Rent vs. Buy Calculator
Last updated: July 2026
Compare the estimated long-term cost of renting with buying a home.
Lower estimated cost
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- Estimated net buying cost: —
- Estimated renting cost: —
On this page
Quick summary: Compare the estimated long-term cost of renting with buying a home. Enter the requested values, calculate, review the result, and compare more than one realistic scenario before making a decision.
Read the complete guide
What this calculator does
The Rent vs. Buy Calculator compares selected financial costs of renting a home with purchasing one under assumptions about price, financing, rent, appreciation, and time horizon.
How to use the calculator step by step
Enter realistic housing price, down payment, mortgage rate, rent, ownership costs, and planned holding period. Compare several scenarios because small assumption changes can affect the result.
How the calculation works
The comparison estimates cash flows for renting and owning over time, including financing costs and any property-value or rent-growth assumptions represented by the page.
Worked example and scenario testing
Buying can appear favorable over a long holding period when transaction costs are spread over many years, while renting may compare better over a short stay.
How to interpret your result
The result is a scenario comparison, not a universal answer. Flexibility, maintenance responsibility, investment alternatives, taxes, and personal plans also matter.
Accuracy, assumptions, and limitations
Future property appreciation, rent growth, investment returns, taxes, insurance, maintenance, selling costs, and mortgage terms are uncertain.
Common mistakes to avoid
Do not compare rent only with mortgage principal and interest while ignoring taxes, insurance, maintenance, and transaction costs.
Privacy and browser-based calculations
Only housing and financial assumptions are required. Do not enter addresses, mortgage-account information, or tenant identifiers.