A household earning $90,000 a year can afford about $2,130 a month in rent, if $120 of utilities sit inside a 30% housing budget. That budget is $2,250 a month, which is 30% of $7,500 in gross monthly income. Put in your own numbers and this rent affordability calculator does the rest.
How is the affordable rent worked out?
The calculator turns yearly income into a monthly figure and applies the share you pick, anywhere from 25% to 40%. That’s your housing budget. Then it takes off utilities and internet, and what’s left is the rent that fits.
The income is before tax, which is how most landlords look at it. Your take-home pay is lower, so the slice of real money that goes to housing is bigger than the percentage suggests. Read the result as a ceiling, not a target.
| Share of income | Housing budget | Rent after utilities |
|---|---|---|
| 25% | $1,875 | $1,755 |
| 30% | $2,250 | $2,130 |
| 35% | $2,625 | $2,505 |
| 40% | $3,000 | $2,880 |
What does it look like on $90,000?
Enter $90,000 of household income, a 30% share, $300 a month in debt payments and $120 in utilities. Monthly income is $7,500. Thirty percent of that is $2,250, and after $120 for utilities you can afford $2,130 in rent. Gross income left for everything else is $5,250.
Go to 35% and rent rises to $2,505, leaving $4,875. That extra $375 a month costs you $4,500 a year of breathing room.
Now a tighter case. Income is $60,000 and debt payments are $1,600 a month. The 30% budget is $1,500, so rent after utilities is $1,380. The calculator also flashes a warning here, because those debts take more than 20% of gross income and a landlord may see a stretch.
And a smaller one. Sam is single, earns $72,000 and picks 30%. Monthly income is $6,000, the budget is $1,800, and after $120 of utilities the rent that fits is $1,680.
Is 30% a rule?
No. It’s a rule of thumb, not a law. Landlords often ask for rent at 30% to 35% of income or less, but each one runs its own test. A share that’s fine in a cheap city can pinch in an expensive one.
Housing is considered to be affordable when housing costs less than 30% of before-tax household income.
Identifying Core Housing Need, CMHC, cmhc-schl.gc.ca
That’s where the 30% habit comes from, a yardstick for whole households, and not a test any particular landlord must use.
The debt box doesn’t change the rent amount. It only triggers the warning when debts are heavy, so if you want a stricter budget, subtract them yourself. Insurance, parking, transit, food and childcare aren’t in the calculation. A solo renter uses one income, and a couple who’ll both sign the lease uses the combined figure.
One more thing: rent can go up every year, so a budget that fits today may not fit in two.
Should utilities and internet come out of the budget?
That depends on the lease. If heat and water are included in the rent, enter a smaller amount for utilities, maybe only internet and electricity. If you pay everything yourself, enter the full bill. Ask the landlord what a typical winter month costs, since a $120 guess in July can turn into something much bigger in January.
What should I check next?
Once you have a number, find out how much a landlord can raise it with the rent increase calculator. Weighing renting against buying? The rent vs buy calculator is the place. The budget calculator shows where the rest of your money goes, and the percentage calculator tests any other share of income.
How we checked the figures
They’re plain arithmetic on the income, share, debts and utilities you type in. The 25% to 40% range is a set of common planning shares, and none of them is a legal requirement. Landlord screening rules differ, so check what a listing asks for. This website has no link with any government body, and the figures are a guide only.
About this calculator
- What it does
- Find how much rent fits your income at shares of 25% to 40%, with a warning when your debts are heavy.
- Category
- Real Estate
- Last checked
- September 30, 2026
- Result type
- Estimate for information only, not tax advice.
Frequently asked questions
How much rent can I afford on $90,000?
About $2,130 a month at a 30% share with $120 of utilities. The full housing budget is $2,250.
Should I spend 30% of my income on rent?
It's the common guide. Landlords often accept 30% to 35% or less, but it isn't a legal rule.
Does it use gross or net income?
Gross, which means income before tax. Your take-home pay is lower, so treat the result as a ceiling.
Do my debts lower the rent it shows?
No. They only trigger a warning when they take more than 20% of gross income.
What if I'm renting with a partner?
Enter the combined household income, and check that each person on the lease meets the landlord's requirements.
Sources and updates
Updated: . How we check rates · Editorial team · Updates