Affordability Calculator · 2026
Can You Afford a $300,000 House on $150,000?
Houston, TX
✅ Yes — Affordable
Yes — comfortably. At 22% of monthly take-home, this purchase is within the recommended 28% guideline.
Monthly Take-Home
$9,440
after all taxes
Monthly Housing Cost
$2,097
P&I + tax + ins.
Housing Ratio
22%
✓ Under 28%
Remaining Monthly
$7,343
after housing
Monthly Cost Breakdown
Salary & Tax Breakdown
Affordability at Other Home Prices
50 / 30 / 20 Budget Planner
Based on your monthly take-home of $7,343 ($88,116/yr)
$3,672
per month
- ›Rent / mortgage
- ›Groceries
- ›Utilities
- ›Insurance
- ›Minimum debt payments
- ›Transportation
$2,203
per month
- ›Dining out
- ›Streaming services
- ›Gym
- ›Hobbies
- ›Travel
- ›Shopping
$1,469
per month
- ›Emergency fund
- ›401(k) / IRA
- ›Investments
- ›Down payment fund
- ›Debt payoff (extra)
Needs / year
$44,058
Wants / year
$26,435
Savings / year
$17,623
Frequently Asked Questions
Can you afford a $300,000 house on a $150,000 salary in Houston?
Yes — comfortably. At 22% of monthly take-home, this purchase is within the recommended 28% guideline. Monthly housing costs (P&I + taxes + insurance) would be $2,097, vs. monthly take-home of $9,440.
What is the monthly mortgage payment on a $300,000 house?
With a 20% down payment ($60,000) and a 30-year fixed rate of 6.75%, the principal & interest payment is $1,557/month. Add property tax (~$415/mo) and homeowners insurance (~$125/mo) for a total of ~$2,097/month.
What salary do you need to afford a $300,000 house in Houston?
Using the 28% front-end ratio guideline (housing ≤ 28% of gross monthly income), you would need a gross salary of at least $89,856 to comfortably afford this home. Lenders generally allow up to 36–43% of gross income for total debt payments.
How does cost of living in Houston affect home affordability?
Houston has a cost-of-living index of 1.08 (1.00 = US average). Overall living costs in Houston are close to the national average.