Rent vs Buy Calculator
Compare total rent paid against the net cost of buying over the years you plan to stay, equity built included.
The assumptions behind this comparison
This assumes 3% annual appreciation and rent growth, plus rough carrying costs of 0.4% property tax and 1% maintenance per year on a 25-year amortization. It is a directional comparison, not a forecast, and every local market moves differently. The years-you’ll-stay figure matters more than almost anything else: buying tends to make more sense the longer you stay, since upfront closing costs get spread across more time.
Common questions
What if I might move in a couple of years?+
Shorter timelines usually favour renting, since closing costs and early-mortgage interest eat into any equity gained. Try lowering the years-you’ll-stay figure to see the crossover point.
Does this include closing costs like legal fees or land transfer tax?+
Not in this simplified version. Those are one-time costs that would shift the buy side slightly higher upfront, worth factoring in separately for a specific property.
Leaning one way?
Let's pressure-test the buy side against what you'd actually qualify for.
