Free tool
Move-in cash
Adds up everything you pay before you get the keys and tells you whether your state's law caps the deposit.
Free, no sign-up. What you type stays on your phone.
- Connected to 3,222 counties and 33,486 ZIP codes
- Rules verified as of November 5, 2026.
- Public data from HUD
Move the numbers and the result changes right away. We start with the typical numbers for the United States; change any of them to yours.
Calculating with the numbers for:
Your move
We use the place's fair market rent and the state's deposit rule.
Adjust advanced details
Let's do the math
Cash to move in
$3,500
What you need before you get the keys.
What adds up
- First month
- $1,750
- Security deposit
- $1,750
- Total
- $3,500
When you'll have it
Enter what you can set aside each month to see how long it takes.
What helps
- Ask for a receipt for every payment and keep a copy of the lease.
- On move-in day, walk through the home and take dated photos.
- Never send money for a home you haven't seen or a lease you haven't read.
This is a planning estimate, not a price. What you are asked for depends on the landlord, your lease and your state's and city's rules. It is not legal advice.
Show contents
How is it calculated?
The same formulas lenders use, with the rules each program publishes. Nothing is hidden.
The formula
Move-in cash = first month + deposit + last month (if asked) + pet deposit + applications + utilities + moving. The deposit is compared with your state's cap.
Example with the numbers for the United States
- Two-bedroom Fair Market Rent
- $1,750
- Security deposit (example)
- $1,750
- First month's rent
- $1,750
- Moving truck (example)
- $100 – $400
- Total monthly payment
- $3,600
Computed from the page's data when it was built; in the tool you replace every number with your own.
What moves the result?
Six things that change the number more than anything else.
-
The rent
The reference is HUD's Fair Market Rent for your county, by home size.
-
The deposit
Several states cap it. Check your state's cap before you pay it.
-
Fees and charges
Applications, services, HOA. Always ask for the breakdown in writing.
-
Your state's law
Deadlines, caps and taxes change from state to state. Every rule carries its citation.
-
Your savings
The deposit, first month's rent and the move are paid at about the same time. Having it set aside avoids costly debt.
-
Time
Saving for a move takes time. The tool tells you how much to set aside each month.
The official numbers behind the tool
Official data the tool uses, so you can compare.
Security-deposit cap by state
| State | Deposit cap | Days to return it | Verified |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | 1 month of rent | 60 days | October 24, 2026 |
| Alaska | — | — | October 24, 2026 |
| Arizona | 1.5 months of rent | 14 days | October 16, 2026 |
| Arkansas | 2 months of rent | 60 days | October 24, 2026 |
| California | 1 month of rent | 21 days | October 16, 2026 |
| Colorado | 2 months of rent | 1 day | October 23, 2026 |
| Connecticut | 2 months of rent | — | October 23, 2026 |
| Delaware | 1 month of rent | — | October 24, 2026 |
| District of Columbia | 1 month of rent | — | October 24, 2026 |
| Florida | No cap in the law | 15 days | November 5, 2026 |
| Georgia | 2 months of rent | 30 days | October 23, 2026 |
| Hawaii | 1 month of rent | 14 days | October 24, 2026 |
| Idaho | No cap in the law | 21 days | November 5, 2026 |
| Illinois | No cap in the law | 45 days | November 5, 2026 |
| Indiana | — | 45 days | October 24, 2026 |
| Iowa | 2 months of rent | 30 days | October 24, 2026 |
| Kansas | 1 month of rent | 30 days | October 24, 2026 |
| Kentucky | — | — | — |
| Louisiana | — | 1 day | October 24, 2026 |
| Maine | 2 months of rent | — | October 24, 2026 |
| Maryland | 1 month of rent | 45 days | October 23, 2026 |
| Massachusetts | 1 month of rent | 30 days | October 23, 2026 |
| Michigan | 1.5 months of rent | 30 days | October 23, 2026 |
| Minnesota | No cap in the law | 21 days | November 5, 2026 |
| Mississippi | — | 45 days | October 24, 2026 |
| Missouri | 2 months of rent | 30 days | October 24, 2026 |
| Montana | — | — | — |
| Nebraska | 1 month of rent | 14 days | October 24, 2026 |
