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Methodology and Sources
What is sourced, what is assumed, and how to read the results.
Data
- Rent: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2027 county-level file (effective October 1, 2026), and the revised FY2026 file for year-over-year change. 4,764 counties and New England towns. FMRs are 40th percentile gross rents (rent plus typical utilities) for recent movers. In 12 areas outside Florida with pending reevaluation requests (for example San Jose and Milwaukee), HUD left the FY2026 figures in effect; this site shows the FY2027 figures everywhere.
- Groceries: USDA Food Plans, U.S. average, September 2026 (issued October 2026). Adults use the 19-50 (low-cost and moderate) or 20-50 (thrifty) age groups; an adult of unstated sex is the average of the female and male costs. Children are ages 6-8 and 9-11. USDA's household-size adjustments are applied (1 person +20%, 2 +10%, 3 +5%). Check: the thrifty plan for two adults and two children gives $1,024, matching USDA's published reference family figure of $1,024.00.
- Transportation and health care defaults: BLS Consumer Expenditure Survey 2024, average for all consumer units: gasoline ($2,411), other vehicle expenses ($4,206) and public transportation ($1,131) give $646 a month; health care ($6,197) gives $516 a month. These are national averages for households averaging about 2.5 people. They are defaults to edit, not estimates for you.
- Taxes: IRS 2026 standard deductions and brackets; SSA 2026 Social Security wage base ($184,500); Medicare 1.45% plus 0.9% above $200,000 (single) or $250,000 (joint).
Formulas
- Left after rent = take-home pay minus rent. Left after essentials also subtracts groceries, transportation, health care, childcare and other bills.
- Income needed = monthly rent × 12 ÷ 30% (or the share you choose). Hourly = annual ÷ 2,080.
Limits
- FMRs describe a typical unit in a whole metro area, not a specific apartment or ZIP code.
- Food plans are national averages; Florida prices may differ.
- No insurance, debt, savings or childcare defaults are assumed.
Data is checked when sources update: HUD each fall, USDA monthly, BLS each December, IRS each fall. Last review October 2026.
- HUD: Fair Market Rents, FY2027 county-level data
- HUD: Calculation of HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2027 (PDF)
- USDA: Cost of food monthly reports, September 2026
- BLS: Consumer Expenditures 2024 (news release)
- IRS: Tax inflation adjustments for tax year 2026
- SSA: Contribution and benefit base (2026: $184,500)
- HUD PD&R Edge: Rental burdens and the 30 percent rule
- Florida Department of Revenue: Do I have to file a personal income tax return in Florida?
Estimates for planning, not financial or tax advice. Rents are HUD Fair Market Rents (a typical, not a specific, unit), and other costs are government averages. Your own costs will differ.