Rent vs. Buy Calculator
Should you rent
or buy?
Compares the true net cost of both paths over time, including opportunity cost of your down payment.
After 7 years, the cheaper option is
--
Fill in your details below
How this is calculated
💰Cost to buy = down payment + total mortgage payments + taxes + insurance + maintenance − equity built − home appreciation, over your time horizon.
📈Cost to rent assumes your down payment is invested instead, growing at your chosen return rate — this "opportunity cost" is the key thing simple calculators miss.
⏳Time horizon matters most. Buying usually wins the longer you stay, since closing costs and early mortgage interest get amortized over more years.