Rent vs Buy Calculator
Compare the cost of renting against buying a home over time.
A genuinely complicated comparison
Whether renting or buying works out cheaper is one of the most contested personal-finance questions, because it depends on many factors that pull in different directions. This compares the two over a timeframe using your inputs, so you can see how they stack up for your situation rather than relying on the slogan that renting is throwing money away.
Enter your rent, home price and assumptions to compare.
Why 'renting is wasted money' is too simple
The popular idea that buying always wins ignores real costs on both sides. Buying carries large upfront and ongoing costs beyond the mortgage — the deposit, purchase fees, maintenance, property tax, insurance — and the money tied up in a deposit could have been invested elsewhere. Renting frees that capital and avoids maintenance and the risk of falling prices, while buying builds equity and hedges against rising rents. Which wins depends heavily on how long you stay, local prices, interest rates, and what you would do with the money otherwise — buying usually favours longer stays, since the upfront costs are spread over more years. This illustrates the trade-off; it is not financial advice, and the right choice is personal.
Rent vs Buy Calculator FAQ
Is buying always better than renting?
No — buying carries large upfront and ongoing costs and ties up capital, while renting frees that money and avoids maintenance. Which wins depends on your situation.
What matters most in the comparison?
How long you stay, local prices, interest rates, and what you would do with the money otherwise — buying usually favours longer stays.
Is this financial advice?
No — it illustrates the trade-off with your inputs. The right choice is personal and may warrant a qualified adviser.