The dream of having a comfortable home is slipping away for many Americans. A recent post on X by a user highlighted a harsh reality the average American salary is not enough to afford the average rent. The user pointed out that many landlords require tenants to earn three times the rent but with current U.S. salaries and rising housing costs this rule is making it nearly impossible for regular people to rent homes. This post sparked a heated debate online with many sharing their struggles and frustrations.
The 3x Rent Rule: What Is It?
In the U.S. landlords and property management companies often use the “3x rent rule” to decide who can rent their properties. This rule means that a tenants monthly income must be at least three times the monthly rent. For example if an apartment costs $1500 per month the tenant needs to earn at least $4500 per month (or $54000 per year) to qualify. The idea behind this rule is to ensure tenants can comfortably pay rent without struggling to cover other expenses like food, utilities or transportation.
While this rule might have worked in the past it’s becoming a huge barrier today. The problem is simple rent prices are skyrocketing but salaries are not keeping up. Many Americans are finding that even decent paying jobs don’t meet the 3x rent requirement for average apartments in their cities.
Rising Rent Prices vs. Stagnant Salaries
Over the past few decades the cost of renting a home has gone up much faster than the average American’s income. According to recent data the median rent for a one bedroom apartment in the U.S. is around $1500 per month in 2025. In big cities like New York, Los Angeles or San Francisco it’s often double that amount. Meanwhile the median household income in the U.S. is about $74000 per year which breaks down to roughly $6167 per month before taxes.
Let’s do the math. If an apartment costs $1500 per month the 3x rule means you need to earn $4500 per month. After taxes many workers take home much less than their gross income. For someone earning the median income this leaves little room for other expenses like groceries, healthcare or car payments. For those earning less than the median—such as retail workers, teachers or entry-level employees—renting an average apartment is simply out of reach.
Why Can’t Salaries Keep Up?
The gap between rent and salaries comes from several factors. First housing demand is high especially in cities where jobs are concentrated. This drives up rent prices as landlords know people will pay more to live close to work. Second the supply of affordable housing is limited. New apartment buildings are often luxury units with high rents not homes for middle or low income families.
On the salary side wages have not grown as fast as inflation or housing costs. Many jobs especially in industries like retail or hospitality pay hourly wages that haven’t increased much in years. Even professionals like teachers or nurses who have steady but modest incomes struggle to meet the 3x rent rule in expensive areas.
The Impact on Average Americans
The X post that sparked this debate resonated with so many because it reflects a widespread problem. People shared stories of working multiple jobs, moving to cheaper areas or living with roommates just to afford rent. Young adults in particular are hit hard. Many can’t save for the future because most of their income goes to rent. Others are forced to live far from their jobs spending hours commuting.
This situation also affects families. Parents working full time jobs are finding it hard to rent safe spacious homes for their kids. Some are stuck in low quality apartments or forced to move frequently because they can’t afford rent increases.
What Can Be Done?
The housing crisis isn’t an easy fix but there are ideas floating around. Some suggest building more affordable housing to increase supply. Others want rent control policies to stop landlords from raising prices too quickly. On the income side raising the minimum wage or offering tax breaks for low and middle income workers could help people afford rent.
For now many Americans are getting creative. Some are moving to smaller cities with lower rents. Others are choosing to share apartments or live with family to cut costs. But these are short term solutions to a bigger problem.
The Bigger Picture
The X user’s post opened up a much needed conversation about housing in America. The 3x rent rule while meant to protect landlords, is pushing average Americans out of the housing market. When hardworking people can’t afford a basic apartment it’s a sign that something is broken. As rent prices continue to climb and salaries lag behind this issue will only get worse unless changes are made. For now the debate on X shows that many Americans are feeling the same pinch—and they are hoping for solutions soon.