SpendVerdict
29 cities · Free · Instant results

Can you actually afford your lifestyle?

See how your rent compares to people like you in your city

See where you rank vs renters in your city
Find out if you're overspending — and by how much
Compare your lifestyle across 29 cities instantly

Most people discover they're overspending

$

e.g. €50k salary + €1,500/mo rent → You're overspending vs most people

Instant · Anonymous · Official data sources

29

Cities covered

5

Official sources

500+

Salary & rent guides

Quick select

›
1

Your salary

Gross annual, any currency

›
2

Your city

We load local benchmarks

3

Your rent

Monthly, what you pay now

→ Your verdict in seconds

The 30% rule

Most renters in major cities are spending more than they should — and don't realise it.

Financial advisors recommend keeping rent below 30% of gross income. In cities like New York, London, and Dublin, the average renter is well above that. The question is where you land.

42%

New York

median ratio

38%

London

median ratio

29%

Berlin

median ratio

Other ways to explore

Where can I afford to live?

Enter your salary — see which cities fit

Compare two cities

See which city is cheaper to rent in

City rankings

29 cities ranked by rent-to-income ratio

Where this data comes from

Built on public datasets from national statistics agencies

Every benchmark is sourced from official government data or validated international databases — not scraping, not crowdsourcing. Each result shows a confidence rating so you know exactly how solid the data behind your verdict is.

ONSPrivate rental market surveys, housing costs
DestatisIncome and expenditure data, rent indices
INEHousehold budget survey, housing statistics
Statistics CanadaCensus housing data, rental market surveys
OECD IDDCross-country income distribution benchmarks
See full methodology

Explore by city

New YorkLondonBerlinParisAmsterdamBarcelonaSingaporeDubaiTorontoSydney
NYC vs LondonLondon vs BerlinParis vs AmsterdamMost expensive cities

Common questions

Is the 30% rule actually right?

It's a useful starting point. SpendVerdict uses four tiers: under 25% is comfortable, 25–35% is manageable, 35–45% is a stretch, and above 45% is risky. The right number also depends on your city — local income levels matter.

Gross or net salary?

Enter your gross annual salary (before tax). The rent-to-income ratio is calculated on gross income, which is the standard used by housing researchers. Your take-home will be lower — keep that in mind.

Where does the data come from?

Official national statistics: ONS (UK), Destatis (Germany), INE (Spain), Statistics Canada, and the OECD Income Distribution Database. Every result shows a confidence rating.

Why does the city change my result?

£1,800/month in London and €1,800/month in Berlin are very different situations — in what you get and how it compares to local incomes. SpendVerdict uses city-specific benchmarks so your verdict reflects the market you're actually in.

What counts as 'comfortable'?

Under 25% of gross monthly income. At this level you have room for savings, emergencies, and lifestyle spending without financial stress. It's the threshold most financial advisors consider genuinely sustainable.