The Honest Affordability Calculator
What can I actually afford?
Not another EMI calculator. Enter your salary and see the gap between what banks approve and what you can honestly afford — after maintenance, property tax, insurance, and still having money for food.
Enter your details
We only need your take-home salary. The rest is optional.
Maintenance at ₹4/sqft/mo, property tax at 0.8%/yr, insurance at 0.04%/yr.
What banks will approve
₹50.26 L
₹45.26 L loan + ₹5.00 L down
EMI: ₹40,000/mo at 8.75%, 20yr
What you can actually afford
₹33.99 L
After maintenance, property tax, insurance — and still eating food
Reality gap: ₹16.27 L
The math nobody tells you
If you max out the bank-approved amount, here's your real monthly outgo:
You're ₹15,519/mo over the comfortable limit.
Reduce budget to ₹33.99 L or increase down payment to ₹21.27 L.
What ₹33.99 L buys you
Based on current average prices per sqft in Coimbatore.
Karamadai: A proper 3BHK with room to breathe. This is the one.
Vellalore: A proper 3BHK with room to breathe. This is the one.
Don't forget the upfront costs
On top of the down payment, budget for these one-time costs:
Rates vary by state and property type. Calculate exact stamp duty
Compare scenarios
What if you got a raise? Or a lower interest rate? Save up to 3 scenarios and compare.
What to do next
Your budget is stretched. Consider reducing your target to ₹33.99 L or saving ₹16.27 L more for down payment.
Karamadai gives you the most space for your budget. Start browsing listings there.
Browse listings →Found a property you like? Generate a free Property Intelligence Report to check if it's worth the price.
Generate free report →Talk to Avnester AI for personalized property recommendations within your honest budget.
Ask AI assistant →Your honest number
Salary ₹80,000/mo → Actually afford ₹33.99 L
Banks say ₹50.26 L, but after maintenance + tax + insurance, the honest number is ₹33.99 L. That’s a ₹16.27 L reality gap.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is the "honest" number lower than what the bank approves?
Banks only consider your loan EMI when calculating eligibility (up to 50% of income). But owning a home also means paying maintenance (₹3-5/sqft/month), property tax (0.5-1% of value per year), and home insurance. When you add these hidden costs, the comfortable spending limit drops significantly.
What is the safe EMI-to-income ratio for home loans?
Financial advisors recommend keeping your total housing cost (EMI + maintenance + tax + insurance) below 40% of your take-home salary. Banks may approve loans up to 50-60% of income, but that leaves little room for savings, emergencies, or lifestyle expenses.
What hidden costs should I budget for when buying a home in India?
Beyond EMI, budget for: (1) Monthly maintenance: ₹3-5 per sqft, (2) Property tax: 0.5-1% of property value per year, (3) Home insurance: ~0.04% of property value per year, (4) One-time costs: stamp duty (4-8%), registration (1-4%), GST on under-construction (5%), legal fees, and brokerage.
How much house can I afford on ₹1 lakh salary in India?
On a ₹1 lakh/month salary with no existing EMIs, banks may approve a loan of ~₹56L (EMI ~₹50,000). But after adding maintenance, tax, and insurance, the honestly affordable property price is closer to ₹45-48L — keeping total housing costs at a comfortable 40% of salary.
How much house can I afford on ₹50,000 salary in India?
On a ₹50,000/month salary with no existing EMIs, banks may approve ~₹28L. After accounting for maintenance (₹2-3K/month), property tax, and insurance, the honestly comfortable budget is around ₹22-25L. In cities like Coimbatore, this can get you a 2BHK in growing areas like Saravanampatti or Kalapatti.
What percentage of salary should go towards home loan EMI?
The 40% rule is widely recommended: keep total housing costs (EMI + maintenance + property tax + insurance) under 40% of take-home salary. Banks may allow up to 50-60% FOIR (Fixed Obligation to Income Ratio), but this leaves little room for emergencies, savings, or lifestyle. Our calculator shows both numbers so you can decide.
How is this different from a regular EMI calculator?
Regular EMI calculators only show your monthly loan payment. This honest affordability calculator factors in ALL costs of homeownership: loan EMI, monthly maintenance charges, property tax, home insurance, and one-time costs like stamp duty and registration. It also matches your honest budget to real localities with actual property prices.
This calculator provides estimates for informational and entertainment purposes only. Actual loan eligibility depends on credit score, employment type, property location, and lender policies. Maintenance charges, property tax, and insurance vary by property and location. Consult a certified financial advisor before making purchase decisions.