All-in monthly$1,715First-year cost$1,771/moCash at signing$3,790
Apartment decision desk
Can this rent fit your real life?
See the full monthly cost, cash needed before move-in, and what the same lease could look like five years from now.
Start with the listing, not a rule.
Base rent is only one line in a housing budget. Add utilities, insurance, parking, and mandatory monthly fees before deciding.
Future view
Stress-test the lease beyond move-in day.
This is a scenario based on your rent and income growth assumptions. It is not a market forecast.
Base rent vs. estimated max base rentFive-year planning scenario
Today$1,715/mo
36% of take-home pay
Year 3$1,852/mo
about $137 more each month
First pressure pointNo crossover
The ceiling remains above housing cost in this scenario.
| Planning year | Base rent | Total housing cost | Estimated max base rent | Cash after planned costs |
|---|
Compare homes
Put three listings on equal footing.
Separate nonrefundable costs from refundable deposits. First-year cost spreads only nonrefundable charges across 12 months; cash to move also includes first month and the deposit.
All-in monthly$1,735First-year cost$1,756/moCash at signing$3,510
All-in monthly-First-year cost-Cash at signing-
City Flat has the lowest first-year cost from the values entered.
Cash at signing includes first-month base rent, nonrefundable upfront costs, the refundable deposit, and only the recurring extras explicitly marked as due then. The recurring-due field changes timing, not first-year cost.
Renew or move
Compare the next twelve months.
Enter all-in monthly housing costs. The result compares dollars only; lease terms, timing, location, and quality still matter.
U.S. renter context
Three current reference points.
National figures help frame the decision, but they do not replace local listings, lease terms, or laws. Updated July 15, 2026.
2024 median gross rent
Includes rent and average utility costs reported by renters.
U.S. Census Bureau sourceJune 2026 rent, year over year
Rent of primary residence in the Consumer Price Index.
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics source2023 cost-burdened renters
Share of renter households spending more than 30% of income on housing costs.
U.S. Census Bureau sourceThese datasets use different periods and definitions. Do not compare them as if they measure the same thing.
Before you apply
Turn the number into a safer rental decision.
Confirm costs and screening details in writing before sending money or sensitive information.
Price the whole lease
Ask for base rent, required monthly fees, tenant-paid utilities, parking, insurance requirements, deposits, and one-time charges.
Verify the listing
Search the address and owner or company, tour the unit, and avoid payment demands by gift card, wire transfer, or cryptocurrency.
FTC rental scam guidanceKnow the screening trail
If a tenant report leads to a denial or higher deposit, the landlord generally must identify the reporting company. You can request a free copy within 60 days.
CFPB tenant report guidanceCheck the local benchmark
HUD Fair Market Rents are program benchmarks, not asking-rent quotes. Use the current local lookup as one reference.
HUD FY 2026 FMR lookupHow this calculator works
A ceiling built from the tighter constraint.
The planner calculates the maximum base rent under three comparisons, then uses the lowest result: a 30% gross-housing guideline, 40x arithmetic, and the cash remaining after the priorities you entered.
- Gross-housing test
(gross income x 30%) - utilities - fees - insurance - parking - 40x comparison
(gross monthly income x 12) / 40 - Cash-flow test
take-home - debt - savings - living costs - non-rent housing
Planning estimate only. Results do not account for taxes, lease-specific qualification methods, local law, utility seasonality, credit, guarantors, assistance, or every household expense. This is not financial, legal, lending, or housing advice.