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Rent vs Buy Calculator

Compare the true total cost of renting vs buying over any time period. Find your break-even point and make a confident decision.

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Calculating...
🏠Buying Costs
$
%
%
years
%
$
%
%
🏢Renting Costs
$
%
$
%
years
1 yr30 yrs
🏠 Total Cost of Buying$0
🏢 Total Cost of Renting$0
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Cumulative Cost Over Time
Buying
Renting
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How to use the rent vs buy calculator

1

Enter buying costs

Input the home price, down payment, mortgage rate, property tax, insurance, and maintenance costs.

2

Enter renting costs

Add your monthly rent, annual increase, and how long you plan to stay. The calculator considers what you could earn investing your down payment instead.

3

See the verdict

The calculator compares true total costs including equity built, appreciation, and opportunity cost to give you a clear answer.

Frequently asked questions

When does buying make more sense than renting?
Buying generally becomes more cost-effective the longer you stay in a home. Most calculators show a break-even point between 3-7 years depending on your local market, mortgage rate, and how much rents increase annually.
What is opportunity cost in this calculator?
If you rent instead of buying, you keep your down payment invested. The opportunity cost is the investment return you would earn on that money. This is an important but often overlooked advantage of renting.
Is this calculator free?
Yes — completely free with no account or signup required.