ATLANTA--(BUSINESS WIRE)--On average, renters across the country spend anywhere from 15% to 46% of their income on rent. For many, housing is one of the largest monthly expenses, so knowing how much you can afford is essential before starting an apartment search. Apartments.com – the most visited apartment-listing site – is helping renters prevent overspending on rent and living outside of their means by setting an ideal budget.
Start with the Rule of Thumb: Many experts say you should spend 30% of your gross income on rent. However, this should just be used as a starting point as it may vary based on several other factors including location, proximity, transportation, and offered amenities.
Examine Your Lifestyle: How much time are you planning on spending at your apartment? If you’re a homebody or work from home, you might be able to invest more on your space and budget up to 35%. If you spend more in other aspects of your life like traveling or going out with friends, 15%-20% could be sufficient. Take a look into all of your current expenses such as student loan payments, car payments, and how much you typically spend on groceries, entertainment, etc.
Consider the City Average: It’s not surprising that some cities are more affordable to live in than others. Renters living in affordable locations such as Decatur, IL and Jefferson City, MO on average spend around 11% to 13% of their income on rent. When comparing this with cities like New York, where residents spend 46.2% of their income on average on rent, it’s clear to see how where you live can influence your budget.
Adding in Unexpected Fees: Rent isn’t the only thing you need to consider when moving to a new apartment. Even though move-in fees are a one-time payment, they will still cost you and need to be considered in your budget. Make sure you look into the cost of renters’ insurance, application fee, administration fee, security deposit, first month’s rent and any pet fees or deposits. Additionally, you need to include a ballpark number for how much utilities will cost per month including gas, electricity, water, sewer, trash, internet, cable, and pest control.
Find Way to Cut Costs: If you want to be able to increase your rent budget, find other areas where you may be able to spend less. Consider getting a roommate, cutting cable TV, or finding a place near good public transportation. Possibly even moving just outside of a big city to the nearby suburb, where rents are often less expensive.
While finding the perfect apartment is priceless, using the above tips will help renters create a budget that suits their unique needs.
Renters looking to search for their dream apartment that fits their budget can visit Apartments.com. For more advice on moving or renewing your lease, go to www.apartments.com/blog/how-much-should-i-spend-on-rent.
About Apartments.com
Apartments.com is the leading online apartment listing website, offering renters access to information on more than 1,000,000 available units for rent. Powered by CoStar, the Apartments.com network of sites includes Apartments.com, ApartmentFinder.com, ApartmentHomeLiving.com, Apartamentos.com, WestsideRentals.com, ForRent.com, ForRentUniversity.com, After55.com and CorporateHousing.com. Apartments.com is supported by the industry’s largest professional research team, which has visited and photographed over 400,000 properties nationwide. The team makes over one million calls each month to apartment owners and property managers, collecting and verifying current availabilities, rental rates, pet policies, fees, leasing incentives, concessions, and more. Apartments.com offers more rental listings than any other apartments website, and innovative features including a Polygon™ tool that allows users to define their own search areas on a map, and a “Plan Commute” feature that lets users search for rentals in proximity to a specific address. Apartments.com creates easy access to its listings through a responsive website and iOS and Android apps, and provides unmatched exposure for its advertisers through an intuitive name, strategic search engine placements and innovative emerging media. The Apartments.com network reaches millions of renters nationwide, driving both qualified traffic and highly engaged renters to leasing offices. For more information: www.Apartments.com.