How Much Can You Borrow?
Enter your income and expenses to find out the maximum loan amount you can afford. Based on South African NCA affordability guidelines.
Affordability Calculator
Enter your financial details to see how much you could borrow
Your total salary before deductions
Your salary after tax, UIF, and pension
Rent, food, transport, utilities, insurance
Credit cards, store accounts, other loans
Children or others you support
Repayment period
You Could Borrow Up To
over months
Max Affordable Repayment
per month
This calculator provides estimates only. Actual borrowing limits depend on your credit profile, affordability assessment, and the specific loan product. All loans are subject to approval per the National Credit Act.
| Term | Max Loan | Rate | Monthly Payment | Total Interest | Total Cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Highlighted row shows your selected term. Longer terms allow higher borrowing but cost more in total.
How the Affordability Calculator Works
Our calculator follows the same principles South African lenders use when assessing your loan application.
Disposable Income
We subtract your living expenses, existing debt payments, and dependent costs from your net income to find your disposable income — the money available for a new loan repayment.
Maximum Repayment
We use the more conservative of two limits: 75% of your disposable income or 30% of your net income. This ensures you have a comfortable financial buffer each month.
Maximum Loan Amount
Using NCA-compliant interest rates, initiation fees, and the monthly service fee, we reverse-calculate the maximum loan amount that fits within your affordable repayment.
Understanding Your Affordability
Debt-to-Income Ratio
Your DTI ratio shows what percentage of your gross income goes toward debt repayments. South African lenders generally consider a DTI below 30% as healthy. Between 30-45% is moderate, and above 45% means your finances may be stretched.
NCA Affordability Assessment
Under the National Credit Act (NCA), lenders are required to perform an affordability assessment before granting any credit. This ensures you can comfortably repay the loan without financial hardship. Our calculator follows these same principles.
Interest Rates
Interest rates vary based on the loan amount and range from 12% to 29.25% per annum as regulated by the NCA. Smaller loans typically have higher rates, while larger loans attract lower rates. Your actual rate depends on your credit profile.
Tips to Increase Your Borrowing Power
- Pay down existing debt — reducing your monthly debt payments directly increases disposable income
- Choose a longer term — extending the repayment period lowers monthly payments, allowing a higher loan amount
- Reduce living expenses — review subscriptions, insurance, and other recurring costs
- Improve your credit score — a better score can qualify you for lower interest rates
Important Disclaimer
This calculator provides estimates only and should not be considered as a formal loan offer or pre-approval. Actual borrowing limits, interest rates, and fees may vary based on your credit profile, employment verification, and the specific lender's criteria. All loans are subject to approval in terms of the National Credit Act (NCA) 34 of 2005. The affordability assessment used here is indicative — lenders will conduct their own detailed assessment. RandCash is an informational resource and does not provide loans directly.
Know Your Budget?
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