Monthly Budget Calculator
Last updated: November 4, 2026
Compare monthly income and expenses, calculate cash flow, and estimate your savings rate.
On this page
Quick summary: Normalize entered take-home pay to a monthly average, subtract monthly expenses, and keep planned savings visible.
Read the complete guide
Updated reference sections in this guide are in English.
Put income and costs on the same time basis
Enter the take-home pay for one period and select that period. Other income, expense categories and planned savings are entered as monthly amounts. The calculator converts the main pay amount into an average calendar month, then combines it with other monthly income. Use 0 for a category that does not apply rather than leaving a required amount blank.
A monthly average with separate savings
Expense total = sum of the six monthly expense categories
Remaining before savings = income − expenses
Remaining after savings = income − expenses − planned savings
The frequency assumptions are 52 weekly, 26 every-two-week, 24 twice-monthly or 12 monthly periods per model year. The expense-to-income percentage excludes the separate savings allocation. If income is zero, that percentage is undefined, while the cash balance remains calculable.
A budget that reconciles
4,000 of monthly take-home income
Housing 1,200, utilities 200, food 500, transport 250, debt payments 200 and other expenses 350 total 2,700. This leaves 1,300 before planned savings. Setting aside 500 leaves 800.
Weekly income is not simply four weeks per month
At 1,000 each week, the model averages 1,000 × 52 ÷ 12 = approximately 4,333.33 per calendar month. Actual months can contain different numbers of pay dates.
Check this scenario in the calculator:
- Take-home pay per selected period
- 4000
- Pay frequency
- Monthly — 12 periods/year
- Other monthly income
- 0
- Monthly housing costs
- 1200
- Monthly utilities and communications
- 200
- Monthly food costs
- 500
- Monthly transport costs
- 250
- Monthly debt payments
- 200
- Other monthly expenses
- 350
- Planned monthly savings
- 500
- Currency (display only)
- USD — US dollar
Check the amounts against your own records
The result compares a plan with the categories entered. It does not read transactions, detect missing bills or determine the dates on which money will be available. Include irregular expenses through a monthly allowance if you want them represented. Keep a planned savings transfer out of the expense categories when you also enter it in the separate savings field, or it will be counted twice. A negative remainder means the entered allocations exceed the modeled income.
Reference and questions
CFPB: creating and maintaining a budget discusses recording income and spending. This form calculates from the categories you supply.
Are twice monthly and every two weeks the same?
No. The selected conventions use 24 and 26 annual pay periods respectively.
Does this estimate my income tax?
No. Enter take-home pay after the deductions you want reflected. The tool does not apply tax rules.
Does a positive monthly balance guarantee cash on a bill’s due date?
No. This is an average-month comparison, not a dated cash-flow schedule.