🏘️ Rent vs Buy Calculator
Compare renting versus buying a home. See which option saves you more money over time with all costs included.
How to Use This Rent vs Buy CalculatorFree & Accurate
Compare renting versus buying a home. See which option saves you more money over time with all costs included. Perfect for first-time homebuyers, renters considering purchase, and real estate investment analysis.
Enter Property Details
- • Home Price - Purchase price
- • Down Payment % - % of home price
- • Mortgage Rate - Current APR
- • Loan Term - 15/20/30 years
Add Rent Details
- • Monthly Rent - Current rent
- • Rent Increase - Annual % increase
- • Comparison Years - How long to compare
- • Investment Return - Opportunity cost
Add Costs
- • Property Tax - Annual tax rate
- • Home Insurance - Annual premium
- • Maintenance - Annual % of home
- • Closing/Selling Costs - Transaction fees
Review & Decide
- • Total Cost - Buy vs Rent
- • Equity Built - Homeownership
- • Wealth Difference - Which wins?
- • Break-Even Point - When buying wins
Pro Tip: The break-even point is typically 5-7 years. If you plan to stay longer than 5 years, buying usually wins. This calculator shows you the exact break-even point for your specific situation! In this example, buying wins after just 1-2 years due to the high rent vs low home price ratio.
Why Use Our Rent vs Buy Calculator? Our free rent vs buy calculator helps you compare the total cost of renting versus buying a home, including mortgage payments, property taxes, insurance, maintenance, and rent increases. Whether you're a first-time homebuyer or considering an investment property, our tool provides accurate calculations with detailed year-by-year comparisons. Make informed real estate decisions by analyzing home appreciation, opportunity cost, and the true wealth difference between renting and buying.
● Basic Inputs
State average 0.28-2.42%. Verify local county rate.Verify official rate →
💡 All calculations are estimates. Rates vary by lender and location. Please verify with official sources for accurate numbers.
Enter values to see results
Results update automatically