How much house can I afford on a $150,000 salary?
About $636,891, 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.
- $3,500/moPrincipal and interest28% of gross pay
How other debt changes it on $150,000
Car, student loan and card payments count against the 36% limit.1
| Other debt a month | Payment you can carry | Home price |
|---|---|---|
| $0 | $3,500/mo | $636,891 |
| $300 | $3,500/mo | $636,891 |
| $600 | $3,500/mo | $636,891 |
| $1,000 | $3,500/mo | $636,891 |
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% | $26,816 | $536,329 |
| 10% | $56,613 | $566,125 |
| 20% | $127,378 | $636,891 |
Where $150,000 buys the typical home
The 12 priciest metros that still fit, out of 105.2
| Metro | Typical home |
|---|---|
| Boise, ID | $609,925 |
| Sacramento, CA | $599,950 |
| Portland, OR | $587,750 |
| Stockton, CA | $585,000 |
| Riverside, CA | $584,984 |
| Asheville, NC | $575,000 |
| Washington, DC | $572,150 |
| Denver, CO | $569,900 |
| Provo, UT | $569,900 |
| Providence, RI | $569,450 |
| Salt Lake City, UT | $564,950 |
| Worcester, MA | $549,946 |
$150,000 salary: questions people ask
How much house can I afford on $150,000 a year?
About $636,891 with 20% down at 7.32%, if you have no other debt. That keeps principal and interest near $3,500 a month, 28% of gross pay. Property tax and insurance come on top.
How does debt change it on $150,000?
Every dollar of monthly debt payments above $1,000 lowers the payment you can carry. With $600 a month in other payments, the price falls to about $636,891.
Where does a $150,000 salary buy the typical home?
In 105 of the 115 metros we track, the median listing is at or under $636,891, including Boise, ID, Sacramento, CA, Portland, OR.
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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