Car Affordability by Salary
Browse our comprehensive guides to find out what car you can afford based on your annual salary. Each page provides instant affordability calculations using the conservative 20/4/10 rule, showing you safe, stretch, and maximum budgets for your income level.
Select your salary range below to see detailed affordability recommendations and budget breakdowns.
How We Calculate Affordability
Our salary-based affordability guides use the 20/4/10 rule, a conservative financial guideline that helps you make responsible car-buying decisions:
- 20% down payment: Put at least 20% down to reduce your loan amount
- 4-year loan maximum: Finance for no more than 48 months to minimize interest
- 10% of gross income: Keep total car expenses at or below 10% of your gross monthly income
We provide three budget ranges: a safe range (10% of income), a stretch range (15% of income), and a lender maximum (based on 36% total debt-to-income ratio). Choose the budget that best fits your financial situation.
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