Can I afford smart home devices?

A clean studio arrangement of white smart home devices - a camera, motion sensor, smart plug, smoke detector, and smart bulb; no faces or logos.

A smart lock or thermostat is usually a single purchase, but plenty of smart cameras and video doorbells only unlock cloud recording, person detection, or extended history through a monthly subscription, so the number on the box isn't always the full cost of owning the device. Because most of this spending is a one-time purchase rather than a recurring bill, the calculator weighs the total against roughly three months of your budget instead of a single month's income.

These key factors affect smart home device costs

Income and expenses

It's not just what you earn that determines whether a purchase like this fits, it's what's actually free after your regular bills and any debt are paid, which is why the total gets checked against your whole financial picture rather than your income figure alone.

Scope: a few devices vs. whole-home setup

A single smart plug or bulb can cost as little as $10 to $25, a smart thermostat or lock usually runs somewhere in the low hundreds, and a genuinely whole-home setup, hub, multiple sensors, cameras, and professional installation, can climb into the thousands. Most people don't need to jump straight to the top of that range - starting with one or two devices that solve a specific problem is usually enough to know whether the rest is worth paying for.

Subscription fees

Video doorbells and security cameras are the biggest offenders. Without a subscription, some models only offer a live view and won't store any recorded footage at all, while paid tiers that unlock video history, person detection, or multi-camera plans typically run somewhere between $3 and $20 a month. It's worth checking exactly what a device can and can't do with zero subscription before assuming the sticker price is the real cost.

How to use your results

Check whether any devices you're considering require an ongoing subscription.
Start pricing a few key devices rather than a full whole-home system all at once.

Ways to make smart home devices more affordable

Start with one or two high-impact devices, like a thermostat or lock, rather than a full system.
Choose devices that don't require an ongoing subscription if that's a priority.
Watch for sales, since smart home devices are frequently discounted around major shopping events.

More home improvement calculators

Peer comparison data

Bureau of Labor Statistics (median income by age), Experian (credit score by age)

Used by the “how you compare” figures in the sidebar, not by the costs on this page.

Every figure on this site, with its source and the date it was last verified