diff --git a/src/core/host_interface.cpp b/src/core/host_interface.cpp
index cd6a06ba1..4cd34ae1e 100644
--- a/src/core/host_interface.cpp
+++ b/src/core/host_interface.cpp
@@ -52,6 +52,7 @@ static std::string GetRelativePath(const std::string& path, const char* new_file
 
 HostInterface::HostInterface()
 {
+  SetUserDirectory();
   m_game_list = std::make_unique<GameList>();
   m_settings.SetDefaults();
   m_last_throttle_time = Common::Timer::GetValue();
@@ -439,6 +440,39 @@ void HostInterface::OnPerformanceCountersUpdated() {}
 
 void HostInterface::OnRunningGameChanged(const char* path, const char* game_code, const char* game_title) {}
 
+void HostInterface::SetUserDirectory()
+{
+#ifdef WIN32
+  // On Windows, use the path to the program.
+  // We might want to use My Documents in the future.
+  const std::string program_path = FileSystem::GetProgramPath();
+  Log_InfoPrintf("Program path: %s", program_path.c_str());
+
+  m_user_directory = FileSystem::GetPathDirectory(program_path.c_str());
+#else
+#endif
+
+  Log_InfoPrintf("User directory: %s", m_user_directory.c_str());
+}
+
+std::string HostInterface::GetUserDirectoryRelativePath(const char* format, ...)
+{
+  std::va_list ap;
+  va_start(ap, format);
+  std::string formatted_path = StringUtil::StdStringFromFormatV(format, ap);
+  va_end(ap);
+
+  if (m_user_directory.empty())
+  {
+    return formatted_path;
+  }
+  else
+  {
+    return StringUtil::StdStringFromFormat("%s%c%s", m_user_directory.c_str(), FS_OSPATH_SEPERATOR_CHARACTER,
+                                           formatted_path.c_str());
+  }
+}
+
 void HostInterface::RunFrame()
 {
   m_frame_timer.Reset();
diff --git a/src/core/host_interface.h b/src/core/host_interface.h
index e9356c461..3f12d1115 100644
--- a/src/core/host_interface.h
+++ b/src/core/host_interface.h
@@ -61,6 +61,12 @@ public:
   bool LoadState(const char* filename);
   bool SaveState(const char* filename);
 
+  /// Returns the base user directory path.
+  const std::string& GetUserDirectory() const { return m_user_directory; }
+
+  /// Returns a path relative to the user directory.
+  std::string GetUserDirectoryRelativePath(const char* format, ...);
+
 protected:
   using ThrottleClock = std::chrono::steady_clock;
 
@@ -82,6 +88,8 @@ protected:
   virtual void OnPerformanceCountersUpdated();
   virtual void OnRunningGameChanged(const char* path, const char* game_code, const char* game_title);
 
+  void SetUserDirectory();
+
   void RunFrame();
 
   /// Throttles the system, i.e. sleeps until it's time to execute the next frame.
@@ -104,6 +112,7 @@ protected:
   std::unique_ptr<System> m_system;
   std::unique_ptr<GameList> m_game_list;
   Settings m_settings;
+  std::string m_user_directory;
 
   u64 m_last_throttle_time = 0;
   s64 m_throttle_period = INT64_C(1000000000) / 60;