DigestYourFinances

Mortgage calculator · $300,000 loan

$300,000 Mortgage Payment

At this week’s 6.76% average 30-year fixed rate, a $300,000 mortgage costs $1,948 a month in principal and interest. A year ago, at 6.35%, the same loan cost $1,867. Here is the full cost, the income it takes and how the payment has moved with rates.

  • 30-year at 6.76% $1,948/mo principal + interest
  • 15-year at 6.09% $2,546/mo principal + interest
  • Total interest $401,204 30 years, kept to term
  • Income needed $83,477 P&I at 28% of gross

Mortgage · monthly payment

Your full payment on a $300,000 loan

Set up as a $375,000 home with 20% down at this week’s 6.76% rate. Property tax and insurance are rough placeholders; change any figure to see your real monthly cost.

Down payment
$ 20%
Estimated payment · monthly principal & interest, plus escrow

What's in the payment

    Loan amount
    Total interest paid
    Total of payments
    Payoff
    Amortization schedule year by year — principal, interest & balance

    Balance over time

    YearPrincipalInterestBalance

    Principal & interest only — taxes, insurance and PMI aren't amortized.

    What a $300,000 loan has cost over the years

    The monthly principal and interest on a 30-year $300,000 loan at each year’s average rate. The 18.63% record from 1981 is shown for scale, though its bar is capped.

    1. 1981 peak $4,676
    2. 2016 $1,372
    3. 2017 $1,431
    4. 2018 $1,527
    5. 2019 $1,422
    6. 2020 $1,283
    7. 2021 $1,258
    8. 2022 $1,673
    9. 2023 $1,958
    10. 2024 $1,940
    11. 2025 $1,916
    12. Today $1,948

    At the all-time low of 2.65% on January 7, 2021, this loan would have cost $1,209 a month, $739 less than today. See every year on historical mortgage rates.

    The same $300,000 loan at different rates

    RateMonthly P&Ivs todayTotal interest
    5% $1,610 −$337 $279,767
    5.5% $1,703 −$244 $313,212
    6% $1,799 −$149 $347,515
    6.5% $1,896 −$52 $382,633
    6.76% (today) $1,948 $401,204
    7% $1,996 +$48 $418,527
    7.5% $2,098 +$150 $455,152
    8% $2,201 +$254 $492,466

    Every full point on the rate moves this payment by roughly $204 a month.

    30-year or 15-year?

    Extra per month (15-yr)$598
    Interest, 30-yr$401,204
    Interest, 15-yr$158,313

    The 15-year loan costs $598 more each month but saves $242,891 in interest and clears the debt in half the time.

    Where the payments go

    Early payments are mostly interest. In the first year of the 30-year loan you would pay about $20,182 in interest and only $3,191 toward the balance. After five years you would still owe about $281,658, and after ten years about $255,965. The amortization calculator shows the full schedule, and the early payoff calculator shows what extra payments save.

    Income and home price

    Keeping principal and interest to 28% of gross pay takes an income of about $83,477. Property tax, insurance and PMI come on top, so the real figure is higher. With 20% down, a $300,000 loan buys a $375,000 home; with 10% down, about $333,333. To work backward from your income, try the home affordability calculator.

    $300,000 mortgage — FAQ

    What is the monthly payment on a $300,000 mortgage?

    At the 6.76% national average 30-year fixed rate for the week of September 10, 2026, principal and interest on a $300,000 loan come to about $1,948 a month. On a 15-year fixed at 6.09%, it is about $2,546. Property tax, homeowners insurance and any PMI are added on top.

    How much income do I need for a $300,000 mortgage?

    Lenders commonly cap housing costs at 28% of gross monthly income. Principal and interest alone on a 30-year $300,000 loan at 6.76% would need an income of about $83,477 a year. Taxes, insurance and other debts raise that figure.

    How much interest will I pay on a $300,000 mortgage?

    Over 30 years at 6.76%, you would pay about $401,204 in interest if you keep the loan to term. A 15-year loan at 6.09% cuts that to about $158,313, a saving of $242,891, in exchange for a payment $598 a month higher.

    How much does a 1% higher rate add to a $300,000 mortgage payment?

    Going from 6.76% to 7.76% on a 30-year $300,000 loan adds about $204 a month, or $73,268 over the full term.

    Rates are the national average from the Freddie Mac Primary Mortgage Market Survey® for the week of September 10, 2026. Payments are principal and interest only on a fixed-rate loan. Your rate depends on your credit, down payment and lender.

    Free · every Sunday

    This week’s money, digested.

    What moved in the markets, the guides worth reading, and what it all means — in one short email. No noise, no bank linking, leave anytime.

    Keep reading

    Retirement Planning

    How To Live Off Of Your Retirement Savings Forever

    Retirement and financial freedom aren't only about how to get there or amassing as much wealth as you can, but it's also about how you can maintain your retirement and live comfortably for the rest of