Enter your monthly take-home pay and see exactly where it goes — rent, food, gas, car, phone, and more. Based on real 2026 average costs.
Use our calculator to find your exact net pay after taxes first, then come back here.
Calculate Net Pay →These are the typical monthly costs we use as starting points. Your actual expenses will vary by location and lifestyle.
| Expense | Low Cost Area | Average | High Cost Area |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rent (1BR) | $950 | $1,400 | $2,400 |
| Groceries (single) | $300 | $420 | $550 |
| Car payment | $450 | $550 | $650 |
| Car insurance | $120 | $175 | $260 |
| Gas/fuel | $130 | $180 | $240 |
| Electric/utilities | $120 | $180 | $260 |
| Phone | $65 | $85 | $110 |
| Internet | $50 | $70 | $90 |
| Health insurance (out of pocket) | $150 | $250 | $400 |
| Dining out / entertainment | $200 | $350 | $550 |
A popular budgeting framework suggests dividing your take-home pay into three buckets:
On a $4,000/month take-home, that's $2,000 for needs, $1,200 for wants, and $800 for savings. In high-cost cities, hitting these targets is difficult because rent alone can exceed 40% of take-home.
| Category | Recommended % of Take-Home | On $4,000/mo |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent/mortgage) | 25-30% | $1,000-$1,200 |
| Transportation (all car costs) | 10-15% | $400-$600 |
| Food (groceries + dining) | 10-15% | $400-$600 |
| Utilities + phone + internet | 5-10% | $200-$400 |
| Health insurance | 5-10% | $200-$400 |
| Savings | 15-20% | $600-$800 |
The traditional rule is no more than 30% of your take-home pay on housing. On a $4,000/month net income, that means keeping rent at or below $1,200. In expensive cities, many people spend 40-50%, which leaves little for savings and other goals.
Total car costs (payment, insurance, gas, maintenance) should ideally stay under 15-20% of take-home pay. The average American spends $700-$1,000/month on all car expenses combined.
It depends heavily on your cost of living. In low-cost areas, saving 20% is achievable on a median income. In high-cost cities like San Francisco or New York, rent alone can consume 40%+ of take-home, making 20% savings very difficult without a high income or roommates.