How much house can I afford on a $80,000 salary?
About $339,675, 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.
- $1,867/moPrincipal and interest28% of gross pay
How other debt changes it on $80,000
Car, student loan and card payments count against the 36% limit.1
| Other debt a month | Payment you can carry | Home price |
|---|---|---|
| $0 | $1,867/mo | $339,675 |
| $300 | $1,867/mo | $339,675 |
| $600 | $1,800/mo | $327,544 |
| $1,000 | $1,400/mo | $254,756 |
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% | $14,302 | $286,042 |
| 10% | $30,193 | $301,934 |
| 20% | $67,935 | $339,675 |
Where $80,000 buys the typical home
The 12 priciest metros that still fit, out of 38.2
| Metro | Typical home |
|---|---|
| Winston-Salem, NC | $334,900 |
| Tulsa, OK | $329,500 |
| Lakeland, FL | $329,000 |
| Greensboro, NC | $327,000 |
| Harrisburg, PA | $326,859 |
| San Antonio, TX | $320,374 |
| Myrtle Beach, SC | $315,000 |
| El Paso, TX | $314,987 |
| Augusta, GA | $314,900 |
| Oklahoma City, OK | $312,450 |
| Louisville, KY | $312,000 |
| Indianapolis, IN | $310,000 |
$80,000 salary: questions people ask
How much house can I afford on $80,000 a year?
About $339,675 with 20% down at 7.32%, if you have no other debt. That keeps principal and interest near $1,867 a month, 28% of gross pay. Property tax and insurance come on top.
How does debt change it on $80,000?
Every dollar of monthly debt payments above $533 lowers the payment you can carry. With $600 a month in other payments, the price falls to about $327,544.
Where does a $80,000 salary buy the typical home?
In 38 of the 115 metros we track, the median listing is at or under $339,675, including Winston-Salem, NC, Tulsa, OK, Lakeland, FL.
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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