Rent-to-Income Calculator
Enter a monthly rent to see what gross income a tenant needs to qualify — or enter an income to find out what rent is affordable. Uses the 2.5× and 3× thresholds standard across Ontario.
The 2.5× and 3× rules are the standard thresholds used by Toronto leasing agents and property managers. Individual landlords may apply different criteria.
Results will appear here
For leasing agents
Enter the listing rent to instantly know the minimum income to advertise — and to screen out applications before running a full document review.
For landlords
Quickly check whether an applicant's stated income clears your threshold before requesting a full document package.
For tenants
Know your realistic budget before applying. Targeting units within your income range means fewer rejections and a faster search.
Common questions
Is the 3× rule required by law in Ontario?
No — Ontario's Residential Tenancies Act does not mandate a specific income-to-rent ratio. The 2.5× and 3× rules are market conventions applied by landlords and leasing agents to assess affordability. Landlords can set their own threshold, but cannot use income requirements as a pretext for discrimination under the Ontario Human Rights Code.
Should I use gross or net income?
Leasing agents almost always use gross income(before tax) for the ratio calculation, since that's what pay stubs and employment letters report. Net income varies too much by individual deductions to be a reliable standard. This calculator uses gross income.
What if a tenant doesn't meet the income threshold?
Options include a co-signer or guarantor who meets the income requirement, a larger security deposit (up to last month's rent under the RTA), or demonstrating substantial savings that would cover rent for an extended period. Some landlords also accept these alternatives for self-employed applicants whose stated income looks low on paper. See our Ontario rental documents guide for more.
How do I verify the income once I have an applicant?
Pay stubs and employment letters are the standard. Use our pay stub deduction calculator to check whether the net pay on a stub is consistent with the stated gross — or DocuVerify for a full document integrity check.