Rent vs Buy Calculator: Which Is Better Financially?

Should you rent or buy? Our calculator compares the true costs of both options over time, including mortgage payments, taxes, maintenance, and rent increases.

How to Use

1. Enter home details — price, down payment, rate, taxes, maintenance
2. Enter rental details — monthly rent and annual increase
3. Set the comparison period in years
4. See side-by-side costs — total cost of buying vs renting

Common Use Cases

• Housing decisions: Make an informed rent vs buy choice
• Market analysis: See if buying makes sense in your area
• Financial planning: Factor housing into long-term plans
• Relocation: Compare housing costs in different cities

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is usually cheaper? It depends on your market. In high-cost areas, renting is often cheaper. In affordable markets, buying builds equity faster.

What costs does buying include? Mortgage payments, property taxes, insurance, maintenance (typically 1% of home value/year), and opportunity cost of the down payment.

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Try our free Rent vs Buy Calculator now.