It's about 16k worth of money but it's even less then that after you buy a house.
So, when you start the game, you have about 3k to play around with. Yet, there are good ways to make money.
Start off with horses and sell the foals once they become adults. That way, when its time to add onto the home you got the money.
I did it twice, once with a sim and then a couple. It seems about the same.