Disposable Income
Disposable income and rent: how much can you afford?
January 26, 20262 min read
disposable income
rent
housing
A well-known rule of thumb says rent should take up around 30% of your net income at most. With a net salary of 28,000 DKK, that's around 8,400 DKK. The lower your rent, the higher your disposable income, but the rule is a guideline, not a limit the bank necessarily follows.
The rule of thumb for rent
How to use it in practice:
- Around 30% of net income is the most widely used rule of thumb for rent
- With a 28,000 DKK net salary, that's roughly 8,400 DKK in rent
- According to Landsbyggefonden's 2026 rent statistics, average rent in non-profit housing is 960 DKK per square metre per year, about 6,320 DKK for a 79 m² home
Rent vs. disposable income
Comparison at different rent levels (net salary 28,000 DKK, other fixed expenses 5,000 DKK):
- Rent 8,000 DKK (28% of net salary) → Disposable income: 15,000 DKK
- Rent 11,000 DKK (39% of net salary) → Disposable income: 12,000 DKK
- Rent 14,000 DKK (50% of net salary, above the rule of thumb) → Disposable income: 9,000 DKK, less room for unexpected expenses
Frequently asked questions
- Is 40% of income for rent too much? It's above the common rule of thumb of around 30%. You can do it, but it leaves less for food, savings, and unexpected expenses.
- What counts as a housing expense? Rent, electricity, water, heating, internet, and any shared building costs. Some also include contents insurance.
- How do I find out what I actually pay? Upload your bank statements in Reelt, and see all housing-related expenses together.
