Rent v. Buy Calculator
Compare estimated renting and buying costs with adjustable assumptions. Review the scenario inputs and treat the result as a planning estimate.
Rent vs. Buy Calculator
Compare the financial implications of renting versus buying a home
Comparison Results
Buying
Renting
Assumptions: Home appreciation at 3% annually. Closing costs at 2% when buying. Rent increases at specified rate.
Enter comparable housing costs
For buying, enter the home price, down payment, loan term, interest rate, tax, insurance, association fees, and maintenance assumptions. For renting, enter the monthly rent and assumed increases. Choose the same time horizon for the comparison and select Calculate.
Compare the categories separately
Read monthly payment, total costs, home equity, and net cost as different figures. Home equity is not cash available for monthly bills. A lower modeled net cost does not necessarily mean a home is affordable within your current budget.
Test a change you might face
Run one scenario with the expected time in the home. Then try a shorter stay or a higher maintenance allowance. Keep a note of each set of assumptions so you can explain why the output changed. Avoid comparing two results when several inputs changed without a record.
Check what the model omits
Buying and selling costs, repairs, taxes, insurance changes, rent changes, and the treatment of invested savings can affect a comparison. Verify which costs this page includes. The result does not predict a future sale price, guarantee a mortgage offer, or account for every personal reason to choose a home.