Housing · 8 min read

How much house can I afford on a $60k, $80k, $100k or $200k salary?

The quick answer: multiply your gross monthly income by 0.28 to get the most you should spend on total housing costs, then work backwards to a price. On a $100,000 salary that is about $2,300 a month, which points to a home around $320,000 to $380,000. Below is the same maths at four income levels, plus the two things that move the number most.

The 28/36 rule, briefly

Total housing costs stay at or under 28% of gross income; all debt payments together stay under 36%. "Total housing costs" is the part people get wrong, it means principal, interest, property taxes, insurance, HOA dues, and a maintenance reserve of roughly 1% of the home's value each year. A mortgage quote covers the first two.

How much house can I afford on a $60,000 salary?

Realistic price range: $190,000–$230,000, at roughly $1,400 a month in total housing costs.

This is starter-home territory in most of the country and out of reach in coastal metros. A co-buyer or a larger down payment moves the number more than shopping for a better rate.

Full breakdown: how much house can I afford on $50k?

How much house can I afford on a $80,000 salary?

Realistic price range: $260,000–$300,000, at roughly $1,850 a month in total housing costs.

At this income, student loans or a car payment are usually what decide the ceiling. Every $200 of monthly debt cuts roughly $30,000 off the price you qualify for comfortably.

Full breakdown: how much house can I afford on $75k?

How much house can I afford on a $100,000 salary?

Realistic price range: $320,000–$380,000, at roughly $2,300 a month in total housing costs.

Lenders will often approve $450,000 or more here. The gap between approved and comfortable is the widest at this income, and it is where most buyers overextend.

Full breakdown: how much house can I afford on $100k?

How much house can I afford on a $150,000 salary?

Realistic price range: $450,000–$520,000, at roughly $2,630 a month in total housing costs.

Qualifying is rarely the problem at this income; qualifying for more than you should take is. Taxes, insurance, and upkeep often add $1,100 or more a month on top of the loan payment.

Full breakdown: how much house can I afford on $150k?

How much house can I afford on a $200,000 salary?

Realistic price range: $600,000–$700,000, at roughly $3,500 a month in total housing costs.

Property tax rates and insurance premiums swing the monthly cost more than price negotiation does. Above $650,000 with under 20% down you may cross into jumbo loan territory.

Full breakdown: how much house can I afford on $200k?

Why lenders approve you for more

A pre-approval measures your ability to make payments, not your ability to keep living. It does not know about childcare, a car you need to replace, or a savings goal. Treat the approval figure as a hard ceiling you stay well below, and let your own budget set the number. The home affordability calculator works from what you actually spend.

Down payment changes the answer more than salary does

Going from 5% down to 20% down on a $350,000 home removes private mortgage insurance and cuts the loan by roughly $52,000, worth around $400 a month combined. That is the same effect as a $17,000 raise. If you are close but not comfortable, another year of saving usually beats another year of shopping.

Do not drain the emergency fund for the down payment either. Set a target with the emergency fund calculator and keep it intact through closing, the first year of ownership is when surprise repairs arrive.

Still deciding whether to buy at all?

Compare against what you would sign a lease for using the rent affordability calculator, or go straight to rent vs buy, which can I actually afford?

FAQ

How much house can I afford with a 100k salary?

On a $100,000 salary, a home priced around $320,000 to $380,000 usually keeps total housing costs near 28% of take-home pay, roughly $2,300 a month including taxes, insurance, and upkeep.

How much house can I afford with an 80k salary?

Around $260,000 to $300,000 for most buyers with modest other debt, which lands near $1,850 a month in total housing costs.

How much house payment can I afford?

Keep total housing costs at or under 28% of gross income and all debt payments under 36%. Total housing costs mean principal, interest, property taxes, insurance, HOA, and a maintenance reserve, not the mortgage payment alone.

How much house can I afford with $10,000 down?

With $10,000 down you are likely in FHA or low-down-payment conventional territory, which adds mortgage insurance to the monthly cost. Expect the affordable price to drop roughly 5% to 10% versus the same income with 20% down.