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Rent Affordability Calculator

How much rent can you actually afford — or what salary do you need for that apartment? Two ways to run the numbers, with D.C. area benchmarks.

// Your income
$
Estimated monthly take-home
$3,600
Based on ~28% effective tax rate.
// The rules
25%
Aggressive saver
Leave more room for savings, travel, and life. Best if you're trying to build wealth fast.
30%
Standard guideline
The classic rule. Based on gross income — but net is more accurate for your real budget.
35%
Getting tight
You'll make it work, but savings will be harder. Make sure your other expenses are lean.
50%
Absolute maximum
Half your take-home on rent. Liveable short-term in expensive cities, unsustainable long-term.
You can afford
Comfortable (25% of take-home)$900/mo
Sweet spot (30% of take-home)$1,080/mo
30% of gross (old rule)$1,500/mo
Absolute max (50% of take-home)$1,800/mo
// If you pay $1,080/mo rent
Here's what's left for everything else
$2,520/mo remaining
Food & groceries$756
Transport$378
Savings goal$504
Everything else$882
Suggested allocation of remaining income
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// D.C. area rent benchmarks (2026)
Brookland / Takoma Park
$1,300
Studio · Most affordable in D.C. metro
✗ Over your budget
Silver Spring / Hyattsville
$1,500
1BR · Best value with metro access
✗ Over your budget
Columbia Heights / Petworth
$1,700
1BR · D.C. proper, solid value
✗ Over your budget
Capitol Hill / H Street
$2,000
1BR · Central D.C., walkable
✗ Over your budget
Arlington / Alexandria
$2,100
1BR · Urban Virginia suburbs
✗ Over your budget
Logan Circle / Shaw
$2,300
1BR · Trendy D.C. neighborhoods
✗ Over your budget
Dupont / Navy Yard
$2,600
1BR · Premium D.C. locations
✗ Over your budget
Benchmarks based on typical 1BR asking rents in each area. Actual rents vary by unit size, building, and timing.
// Use these together
First Paycheck Decoder →
Get your exact take-home number to plug into this calculator.
D.C. Neighborhood Quiz →
Find neighborhoods that fit your budget and lifestyle.
Emergency Fund Calculator →
Once you know your rent, plan your safety net.
This tool provides general estimates for educational purposes only and is not financial, investment, or tax advice. Your actual numbers will vary — talk to a licensed financial advisor or tax professional before making decisions.