Affordability Calculator
Check your NCA credit position — see exactly how much you can take on based on your income and existing debt.
Your Income
For reference only
Existing Monthly Debt Payments
Enter your current monthly payment for each. Leave at 0 if not applicable.
What Are You Planning?
Enter your income above to see your position
Fill in your monthly net income to check your NCA affordability in real time.
About this calculator
What this calculator does
Checks your affordability position under the National Credit Act. The NCA requires credit providers to assess whether you can afford a new credit obligation before approving it. This calculator applies the same 30% debt-to-income threshold that SA banks use as a starting point.
How to interpret your results
A green result means your debt commitments are within NCA guidelines. An amber result means you are close to the limit — approval is possible but not guaranteed. A red result means you are likely over-indebted under NCA criteria and a bank is unlikely to approve new credit.
Assumptions applied
- The 30% debt-to-income threshold is used as the primary NCA benchmark. Some lenders apply stricter thresholds depending on income level.
- Gross monthly income is used as the base. Some lenders use net income.
- All existing debt obligations entered are assumed to be current and accurate.
What this calculator doesn't account for
- Does not account for your credit score, which can disqualify an application even if your income ratios are acceptable.
- Does not model bank-specific affordability criteria, which vary between lenders.
- Living expenses beyond declared debt are not factored in unless you enter them.
- This is not a credit assessment and does not guarantee approval.