RandRoute · South African money tools
How much debt is affordable and how to compare loan offers
Last reviewed: 6 October 2026 · South Africa-focused
Short answer
Subtract existing obligations from after-tax income, protect essentials and savings, and leave room for rates, repairs, and irregular costs before considering a new payment.
Start with comfortable cash flow
Subtract existing obligations from after-tax income, protect essentials and savings, and leave room for rates, repairs, and irregular costs before considering a new payment.
Compare offers on the same basis
Put amount, rate, term, monthly repayment, fees, insurance, total repaid, and early-settlement rules side by side. A longer term can hide a higher total cost.
Worked South African example
For example, compare a R100,000 loan at 11.5% over five years with a shorter term, then check the repayment against your after-tax income and existing commitments.
Useful sources
Put the idea into a number
- Affordability Calculator — Estimate an indicative property price from income, obligations, deposit, rate, and term.
- Loan Repayment Calculator — South Africa loan calculator for monthly repayments, total interest, and the cost of a fixed-term loan.
- Personal Loan Calculator — Estimate a personal loan repayment and see how the term changes your total cost.
- Monthly Budget Calculator — Build a monthly budget and see what remains after essentials, lifestyle, debt, and savings.
Next step: Start with the primary calculator above, then compare the next two tools to turn the guide into a plan.