The rent to income ratio is your monthly rent divided by your gross monthly income. A lower ratio leaves more money for other costs.
HUD defines “cost burden” as monthly housing costs (including utilities) exceeding 30% of monthly income. Many budgets use 30% as a ceiling.
Worked example
Divide the rent by 0.30 to see the income that keeps you at 30%. These are math examples using Centro’s published price range as of 2026-11-02. Prices change daily; check current pricing.
| Monthly rent | Income for a 30% ratio |
|---|---|
| $699 | $2,330 |
| $729 | $2,430 |
| $1,099 | $3,663 |
| $1,114 | $3,713 |
How it differs from the 3x rule
The 3x income rule is a landlord screening test. The ratio is a budget check you run for yourself. A 3x rule equals a 33% ratio. Add fees and pet costs to rent for a true picture, using the total monthly price.
Pets at Centro add $25 monthly rent per pet, for up to 2 pets, so include that if it applies.
See the full guide: income needed to rent in Austin.
