Compare the total cost of renting against buying over a holding period.
How to use this calculator
Every field updates the result as you type — there is no submit step. The inputs below are pre-filled with a realistic example so you can see how the tool behaves before entering your own figures.
| Field | Unit | What it means |
|---|---|---|
| Home price | $ | Enter a numeric value. |
| Down payment | $ | Enter a numeric value. |
| Mortgage rate | % | Enter a numeric value. |
| Years you will stay | yrs | Enter a numeric value. |
| Home appreciation | %/yr | Enter a numeric value. |
| Tax, insurance & upkeep | %/yr of price | Enter a numeric value. |
| Monthly rent | $ | Enter a numeric value. |
| Rent growth | %/yr | Enter a numeric value. |
| Return on invested cash | %/yr | Enter a numeric value. |
| Cost to sell | % | Enter a numeric value. |
Worked example
Using the default values loaded into the calculator above, the result is:
| Input | Value |
|---|---|
| Home price ($) | 400000 |
| Down payment ($) | 80000 |
| Mortgage rate (%) | 6.5 |
| Years you will stay (yrs) | 7 |
| Home appreciation (%/yr) | 3 |
| Tax, insurance & upkeep (%/yr of price) | 2.5 |
| Monthly rent ($) | 2200 |
| Rent growth (%/yr) | 3 |
| Return on invested cash (%/yr) | 5 |
| Output | Value |
|---|---|
| Buying is cheaper by | $22,921.67 |
| Down payment | $80,000.00 |
| Mortgage payments | $169,899.88 |
| Tax, insurance, upkeep | $70,000.00 |
| Home value at sale | $491,949.55 |
| Net sale proceeds | $173,100.59 |
| Net cost of owning | $146,799.29 |
| Total rent paid | $202,289.00 |
Reading the result
Financial projections compound small assumption changes into large differences over time. Rates, fees and tax treatment vary by lender and jurisdiction, so treat the output as a well-structured estimate for comparing options rather than a quotation.
Figures that change annually — tax bands, contribution limits, statutory rates — are exposed as editable inputs. Check them against current published values before relying on the result.
Sharing and saving a calculation
The "Copy link" button encodes every value you have entered into the page URL. Opening that link restores the calculation exactly, which makes it easy to bookmark a scenario, send it to someone else, or keep several variations side by side in separate tabs.
Frequently asked questions
What does the Rent vs. Buy Calculator do?
Compare the total cost of renting against buying over a holding period.
What result do the default values produce?
With the values pre-loaded in the calculator, buying is cheaper by comes to $22,921.67.
Is this calculator free to use?
Yes. It is free, requires no account, and runs entirely in your browser — nothing you enter is transmitted or stored on a server.
Can I save or share a calculation?
Yes. The "Copy link" button builds a URL containing all your entered values. Anyone opening that link sees the same calculation.
How accurate is the result?
The calculation itself is exact for the inputs given. Real-world accuracy depends on how well those inputs reflect your actual situation, so review the assumptions before relying on the figure.