Can I Afford This Rent? A quick, private way to check the numbers
Enter your monthly pay and a rent amount. This page shows what share of your income the rent would take, how much money is left for everything else, the rent you could afford, and the income a rent needs. There are no right or wrong answers here — just the math, laid out plainly.
of your pay would go to rent
Left after rent
for food, transportation, and everything else.
Rent you could afford (30% of pay)
per month, by the 30% standard.
Income this rent needs (30% rule)
per month to keep this rent at 30%.
Gap to that income
more per month would get you there.
If this rent is a stretch, you have options
Plenty of people pay more than 30% because rents are high where they live. That does not mean you did anything wrong — and there may be help to close the gap.
- Rent & utility help: The Stay-Housed Navigator (Maricopa County) matches your situation to rent and utility assistance. Anywhere in the U.S., call 2-1-1 for local rental assistance and community action agencies.
- Benefits you may qualify for: The Benefit Screener checks SNAP, cash assistance, utility help, and more in a few questions — income that frees up money for rent.
- Lower bills: See emergency utility assistance for help with electric, gas, and water.
- Build a plan: Save these numbers and next steps in My Ladder, or find resources near you.
How the numbers work
Where does the 30% rule come from?
For decades, U.S. housing programs have treated housing as “affordable” when rent plus basic utilities stay at or below 30% of a household’s income. Pay more than 30% and you are counted as “cost-burdened”; more than 50% is “severely cost-burdened.” It is a rough guide, not a law — but it is the same yardstick most agencies, landlords, and assistance programs use.
Take-home pay vs. before-tax pay — which should I use?
The official 30% standard is measured against gross (before-tax) income, so the “rent you could afford” line is most accurate with before-tax pay. But many people only know their take-home amount, and for day-to-day budgeting take-home is the honest number — it is the money you actually have. Use the toggle to tell the page which one you entered. If you use take-home, the calculator is a little more cautious, which is usually safer.
What does “left after rent” mean?
It is your monthly pay, minus the rent, minus any other must-pay costs you entered. That is the money left for food, transportation, medicine, and everything the 30% rule does not see. Two homes at the same rent can feel very different depending on what is left — which is why this number sits right next to the percentage.
Is anything saved or shared?
No. The math runs entirely in your browser. Your entries are kept only on this device so the page remembers them if you come back, and the Clear button wipes them instantly. Nothing is ever sent to Common Ladder or anyone else.
Have a suggestion to make this clearer? Contact us — we read every note.