$77,424/yr
is the income needed to buy the typical $257,718 home in Columbia, SC at today's 6.69% rate — about $1,807/mo. The local median household ($66,146) falls $11,278 short.
The math (shown)
257,718 price − 10% down (25,772) = 231,946 loan
30-yr fixed at 6.69% on 231,946 = 1,495/mo principal+interest
+ 311/mo est. taxes+insurance (1.45%/yr of value — national placeholder)
1,807/mo PITI ÷ 0.28 = 6,452/mo → 77,424/yr required
against Zillow ZHVI 2026-06 (Zillow ZHVI (typical home value, smoothed, all-homes 33–67pct tier)) and the 6.69% FRED 30-yr rate (2026-08-06). Local median income: $66,146 (U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 5-year, median household income (table B19013)).
Can I afford Columbia, SC on my salary?
Your salary:
Rent vs own here
Honest null: HUD FMR needs a free huduser.gov token (env.HUD_TOKEN). Honest-null until set. (HUD FMR needs a free token; not wired here.)
FAQ
How much do I need to make to live in Columbia, SC?
To buy the typical home, about $77,424/yr. Renting needs less; this page sizes the buy.
What home value is this based on?
Zillow's ZHVI typical-home-value for the Columbia, SC metro (2026-06): $257,718.
Is the mortgage rate current?
Yes — 6.69% from FRED's weekly 30-year fixed average (2026-08-06).
Glossary
ZHVI
Zillow Home Value Index — the typical home value for a region (35th–65th percentile, smoothed, seasonally adjusted).
Front-end DTI
Housing payment as a share of gross income; lenders commonly cap it near 28%.
PITI
Principal, Interest, Taxes, and Insurance — the full monthly housing cost.