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Rent Affordability Calculator

Calculate if your rent is affordable using the Australian 30% rule rental stress threshold.

30% RuleAU Thresholds

About

Calculate if your rent is affordable using the Australian 30% rule rental stress threshold.

About this tool

Calculate if your rent is affordable using the Australian 30% rule rental stress threshold. This tool gives a general estimate to help with everyday planning — for anything with real financial consequences, it's worth confirming the numbers with a professional.

How to use it

  1. Fill in the amounts and rates relevant to your situation.
  2. Adjust the term, frequency or scenario fields to match your circumstances.
  3. Hit calculate to see the full breakdown, not just a single figure.
  4. Try a few different scenarios side by side before making a decision.

Common use cases

  • Comparing a few different offers or rates before committing.
  • Working out whether a purchase or loan fits your budget.
  • Getting a ballpark figure before speaking to a broker or accountant.
  • Checking your own numbers against what a provider has quoted you.

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About the Rent Affordability Calculator

This rent affordability calculator uses the standard rule of thumb that housing costs — rent plus utilities — should not exceed 30% of your gross income. It helps you work out the maximum weekly or monthly rent you can comfortably afford based on what you earn, and compare that to actual rental listings in your area.

How to Use It

  1. Enter your gross income (before tax) — weekly, fortnightly, or annual.
  2. The calculator applies the 30% rule to show your maximum affordable rent.
  3. Compare this figure to rental listings on realestate.com.au or Domain to assess your options.
  4. Remember to account for other costs: bond (usually 4 weeks rent), moving expenses, and connection fees.

The 30% Rule in the Australian Context

In Australia, households spending more than 30% of gross income on housing are considered to be under "housing stress" — a threshold used by the Australian Bureau of Statistics and the National Housing Finance and Investment Corporation. In major cities like Sydney and Melbourne, many renters exceed this threshold due to high rents relative to wages. If your target rent exceeds 30% of income, consider whether there is room to increase income, reduce other expenses, or look at suburbs further from the CBD where rents are lower.

The 30% rule states you should spend no more than 30% of your gross (pre-tax) income on housing costs including rent and utilities. It is a widely used guideline in Australia and the US. However, it is a starting point, not a strict rule — higher earners can often afford more than 30% comfortably, while lower earners may need to stay well under 30% to cover all other living expenses.