| Nevada | 3 months of rent | 30 days | October 23, 2026 |
| New Hampshire | 1 month of rent | 30 days | October 24, 2026 |
| New Jersey | 1.5 months of rent | 30 days | October 16, 2026 |
| New Mexico | — | — | — |
| New York | 1 month of rent | 14 days | October 16, 2026 |
| North Carolina | No cap in the law | 30 days | October 16, 2026 |
| North Dakota | 1 month of rent | 30 days | October 24, 2026 |
| Ohio | No cap in the law | 30 days | November 5, 2026 |
| Oklahoma | — | 45 days | October 24, 2026 |
| Oregon | No cap in the law | 31 days | November 5, 2026 |
| Pennsylvania | 2 months of rent | 30 days | October 23, 2026 |
| Puerto Rico | — | — | — |
| Rhode Island | 1 month of rent | 20 days | October 24, 2026 |
| South Carolina | No cap in the law | 30 days | November 5, 2026 |
| South Dakota | 1 month of rent | 21 days | October 24, 2026 |
| Tennessee | — | — | — |
| Texas | No cap in the law | 30 days | November 5, 2026 |
| Utah | No cap in the law | 30 days | November 5, 2026 |
| Vermont | — | 14 days | October 24, 2026 |
| Virginia | 2 months of rent | 45 days | October 23, 2026 |
| Washington | No cap in the law | 30 days | November 5, 2026 |
| West Virginia | — | — | — |
| Wisconsin | — | 21 days | October 24, 2026 |
| Wyoming | — | 30 days | October 24, 2026 |
- Alabama 1 month of rent60 days
- Alaska ——
- Arizona 1.5 months of rent14 days
- Arkansas 2 months of rent60 days
- California 1 month of rent21 days
- Colorado 2 months of rent1 day
- Connecticut 2 months of rent—
- Delaware 1 month of rent—
- District of Columbia 1 month of rent—
- Florida No cap in the law15 days
- Georgia 2 months of rent30 days
- Hawaii 1 month of rent14 days
- Idaho No cap in the law21 days
- Illinois No cap in the law45 days
- Indiana —45 days
- Iowa 2 months of rent30 days
- Kansas 1 month of rent30 days
- Kentucky ——
- Louisiana —1 day
- Maine 2 months of rent—
- Maryland 1 month of rent45 days
- Massachusetts 1 month of rent30 days
- Michigan 1.5 months of rent30 days
- Minnesota No cap in the law21 days
- Mississippi —45 days
- Missouri 2 months of rent30 days
- Montana ——
- Nebraska 1 month of rent14 days
- Nevada 3 months of rent30 days
- New Hampshire 1 month of rent30 days
- New Jersey 1.5 months of rent30 days
- New Mexico ——
- New York 1 month of rent14 days
- North Carolina No cap in the law30 days
- North Dakota 1 month of rent30 days
- Ohio No cap in the law30 days
- Oklahoma —45 days
- Oregon No cap in the law31 days
- Pennsylvania 2 months of rent30 days
- Puerto Rico ——
- Rhode Island 1 month of rent20 days
- South Carolina No cap in the law30 days
- South Dakota 1 month of rent21 days
- Tennessee ——
- Texas No cap in the law30 days
- Utah No cap in the law30 days
- Vermont —14 days
- Virginia 2 months of rent45 days
- Washington No cap in the law30 days
- West Virginia ——
- Wisconsin —21 days
- Wyoming —30 days
Source: State laws cited; verified on the date in each row
HUD Fair Market Rent by size, most populous counties of the United States
| Place | Studio | 1 bed | 2-bed Fair Market Rent | 3 bed | 4 bed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Los Angeles County (CA) | $2,151 | $2,402 | $2,964 | $3,760 | $4,208 |
| Cook County (IL) | $1,678 | $1,780 | $2,011 | $2,586 | $2,954 |
| Harris County (TX) | $1,233 | $1,261 | $1,497 | $2,017 | $2,502 |
| Maricopa County (AZ) | $1,390 | $1,493 | $1,734 | $2,287 | $2,537 |
| San Diego County (CA) | $2,192 | $2,335 | $2,823 | $3,743 | $4,526 |
| Orange County (CA) | $2,580 | $2,610 | $3,057 | $4,153 | $4,964 |
| Miami-Dade County (FL) | $1,953 | $2,121 | $2,564 | $3,277 | $3,749 |
| Kings County (NY) | $2,593 | $2,729 | $2,971 | $3,760 | $4,121 |
- Los Angeles County (CA) $2,151$2,402
- Cook County (IL) $1,678$1,780
- Harris County (TX) $1,233$1,261
- Maricopa County (AZ) $1,390$1,493
- San Diego County (CA) $2,192$2,335
- Orange County (CA) $2,580$2,610
- Miami-Dade County (FL) $1,953$2,121
- Kings County (NY) $2,593$2,729
Source: Fair Market Rents (Fiscal year 2027)
— means the source publishes no value.
Want your county's numbers?
Type your county or ZIP code: the tool loads its numbers and keeps them in your browser for the other tools.
Frequently asked questions
How much can they ask for as a deposit?
