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Rent vs Buy Calculator

See whether renting or buying wins over time — with a break-even chart.

  • 🧮 Calculator
  • ✓ Free
  • ✓ No sign-up
  • ✓ Private — runs in your browser
  • ✓ Any device
🏠

Buying

%
🔑

Renting & investing

A renter invests the down payment + closing costs upfront, plus any month the cost of owning is higher than rent.

1y20y40y

After years, you come out ahead by After years, the gap is only

0

🏠 Buying wins 🔑 Renting & investing wins 🤝 It's basically a tie

🏠 Buy — net worth
Home equity after selling
🔑 Rent — net worth
Investment portfolio

Net worth over time

Buy Rent

Tap or hover the chart to inspect any year.

▸ Full cost breakdown
🏠 Buying
Monthly mortgage (P&I)
Upfront cash (down + closing)
Total interest paid (over horizon)
Tax + maintenance + insurance
Home value at year
Mortgage balance remaining
🔑 Renting
Total rent paid (over horizon)
Final monthly rent
Invested contributions
Investment gains

Estimates only — ignores taxes on gains/deductions & isn't financial advice.

Why you’ll love Rent vs Buy Calculator

Instant & freeNo signup, no paywall, no limits — Rent vs Buy Calculator works the moment the page loads.
Completely privateEverything runs in your browser. Nothing you enter is ever uploaded or stored on a server.
Works on any deviceFully responsive and touch-friendly — use it on your phone, tablet or desktop.
Accurate & clearBuilt on the real formulas, with a breakdown you can actually trust.

How to use it

  1. 01

    Open it

    No download and no login — the tool is ready right at the top of this page.

  2. 02

    Use it

    Enter your details or start interacting. Everything updates live as you go.

  3. 03

    Get your result

    Copy, download or share your result in a single tap. That’s it.

About Rent vs Buy Calculator

Use this rent vs buy calculator to compare the true costs of renting and buying a property over time. Enter your purchase price, down payment, mortgage details, rental costs, and property expenses—then see exactly when buying breaks even. A clear break-even chart shows you the long-term financial picture, helping answer the question: should I buy a house, or keep renting?

Buying and renting have hidden costs that aren't obvious at first glance. This calculator factors in mortgage interest, property taxes, maintenance, insurance, and rising rent, then stacks them against each other year by year. The break-even chart makes it simple to see when your cumulative home-buying costs drop below what you'd have spent renting instead.

No sign-up required—just enter your numbers and get instant results. Your data stays on your device and is never sent anywhere. Whether you're a first-time homebuyer, relocating, or just curious about your housing options, this tool gives you the clarity to make an informed decision about one of life's biggest financial choices.

Popular uses

  • ✦ First-time homebuyer deciding whether now is the right time to buy in your market.
  • ✦ Relocating to a new city and comparing renting an apartment versus buying a house there.
  • ✦ Testing how a larger down payment changes your break-even timeline and long-term costs.
  • ✦ Long-term financial planning to understand when homeownership actually saves you money.
  • ✦ Comparing multiple scenarios—different homes, interest rates, or rental prices—to find the best-fit housing decision.

Frequently asked questions

How accurate is a rent vs buy calculator?
As accurate as your inputs. The calculator uses straightforward math based on the numbers you provide—mortgage principal and interest, property taxes, maintenance, rent, and appreciation. It doesn't predict future market changes or unknown life events, but it shows you the financial relationship between renting and buying under the conditions you specify.
What factors should I consider when deciding to rent or buy?
The big financial ones are break-even timeline, down payment you can afford, how long you'll stay, local property appreciation, and maintenance costs. Non-financial factors matter too: flexibility to move, willingness to maintain a property, and how stable your income is. This calculator handles the math; you handle the rest.
When does buying become cheaper than renting?
That's your break-even point—the year when your total buying costs (mortgage, taxes, maintenance, insurance) drop below your total renting costs. The break-even chart shows this visually. It typically ranges from 3–10 years depending on home prices, rent levels, interest rates, and how much you put down.
Can I use this calculator for my city or country?
Yes. The calculator works anywhere because you input your own costs—purchase price, property taxes, maintenance rates, and rent. If you know (or can estimate) these numbers for your location, the comparison is valid. Accuracy depends on your estimates, not on the calculator's location settings.
Is Rent vs Buy Calculator free to use?
Rent vs Buy Calculator is 100% free — no signup, no watermarks and no usage limits. It’s one of 200+ free tools we build and give away.
How accurate is this calculator?
It uses the standard formulas and shows its working, so you can verify every number. For big decisions, treat the result as a reliable estimate.

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