What is the 30% rule?

The 30% rule says housing costs should not exceed 30% of gross income. For an annual income of 70,000 dollars that is 1,750 dollars a month, which happens to match Chicago's median one-bedroom rent.

Is the 30% rule strict?

It is a guideline, not a law. Many Chicago landlords require gross income of about three times the rent, which is the same as the 30% rule. Spending up to 35% can be workable with low debt, while above 40% is generally considered rent-burdened.

What rent fits a typical Chicago salary?

At Chicago's median household income, the 30% ceiling lands close to the median one-bedroom rent of about 1,750 dollars, which is why much of the city's standard housing stock is priced there. Higher earners can reach River North or West Loop tiers.

Does this include utilities?

No. The calculation uses base rent only. Chicago utilities add roughly 100 to 200 dollars a month depending on the season, so leave headroom under your ceiling for heat and electricity.

What neighborhood tiers does the tool use?

It maps your affordable rent to tiers from outer neighborhoods (under 1,400) through citywide median (around 1,750) up to premium areas like River North and the West Loop (2,500 and above), based on representative Chicago rents.

Chicago Rent Affordability Calculator

Before signing a Chicago lease, it pays to check the math. This calculator applies the classic 30%-of-income rule, benchmarks your number against the city’s median one-bedroom rent of roughly 1,750 dollars, and tells you which neighborhood tier your budget realistically reaches.

How it works

The core rule and ratio are simple:

affordable rent ceiling = gross monthly income × 0.30
rent-to-income ratio    = rent / gross monthly income

A ratio at or below 30% is comfortable, 30 to 40% is stretched, and above 40% is rent-burdened. The tool also maps your affordable ceiling onto representative Chicago neighborhood rent tiers.

Example and tips

Earning 70,000 dollars a year is about 5,833 dollars a month gross, giving a 30% ceiling of 1,750 dollars — exactly the citywide median one-bedroom. If the apartment you want rents for 2,100 dollars, your ratio is 36%, which is stretched; either find a roommate, look at an outer neighborhood, or aim for a higher salary. Always leave room beneath your ceiling for utilities, which Chicago winters can push toward 200 dollars a month.