How much house can I afford on a $100,000 salary?
About $424,594, with 20% down at this week's average rate and no other debt. Here is how debt and a smaller down payment change it, and where that budget buys the typical home.1
By Sol Lakein, founder of Slower Sundays. Updated November 2026.
- $2,333/moPrincipal and interest28% of gross pay
How other debt changes it on $100,000
Car, student loan and card payments count against the 36% limit.1
| Other debt a month | Payment you can carry | Home price |
|---|---|---|
| $0 | $2,333/mo | $424,594 |
| $300 | $2,333/mo | $424,594 |
| $600 | $2,333/mo | $424,594 |
| $1,000 | $2,000/mo | $363,938 |
With a smaller down payment
Same payment, less cash up front, so the price drops. Loans under 20% down usually add mortgage insurance, not counted here.1
| Down payment | Cash down | Home price |
|---|---|---|
| 5% | $17,878 | $357,553 |
| 10% | $37,742 | $377,417 |
| 20% | $84,919 | $424,594 |
Where $100,000 buys the typical home
The 12 priciest metros that still fit, out of 71.2
| Metro | Typical home |
|---|---|
| Dallas-Fort Worth, TX | $422,495 |
| Albany, NY | $419,975 |
| Atlanta, GA | $415,000 |
| Allentown, PA | $412,225 |
| Albuquerque, NM | $410,750 |
| Orlando, FL | $410,000 |
| Southwest Michigan, MI | $409,450 |
| Minneapolis, MN | $407,500 |
| Savannah, GA | $399,900 |
| Grand Rapids, MI | $399,900 |
| Milwaukee, WI | $399,450 |
| Bakersfield, CA | $396,500 |
$100,000 salary: questions people ask
How much house can I afford on $100,000 a year?
About $424,594 with 20% down at 7.32%, if you have no other debt. That keeps principal and interest near $2,333 a month, 28% of gross pay. Property tax and insurance come on top.
How does debt change it on $100,000?
Every dollar of monthly debt payments above $667 lowers the payment you can carry. With $600 a month in other payments, the price falls to about $424,594.
Where does a $100,000 salary buy the typical home?
In 71 of the 115 metros we track, the median listing is at or under $424,594, including Dallas-Fort Worth, TX, Albany, NY, Atlanta, GA.
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Notes on the numbers
- 1The 28/36 rule: housing payment up to 28% of gross monthly income, and all debt payments, housing included, up to 36%. Lenders count property tax and insurance inside the 28%; this calculator counts principal and interest only, so add those costs before you set a budget. Rate: Freddie Mac 30-year fixed average, week of October 22, 2026, 7.32%, 30-year fixed. Rate source
- 2Typical home: the median listing price for each metro, Realtor.com via FRED, September 2026.
Sources for this page
- Bankrate: What is the 28/36 rule?
- Mortgage rate: Freddie Mac 30-year fixed average, week of October 22, 2026
- Median listing price: Realtor.com via FRED, September 2026
- © Realtor.com, Housing Inventory Core Metrics (median listing price and median listing price per square foot), retrieved from FRED, Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis