How Much Rent Can You Afford? The 30% Rule and a Calculator

Fri, 03 Jul 2026 10:00:00 +0530

“How much can I afford?” is the question that should come before “which flat do I like?”, and it rarely does. Rent is usually the single biggest line in a budget, and setting it too high quietly squeezes everything else, saving, emergencies, and the flexibility to leave a job you hate. Set it well and the rest of your money works.

There is a simple, decades-old guideline for this, the 30% rule, and a slightly fuller one, the 50/30/20 budget. Neither is a law, but together they give you a number to aim at and a ceiling not to cross. Below is how each works, a calculator to find your own figure, and the costs beyond rent that people forget until the bills arrive.

30% Rule on Mittiyo

How Much Rent Can You Afford? The 30% Rule and a Calculator