bills for all household types in the United States, not an apartment quote. The rent calculator uses a smaller apartment estimate for electricity, gas, water, sewer, and trash, plus the internet row. The all-household core of those housing bills is $403 a month.
| Bill | Monthly |
|---|---|
| Electricity | $140 |
| Natural gas | $85 |
| Water | $50 |
| Sewer | $65 |
| Trash | $63 |
| Internet | $77 |
Methodology and sources
Updated . Max rent is 30% of gross monthly income minus estimated utilities, internet, and renters insurance. If you enter other bills, max rent also keeps housing plus those bills within 36% of gross income, a debt-to-income ratio lenders generally consider good. Federal tax uses 2026 brackets and the standard deduction; state pages add 2025 state income tax brackets. Metro rents are Apartment List estimates. City pages add U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey 5-year estimates for income, gross rent, and rent burden. None of this is tax, legal, or housing advice.