What salary do you need for a $200K house?
At this week’s average rate of 7.28%, a $200,000 home with 20% down costs about $1,428 a month including taxes and insurance. Keeping that at 36% of gross income takes about $47,602 a year.
Income needed by down payment
| Down payment | Loan | Monthly payment | Income (36%) | Income (43%) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5% ($7,000) | $193,000 | $1,799 | $59,954 | $50,194 |
| 5% ($10,000) | $190,000 | $1,744 | $58,139 | $48,675 |
| 10% ($20,000) | $180,000 | $1,640 | $54,664 | $45,765 |
| 20% ($40,000) | $160,000 | $1,428 | $47,602 | $39,853 |
Where homes typically sell for about this price
How we calculated it
We used a 30-year fixed rate of 7.28% (Freddie Mac’s weekly average for the week of 2026-10-01), property taxes of 1.1% of the price a year (close to the national typical rate), $1,800 a year for insurance and estimated mortgage insurance under 20% down. Your taxes can be far higher or lower depending on where you buy; the income needed calculator lets you use your own numbers.
Questions
How much do I need to make to afford a $200,000 house?
About $47,602 a year with 20% down, or about $59,954 with 3.5% down, at a 7.28% rate with typical taxes and insurance.
What share of income should go to housing?
A common guideline keeps housing plus other debts at or below 36% of gross income. Many lenders approve up to about 43%.