The Finance Algorithm
§ Tool · tier 1 · independent

Affordability Calculator.

Find out how much personal loan you can comfortably afford based on your income and expenses

CalculatorFree, no signupOn-deviceupd May 2026
Inputs
Your numbers
$
$6k

Your total monthly income after tax

$
$4k

Your regular monthly expenses (rent, bills, food, etc.)

$
$200

Monthly payments on existing loans and credit cards

%
9.5%

Typical personal loan rates range from 7% to 15%

5y

How long you'd like to repay the loan

Math updates live as you change inputs · AI runs on submit

Awaiting inputs

Move the sliders or type in the form on the left — the math updates live as you go. Click Get AI verdict when you want a written analysis.

Not sure how much personal loan you can afford? This calculator analyzes your financial situation to give you a realistic estimate of what you can comfortably borrow without overextending your budget.

§ Worked examples

Real-world scenarios

Young Professional in Sydney

Emma earns $6,000/month and spends $3,500 on living expenses with a $200 credit card minimum payment.

Inputs

income:6,000expenses:3,500existingDebt:200

With $2,300 disposable income, Emma can comfortably afford a $25,000-$30,000 personal loan over 5 years.

Family Planning a Renovation

The Smiths have $9,000 combined monthly income, $6,000 expenses, and an $800 car loan payment.

Inputs

income:9,000expenses:6,000existingDebt:800

With $2,200 monthly surplus, they should limit new borrowing to $35,000 to maintain financial cushion.

§ FAQ

Questions Australians ask

§ Glossary

Plain-English definitions

Debt-to-Income Ratio (DTI)
The percentage of your monthly income that goes toward debt repayments. Lenders prefer this under 36%.
Disposable Income
Money left over after paying all necessary expenses. This determines your actual borrowing capacity.
Serviceability Buffer
Extra margin lenders add to ensure you can still repay if rates rise or expenses increase.
Net Income
Your take-home pay after tax and superannuation deductions.