How much rent can I afford in Guelph?

Rent affordability guide for Guelph, Ontario, using the local 1-bedroom rent and monthly income rules.

Advertised 1-bedroom rent
$1,860

Statistics Canada Quarterly Rent Statistics, April 2026.

30% gross rule
$74,400

Approximate annual salary to keep rent near 30% gross.

Monthly essentials
$2,512

Rent, groceries, and transport baseline.

Open this scenario in the income calculator ($74,400 in Guelph), then try your own salary, city or pay frequency.

Change salary or province
Gross salary30%35%40%
$60,000$1,500$1,750$2,000
$80,000$2,000$2,333$2,667
$100,000$2,500$2,917$3,333
$120,000$3,000$3,500$4,000

How much rent can I afford making $16 to $40 an hour in Guelph?

Using the 30% rule: rent should stay near 30% of gross monthly income, with 35% and 40% as stretch limits. Hourly pay is converted at 40 hours a week for 52 weeks (2,080 hours a year).

At the 30% rule, a $1,860 1-bedroom in Guelph needs about $35.77 an hour ($74,400 a year).

Hourly wageRent at 30%Local 1-bed rent share
$16/h$83267%
$18/h$93660%
$20/h$1,04054%
$22/h$1,14449%
$24/h$1,24845%
$26/h$1,35241%
$28/h$1,45638%
$30/h$1,56036%
$32/h$1,66434%
$34/h$1,76832%
$36/h$1,87230%
$38/h$1,97628%
$40/h$2,08027%

Rent affordability questions

What is typical rent in Guelph?
A typical advertised 1-bedroom apartment in Guelph rents for about $1,860 a month (Statistics Canada Quarterly Rent Statistics, April 2026). At 30% of gross income, that rent needs about $74,400 a year.
How much rent can I afford making $18 an hour in Guelph?
At $18 an hour (40 hours a week), gross income is about $3,120 a month, so the 30% rule suggests rent of about $936. A 1-bedroom in Guelph rents for about $1,860, or 60% of that gross income.
How much rent can I afford making $22 an hour in Guelph?
At $22 an hour (40 hours a week), gross income is about $3,813 a month, so the 30% rule suggests rent of about $1,144. A 1-bedroom in Guelph rents for about $1,860, or 49% of that gross income.
How much rent can I afford making $25 an hour in Guelph?
At $25 an hour (40 hours a week), gross income is about $4,333 a month, so the 30% rule suggests rent of about $1,300. A 1-bedroom in Guelph rents for about $1,860, or 43% of that gross income.
What hourly wage do I need to rent a 1-bedroom in Guelph?
To keep a $1,860 1-bedroom at 30% of gross income, you need about $35.77 an hour, or $74,400 a year, working 40 hours a week.
What rent rule is used here?
Rent is compared with gross (before-tax) income: 30% is the planning target, while 35% and 40% are stretch limits. Hourly pay assumes 40 hours a week for 52 weeks.

Next steps

Calculate your exact after-tax income and plan your budget.