Australian Borrowing Power Calculator

Enter your income, savings, debts and living costs to see your borrowing power for a home loan, tested the way lenders must test it, and the price your deposit lets you buy.

Your yearly income

Before tax

Partner’s income

If you’re buying together

Savings for a deposit

Other debt payments

Per month: car, loans, cards

Living costs a month

Food, bills, transport and insurance, but not rent. A starting guess: enter your own.

State or territory

For stamp duty

More options· 6.2% over 30 years, First-time buyer

Interest rate

Term

years

First-time buyer

Pay less or no stamp duty in most states

Property

Some states only give relief on new homes

Other debts you owe

In total, for the debt-to-income limit

New owner-occupier variable home loans averaged 6.2% in August 2026 (RBA).

You could afford a home up to

$583,077

$483,077 mortgage + $100,000 deposit

Mortgage payment: $2,959/mo
Most you can borrow: $600,000

Mortgage$483,077
Deposit$100,000

Cash you need: $100,000 ($100,000 deposit, no NSW stamp duty to pay)

Your income sets the limit: repayments, tested at 9.2% (your rate plus the 3% buffer lenders must use), take up what's left of your take-home pay after living costs and other debts.

See this home in the mortgage calculator

What this means

The mortgage payment would take about 36% of your income before tax.

This is the most lenders’ rules allow, not what’s comfortable. Buying below it leaves room for saving, repairs and higher rates when your deal ends.

Next step

Monthly costs at this price

	Per month	Per year
Mortgage payment	$2,958.70	$35,504.40
Total	$2,958.70	$35,504.40

How it’s worked out

Price your income allows: $583,077
Price your savings allow: $1,113,800
NSW stamp duty: $0
Rate repayments are tested at: 9.2%
Debt-to-income limit (6×): $600,000

Assumptions in this estimate

Lenders must check you could still afford the repayments if rates were 3 percentage points higher. This tests repayments at your rate plus 3% against your take-home pay after living costs and other debt repayments.
Living costs are your own estimate. Lenders compare them with a benchmark for your household and use whichever is higher, so you may be offered less.
Lenders can only make a limited share of loans above 6 times your income, counting all your debts.
Your savings pay the stamp duty for your state first (with first home buyer relief if you choose it), and the rest goes towards the deposit. Below a 20% deposit you usually pay lenders mortgage insurance (LMI), unless you use the government’s 5% Deposit Scheme. Registration and legal fees are extra.

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How the calculator works

It finds the highest price where:

Repayments fit your budget at a higher rate: repayments at your rate plus 3% must fit in your take-home pay after your living costs and other debt repayments. Take-home pay is worked out with our pay calculator, separately for each of you if you’re buying together.
Your debts stay under 6 times your income.
Your savings pay the stamp duty for your state first, and what’s left covers at least a 5% deposit.

About living costs

Lenders ask about your spending and compare it with a benchmark for households like yours, then use whichever is higher. The calculator starts with $2,500 a month as a guess; enter your own figure, excluding rent and debt repayments.

Stamp duty is worked out for an owner-occupier, with first home buyer relief if you choose it. See the details in our stamp duty calculator. See the repayments on any home in our mortgage calculator.

Last updated October 13, 2026

Frequently asked questions

How much can I borrow on $100,000 a year?

With living costs of $2,500 a month and no other debts, about $483,000. With a 20% deposit of about $121,000, that buys a home up to about $604,000. Repayments would be about $2,959 a month at 6.2%. You'd also need savings for stamp duty, which depends on your state and whether you're a first home buyer.

What is the serviceability buffer?

Lenders must check you could still afford your repayments if interest rates were 3 percentage points higher than your loan rate. So at a 6.2% rate, they test repayments at 9.2%. This is set by APRA.

Is there a limit on how much I can borrow compared with my income?

Yes. Since 1 February 2026, lenders can only make a limited share of their loans to people whose total debts are 6 or more times their income. APRA says lending at that level is currently well below the limit.

How much deposit do I need?

Some lenders accept 5%, but below 20% you usually pay lenders mortgage insurance (LMI). First home buyers can use the government's 5% Deposit Scheme to buy with a 5% deposit and no LMI, under price caps that vary by area.