Jul 22, 2026

4 Cities Where Mortgage Interest Alone Tops $1M on a Median Home

Written by Gabrielle Olya

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Edited by Brendan McGinley

4 Cities Where Mortgage Interest Alone Tops $1M on a Median Home

Many Americans who buy a home today will pay more in mortgage interest over time than they will pay for the home itself.

With the median U.S. home at $403,200 and mortgage rates at 6.53%, a buyer putting 20% down on a 30-year fixed loan would pay about $413,700 in interest — roughly $10,500 more than the home price, according to a Best Interest study.

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In some high-cost markets, that gap is far more dramatic. The report found that in four major metros, lifetime mortgage interest on a median-priced home now exceeds $1 million.

San Jose, California

Median home price: $1,675,000
Monthly payment: $8,496
Lifetime interest at 6.53%: $1,718,620

San Francisco

Median home price: $1,200,000
Monthly payment: $6,087
Lifetime interest at 6.53%: $1,231,250

Los Angeles

Median home price: $1,050,000
Monthly payment: $5,326
Lifetime interest at 6.53%: $1,077,344

Honolulu

Median home price: $1,015,400
Monthly payment: $5,150
Lifetime interest at 6.53%: $1,041,843

This article was provided by MoneyLion.com for informational purposes only and should not be construed as financial, legal or tax advice.

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Written by

Gabrielle Olya

Edited by

Brendan McGinley