Rent vs. buy calculator
Compare renting against buying over the years you plan to stay. We account for appreciation, equity, maintenance, and what your down payment could earn if invested instead.
Reviewed by Brian Stroka, NMLS #1682839·Free, no signup·Equal Housing Lender
Renting looks better by $7,370
Net cost to buy
$185,843
Net cost to rent
$178,474
Home value at exit
$572,526
Over 7 years, after selling costs and the opportunity cost of your down payment. Estimate only.
Frequently asked questions
- Why can renting sometimes win?
- Buying has large upfront and selling costs. Over a short hold period, or when your down payment could earn strong returns elsewhere, renting can come out ahead. The longer you stay, the more buying tends to favor you.
- What assumptions matter most?
- How long you'll stay, home appreciation, rent growth, and your investment return on the money you'd otherwise put down. Try a few scenarios to see how sensitive the result is.
BS
Questions about your numbers?
Brian Stroka, Loan Officer · NMLS #1682839