How much house can I afford on $40,000 in South Carolina?
About $149,000 with 20% down ($118,000 with an FHA loan), using South Carolina's 0.45% property tax rate.
That is $155,074 less than the typical South Carolina home ($304,319), so on $40,000 you'd look at cheaper areas or a smaller home. The payment of $933 covers $803 principal and interest, $56 property tax and $75 insurance.
Counties in South Carolina you can afford on $40,000
7 of 46 counties have a typical home value at or below $149,000:
| County | Typical home | 1-yr change | Tax rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Marion County | $144,024 | -2.0% | 0.47% |
| Lee County | $131,864 | -7.0% | 0.57% |
| Union County | $131,794 | +6.7% | 0.56% |
| Williamsburg County | $128,370 | -1.4% | 0.66% |
| Bamberg County | $127,650 | -6.2% | 0.83% |
| Marlboro County | $123,044 | -2.0% | 0.6% |
| Allendale County | $75,324 | -3.6% | 0.88% |
Affordable metro areas
Assumes a 30-year fixed loan at 7.11%, property tax of 0.45% of the home value a year, homeowners insurance of 0.6% a year, PMI of 0.5% of the loan a year when the down payment is under 20%, and FHA mortgage insurance of 0.55% a year plus a 1.75% upfront premium added to the loan. Your rate, taxes and insurance will differ.
Other salaries in South Carolina
Frequently asked questions
How much house can I afford on $40,000 in South Carolina?
About $149,000 with 20% down at 7.11%, keeping the payment (with South Carolina's 0.45% property tax and insurance) under $933 a month.
Is $40,000 enough to buy a house in South Carolina?
Not the typical home: the typical South Carolina home is worth $304,319 (Zillow, September 2026) and $40,000 supports about $149,000. 7 of 46 counties are within budget.