It depends on the state. Some cap it in months of rent and others do not. Pick your state in the tool: if we have read its law, we show the cap with the citation of the law that sets it.
Will I get the deposit back?
It depends on your state's rules and your lease. The security deposit guide explains it. Dated photos from move-in day help show what the home looked like.
Why don't you estimate electricity and gas?
Because we don't have official utility price data by place yet. Ask each company what it charges for a deposit or connection and enter it in the tool.
Do you keep my numbers?
No. Everything stays in your browser and you can clear it with the start-over button. We never ask for names or personal data.
Methodology and sources (HUD)
- The rent: we start with HUD's two-bedroom fair market rent (FMR) for the place you pick (FY2027). Replace it with the rent of the home you want.
- The deposit: enter it in months of rent or in dollars. If you pick your state and we have read its law, we show the cap it sets, with the citation and the source.
- The total: we add the first month, the last month if it is required, the deposit, the pet deposit, application fees, utilities, the move and anything else. If you enter what you can set aside each month, we tell you how long it takes to put it together.
Data
- Fair Market Rents (Fiscal year 2027)
Program rules
- California: Cal. Civ. Code §1950.5(c)(1), (c)(4) · Verified on October 16, 2026
- Texas: Tex. Prop. Code §§92.101–92.113 (subch. C) · Verified on November 5, 2026
- Florida: Fla. Stat. §83.49(1) (2026) · Verified on November 5, 2026
- New York: N.Y. Gen. Oblig. Law §7-108(1-a)(a) · Verified on October 16, 2026
- Illinois: null · Verified on November 5, 2026
- Arizona: Ariz. Rev. Stat. §33-1321(A) · Verified on October 16, 2026
- New Jersey: N.J.S.A. 46:8-21.2 · Verified on October 16, 2026
- North Carolina: N.C. Gen. Stat. § 42-51(b) · Verified on October 16, 2026
- Georgia: O.C.G.A. §44-7-30.1 · Verified on October 23, 2026
- Colorado: C.R.S. §38-12-102.5 · Verified on October 23, 2026
- Washington: RCW 59.18.260(1) · Verified on November 5, 2026
- Virginia: Va. Code §55.1-1226(A) · Verified on October 23, 2026
- Massachusetts: M.G.L. c. 186, §15B(1)(b) · Verified on October 23, 2026
- Maryland: Md. Code, Real Prop. §8-203(b)(1) · Verified on October 23, 2026
- Nevada: NRS 118A.242(1) · Verified on October 23, 2026
- Pennsylvania: 68 P.S. §250.511a(a)-(b) · Verified on October 23, 2026
- Utah: Utah Code §57-17-1 · Verified on November 5, 2026
- Connecticut: Conn. Gen. Stat. §47a-21(b) · Verified on October 23, 2026
- Minnesota: Minn. Stat. §504B.178, subd. 1 · Verified on November 5, 2026
- Oregon: ORS 90.300(2)(a) · Verified on November 5, 2026
- Ohio: Ohio Rev. Code §5321.16(A) · Verified on November 5, 2026
- Michigan: MCL 554.602 · Verified on October 23, 2026
- South Carolina: S.C. Code §27-40-410(a) · Verified on November 5, 2026
- Alabama: Ala. Code §35-9A-201(a) · Verified on October 24, 2026
- Arkansas: Ark. Code §18-16-304 · Verified on October 24, 2026
- District of Columbia: 14 DCMR §308.2 · Verified on October 24, 2026
- Delaware: 25 Del. C. §5514(a)(2)-(4) · Verified on October 24, 2026
- Hawaii: Haw. Rev. Stat. §521-44(b) · Verified on October 24, 2026
- Iowa: Iowa Code §562A.12(1) · Verified on October 24, 2026
- Idaho: null · Verified on November 5, 2026
- Kansas: K.S.A. 58-2550(a) · Verified on October 24, 2026
- Maine: 14 M.R.S. §6032 · Verified on October 24, 2026
- Missouri: Mo. Rev. Stat. §535.300.1 · Verified on October 24, 2026
- North Dakota: N.D. Cent. Code §47-16-07.1(1)-(2) · Verified on October 24, 2026
- Nebraska: Neb. Rev. Stat. §76-1416(1) · Verified on October 24, 2026
- New Hampshire: N.H. Rev. Stat. Ann. §540-A:6, I(a) · Verified on October 24, 2026
- Rhode Island: R.I. Gen. Laws §34-18-19(a) · Verified on October 24, 2026
- South Dakota: S.D. Codified Laws §43-32-6.1 · Verified on October 24, 2026
What comes next?
Go on to the tool that answers your next question, or read a guide at your own pace.
Want someone to go over it with you? A HUD-approved counselor does it for free or at low cost. Find a counselor
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