$138,099/yr
is the income needed to buy the typical $441,097 home in Phoenix, AZ at today's 7.18% rate — about $3,222/mo. The local median household ($84,703) falls $53,396 short.
The math (shown)
441,097 price − 10% down (44,110) = 396,987 loan
30-yr fixed at 7.18% on 396,987 = 2,689/mo principal+interest
+ 533/mo est. taxes+insurance (1.45%/yr of value — national placeholder)
3,222/mo PITI ÷ 0.28 = 11,508/mo → 138,099/yr required
against Zillow ZHVI 2026-09 (Zillow ZHVI (typical home value, smoothed, all-homes 33–67pct tier)) and the 7.18% FRED 30-yr rate (2026-11-05). Local median income: $84,703 (U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 5-year, median household income (table B19013)).
Can I afford Phoenix, AZ 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 Phoenix, AZ?
To buy the typical home, about $138,099/yr. Renting needs less; this page sizes the buy.
What home value is this based on?
Zillow's ZHVI typical-home-value for the Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ metro (2026-09): $441,097.
Is the mortgage rate current?
Yes — 7.18% from FRED's weekly 30-year fixed average (2026-11-05).
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.