How much rent can I afford?
Two common rules: spend about 30% of gross income on rent, and many landlords ask for yearly income of at least 40 times the monthly rent.
Do this every month in a spreadsheet
Monthly Budget Spreadsheet: Budget vs actual for every month, totals, left-over money and savings rate, plus a year summary that fills itself in. Works in Excel, Google Sheets and Numbers.
Excel and Google Sheets, formulas already set up. Instant download.
FAQ
Is 30% a hard rule?
No, it's a guideline. In expensive cities many people pay more; budgeting the rest carefully matters more than hitting 30% exactly.
Should utilities count?
If utilities aren't included, set aside part of the rent budget for them, often $100–250 a month depending on the home and climate.
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