I Asked ChatGPT How Much House I Can Really Afford in Florida on a $60,000 Salary — Here’s the Answer

3 days ago 7

Vance Cariaga

Wed, February 18, 2026 astatine 10:00 AM CST 4 min read

Although Florida isn’t astir arsenic costly arsenic states similar Hawaii oregon California, it inactive ranks successful the apical fractional nationally (No. 18) for highest costs of living, according to World Population Review.

Florida’s higher-than-average outgo of surviving extends to its location prices. Federal Reserve information recovered that homes determination had a median database terms of $425,000 arsenic of December 2025 — supra the nationalist median of $399,950.

What this means is that if you unrecorded successful the Sunshine State and gain a emblematic salary, you’ll person a harder clip making ends conscionable than astir Americans. Nationwide, median net are $1,214 a week oregon $63,128 a year, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Floridians who gain $60,000 a twelvemonth autumn conscionable shy of the nationalist median.

So however overmuch location tin they truly spend successful Florida connected that benignant of salary? We asked ChatGPT, and here’s what it said.

To suffice for a owe loan, astir lenders usage guidelines specified arsenic the 28% rule, which means your monthly lodging costs should beryllium nary much than 28% of your gross monthly income. These costs see your owe payment, spot tax, insurance, homeowners relation (HOA) fees and backstage owe security (PMI), if applicable.

Here’s what the regularisation mightiness look similar if you gain $60,000 a year:

Gross monthly income: $5,000
28% of $5,000: About $1,400 a month. This is however overmuch you should people for lodging payments, including principal, interest, taxes and insurance

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Here’s a breakdown of what you tin spend successful Florida based connected the state’s emblematic costs arsenic good arsenic existent owe rates (which scope from astir 6.1% to 6.3% for a 30-year fixed mortgage):

Affordable acquisition range: If you gain $60,000 a year, you tin spend a location priced betwixt $220,000 to $260,000. But a batch depends connected factors specified arsenic your recognition people and down payment.
Other factors to consider: If you get an FHA indebtedness with a debased down outgo and a higher debt-to-income ratio, you tin astir apt spend a location connected the higher extremity of the range.
Reality check: If you purpose to bargain a location that costs astir $250,000, it fundamentally means you’ll wage astir 40% beneath the mean listing terms successful Florida. To get the champion bang for your buck, you’ll request to look successful immoderate of the much affordable Florida cities.

ChatGPT’s estimation for what you tin spend successful Florida connected a $60,000 wage is simply a spot much than estimates provided by different sources.

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