WhereCanIAfford › San Jose, CA › On $25,000

Is San Jose, CA affordable on a $25,000 salary?

NO On $25,000/yr, the typical $1,610,466 home in San Jose, CA needs $474,802/yr ($11,079/mo). Your gap: $-449,802 — housing would be 531.8% of your gross income.

The math

1,610,466 price − 10% down (161,047) = 1,449,419 loan
30-yr fixed at 6.47% on 1,449,419 = 9,133/mo principal+interest
+ 1,946/mo est. taxes+insurance (1.45%/yr of value — national placeholder)
11,079/mo PITI ÷ 0.28 = 39,567/mo → 474,802/yr required

against Zillow ZHVI 2026-05 and the 6.47% FRED 30-yr rate (2026-06-18).

What salary WOULD clear San Jose, CA?

You need about $474,802/yr for the typical home. That's $449,802 more than $25,000.

On $50,000? On $75,000?

See the full San Jose, CA affordability breakdown → or every metro you can afford on $25,000 →