Rent Affordability Calculators for 11 US Cities

How much rent you can afford depends on local rents, landlord income tests and what your paycheck keeps after local taxes.

Last updated: 09/27/2026 · Written by Sadaf Azeem

The 30% of gross income guideline is the same everywhere, but rent is not. In the most expensive cities on this list, a typical one-bedroom takes a far bigger share of a median salary than in Houston or Dallas. Local landlord practices differ too: New York landlords commonly ask for annual income of 40 times the monthly rent.

How rent affordability calculators compare across the 11 cities

CityTypical 1BR rent (estimate)What is different there
New York City$4,00040x landlord income rule; FARE Act
San Francisco$3,300Deposit rules: capped at one month
Los Angeles$2,400Deposit rules: capped at one month
Houston$1,300Deposit rules: no statewide cap
Dallas$1,450Deposit rules: no statewide cap
Chicago$2,100Deposit rules: city ordinance rules
Miami$2,500Deposit rules: no statewide cap
Atlanta$1,650Deposit rules: no statewide cap
Boston$3,100First, last and deposit allowed; broker fee rule 2025
Seattle$2,200Deposit rules: capped at one month
Washington DC$2,450Deposit rules: capped at one month

Typical rents are Rate and Reason starting estimates, not official statistics.

Deposits and move-in rules

Move-in cash varies by law. New York, California, DC and Seattle cap security deposits at about one month's rent for most rentals, while Texas, Florida and Georgia set no cap. Massachusetts allows first month, last month and a deposit. Broker fees are now the responsibility of whoever hires the broker in NYC (FARE Act) and Massachusetts (since August 2025).

Use take-home pay too

Each calculator also shows take-home pay after local taxes, so you can see how much is left after rent — the number that matters for a monthly budget.

Choose your city

Frequently asked questions

Is the 30% rule realistic?

It is a guideline; many renters in expensive cities spend more.

What is the 40x rule?

A common NYC landlord test: annual income of 40 times the monthly rent.

Where do the rents come from?

They are Rate and Reason starting estimates meant to be replaced with real listings.