Rent Affordability Calculator

Most NYC landlords require your annual income to be at least 40 times the monthly rent. Guarantors usually need 80x. Use this tool to see your limits.

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However, you can do the math manually: Divide your annual pre-tax income by 40 to find your maximum monthly rent.

Annual Pre-Tax Income ($)

Max Monthly Rent (40x Rule)

Guarantor Income Required (80x Rule)

The 40x Rule Explained

In New York City, landlords use the 40x rule as a strict filter. If you want to rent a $3,000/month apartment, you must prove a gross annual income of at least $120,000.

Gross vs. Net Income

Crucially, landlords look at your gross (pre-tax) income, not your net (take-home) pay. This is a double-edged sword: it helps you qualify for more expensive apartments, but it means you might be spending a dangerous percentage of your actual take-home pay on rent, especially given NYC's high resident taxes.

What if you don't make 40x?

Use a Guarantor: A guarantor (often a parent) co-signs the lease. They typically must live in the Tri-State area and make 80x the monthly rent.
Institutional Guarantors: Companies like Insurent or The Guarantors will co-sign for a fee (usually ~1 month's rent).
Extra Security Deposit: Note that since the 2019 rent laws, landlords are legally prohibited from asking for more than one month's rent as a security deposit, even if you offer it.