The most expensive cities in Australia are Sydney and Melbourne, followed by Perth and Canberra. The cost of renting or mortgage repayments is calculated separately so you can replace the figure with your own estimate after you decide where you’d like to live. The calculator takes all basic living expenses into account such as groceries, utilities, phone, public transport/car and entertainment. In some cases, it may be a matter of setting a 3-6 month plan of budgeting and cutting out necessary spending.Ĭheck out our prepare to buy program if you’re not quite ready for a home loan. It’s best to speak with a mortgage broker to discover whether there are lending options available to you. The calculator result should act as a general guide only as your living expenses can vary significantly depending on how you choose to spend your money. You’ll still need to self-assess, but the calculator will give you a reasonably accurate indication of how your spending compares to the average monthly cost of living in Australia. How will the living expenses calculator help me?īorrowers are required to manually work out their living expenses on a weekly or monthly basis when they complete their home loan application. Either using the higher of the above living expense assessment methods to calculate your living expenses.Ī lot has changed over the past couple of years, with some banks requiring you to estimate your spending in 12 or more living expense categories!.Either accepting or adjusting your stated expenses to match your bank account history.Reviewing any bank account (cheque or savings accounts) or credit card statements they have access to confirm your self-assessment.Asking you to self-assess your living expenses on your home loan application form.Using the Household Expenditure Method (HEM) based on your family size and income (Australian Bureau of Statistics data) because it is considered unreasonable for someone to spend less than HEM each month.Lenders use a few different methods, including: How do banks calculate your living expenses? These lenders recognise areas where you can easily and quickly reduce your discretionary spending, such as in entertainment and dining out.Ĭall us on 1300 889 743 or complete our online enquiry form and we can help you build a strong home loan application.Īll the inside information on calculating mortgage payments is now accessible. The key to maximising your mortgage borrowing power is finding a lender that takes a common-sense approach to your spending. In this way, they’re able to calculate your serviceability or borrowing power. They then compare that to your regular discretionary spending on items or activities that are not necessary on a day-to-day basis.įor example, banks will raise red flags for regular spending at pubs and clubs or spending on luxury fashion items. Specifically, banks will first identify your necessary regular spendings such as your bills and groceries. Your living expenses are a good indication of your character as a potential borrower. When banks assess your ability to borrow, one of the major factors they evaluate is your spending compared to income. Your details Why do banks care about my living expenses?

Monthly living expenses spreadsheet