Rent vs Buy Calculator
Compare the real cost of renting against buying, and see when buying starts to pay off.
Buying monthly payment:
Net cost of renting over period:
Net cost of buying over period:
Buying is better by:
Total cost over the comparison period
Related guide: Rent vs Buy — when it matters
How to use this calculator
Enter the home price, down payment, mortgage rate, term, monthly rent, property tax, appreciation and investment return, then press Compare. Net costs for renting and buying appear side by side with a bar chart.
What the result means
The comparison nets out what you'd pay and what you'd keep. Buying includes the home's appreciation and your down payment's opportunity cost — renting assumes that money invests instead. The cheaper option depends heavily on how long you stay.
Frequently asked questions
How long should I stay before buying pays off?
The transaction costs of buying take years to recover. Below roughly 5 years, renting often wins unless rents are unusually high.
Does this account for maintenance?
Not in detail. Homeowners should add roughly 1% of home value per year for maintenance to the buying side.