Compare rent planning limits
The standard example reserves 30% of gross monthly income for housing, including the utilities and insurance you enter. Conservative and stretch examples use 25% and 35% of net pay. The debt-aware example reserves 36% of gross income for housing and entered debt together, then deducts utilities. These are illustrative budgeting choices, not underwriting rules.
If you enter net pay, the visible deduction percentage estimates gross income. If you enter gross pay, it estimates net income. This percentage is not an automatic tax calculation. Hourly income assumes 40 hours a week for 52 weeks; other income frequencies are annualized.
Subtract food, transport, savings and other costs from the remaining cash before choosing a lease. Adjust the security deposit and moving buffer to actual quotes and local requirements. The 40× screening example does not predict acceptance.
U.S. Census housing-cost context · CFPB debt-to-income definition
Frequently asked questions
What does the standard 30% option mean?
It allocates 30% of estimated monthly gross income to rent and the entered utilities and insurance. It is a comparison benchmark, not a guarantee that the remaining budget covers your needs.
How does the debt-aware option work?
This illustrative housing-and-debt budget allocates 36% of gross monthly income, then subtracts entered debt payments and utilities. It is not a lender eligibility calculation.
What happens when I enter take-home pay?
The entered deduction percentage remains visible and is used to infer gross income: net divided by one minus the deduction rate. Use your actual gross income where possible; this tool does not calculate taxes.