How Much Rent Can I Afford?

See how much rent fits your income with the 30% rule, room for your debt payments, and what it costs to move in.

Household income before tax

€

A year, for everyone who’ll pay the rent

Loan and card payments

€

A month: car, student and personal loans, card minimums

Rent you can afford

€1,375/mo

30% of your income before tax

Comfortable (25%): €1,146/mo
Stretched (35%): €1,604/mo

Rent€1,375
Tax and everything else€3,208

What this means

Spending about 30% of your income before tax on rent leaves room for bills, saving and the rest of life. Below 25% is comfortable; above 35%, money gets tight, especially with debts.

To move in, expect to pay the first month’s rent and a deposit of up to one month’s rent: about €2,750 at this rent.

Next step

Rent at different shares of your income

Share of income	Rent
20%	€917/mo
25%	€1,146/mo
30%	€1,375/mo
35%	€1,604/mo
40%	€1,833/mo

Moving in

Rent in advance€1,375
Deposit€1,375
To move in€2,750

Assumptions in this estimate

The 30% guide uses income before tax. If you have high costs such as childcare, aim lower.
Bills, internet, insurance and moving costs come on top of the rent and deposit.

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How the calculator works

Income: your household’s income before tax, for everyone who’ll pay the rent.
Debts: monthly loan and card payments.
Result: rent at 30% of your income, with a comfortable level (25%) and a stretched one (35%). If debts would take you over 40% of your income, the rent is lowered.

Example

On €55,000 a year with no debts:

	A month
Comfortable (25%)	€1,146
The 30% rule	€1,375
Stretched (35%)	€1,604

With €600 a month of debt payments, the rent you can afford falls to €1,233.

Before you sign

Budget for the extras: electricity, heating, bins and internet usually come on top.
Check the tenancy is registered with the Residential Tenancies Board: you need that to claim the Rent Tax Credit.
Saving to buy? See Help to Buy, and compare with the rent vs buy calculator.

Last updated October 20, 2026

Frequently asked questions

How much rent can I afford on €55,000 a year?

About €1,375 a month, using the 30% rule: 30% of €4,583 a month before tax. Up to €1,146 is comfortable, and above €1,604 money gets tight.

How much deposit can a landlord ask for?

A landlord can ask for a deposit of at most one month’s rent, and at most one month’s rent in advance. So moving in usually costs up to two months’ rent.

Should I count my debts?

Yes. Car, loan and card payments come out of the same income. The calculator keeps rent and debt payments together within 40% of your income before tax.

Can I get tax relief on rent?

Yes: renters can claim the Rent Tax Credit through Revenue’s myAccount, if the tenancy is registered with the RTB.