How much would I need in an ASX share portfolio to earn $500 a month?

Want a monthly income boost? Here's one way you could do it.

| More on:
Man holding fifty Australian Dollar banknote in his hands, symbolising dividends, symbolising dividends.

Image source: Getty Images

You’re reading a free article with opinions that may differ from The Motley Fool’s Premium Investing Services. Become a Motley Fool member today to get instant access to our top analyst recommendations, in-depth research, investing resources, and more. Learn More

The Australian share market is a great place to generate some passive income.

But could I pull in $500 a month from an ASX share portfolio?

The good news is that with a combination of time, patience, and capital, it is entirely possible for me to achieve this goal.

Let's dig deeper into what I would need to do.

$500 a month from an ASX share portfolio

If I were starting from zero, then the first thing I would need to do is get the ball rolling and put money into the share market.

I would look to put $500 a month into my ASX share portfolio each month, with a focus on the highest quality companies that I can find.

At present, this might include ASX shares such as CSL Ltd (ASX: CSL), Pro Medicus Limited (ASX: PME), and WiseTech Global Ltd (ASX: WTC).

By focusing on companies with strong business models, sustainable competitive advantages, and positive long-term growth outlooks, I stand the best chance of compounding every investment I make into my portfolio.

The share market has historically delivered an average total return of approximately 10% per annum. Some years it will be more, some years it will be less. But over time, this is what it averages out to be.

There's no guarantee that it will continue to do this, but it is fair to assume that it will and base our calculations on this expected return.

With that in mind, if I were to invest $500 a month into my ASX share portfolio and generated a 10% per annum return, my portfolio would grow to be worth just over $100,000 in 10 years.

Dividend income

Once my portfolio hits the $100,000 mark, I have the option to change my focus from compounding to income.

By switching my portfolio's focus to high-yield ASX dividend shares, such as the ones in this article, I could average a 6% dividend yield across a diversified portfolio.

Doing so would lead to my portfolio generating $6,000 of annual dividend income.

Unfortunately, there aren't many ASX shares that pay out dividends every month, so I would just have to distribute a portion of my dividend income accordingly each month.

Overall, I believe this is a very achievable strategy for investors to consider. The key is to stick with it through thick and thin to allow compounding to work its magic.

Motley Fool contributor James Mickleboro has positions in CSL, Pro Medicus, and WiseTech Global. The Motley Fool Australia's parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has positions in and has recommended CSL and WiseTech Global. The Motley Fool Australia's parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has recommended Pro Medicus. The Motley Fool Australia has positions in and has recommended WiseTech Global. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended CSL and Pro Medicus. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

More on How to invest

Woman laying with $100 notes around her, symbolising dividends.
How to invest

How could I turn $500 a month into $50,000 with ASX shares?

This is the kind of investing plan you can stick with through market ups and downs.

Read more »

Man holding a calculator with Australian dollar notes, symbolising dividends.
How to invest

Passive income: How much do you need to invest to make $500 per month?

The share market is a great place to generate income. But how could you do it?

Read more »

A man with his back to the camera holds his hands to his head as he looks to a jagged red line trending sharply downward.
How to invest

What's the likelihood of a stock market crash before the end of 2026?

Market volatility feels uncomfortable, but history shows it’s often the price of long-term returns rather than a warning sign.

Read more »

Portrait of a boy with the map of the world painted on his face.
How to invest

3 ASX stocks with global revenue to diversify your portfolio

Boost your global exposure without leaving the ASX.

Read more »

Woman relaxing at home on a chair with hands behind back and feet in the air.
How to invest

How to build a bullet-proof monthly passive income portfolio with just $20,000

With the right structure, even a modest amount of capital can deliver steady monthly cash flow.

Read more »

A girl lies on her bed in her room while using laptop and listening to headphones.
How to invest

I'm listening to Warren Buffett and buying cheap ASX shares

When markets turn volatile, I find Buffett’s focus on patience and quality especially useful.

Read more »

A young couple hug each other and smile at the camera, standing in front of their brand new luxury car.
How to invest

Why buy and hold investing with ASX shares could make you rich

Here is the easy way to build wealth on the share market.

Read more »

Happy young woman saving money in a piggy bank.
How to invest

How to turn $250 a month into a $500,000 ASX share portfolio

Let's look at how sticking to a simple plan and investing every month can build serious wealth without stress.

Read more »