How does a rent vs. buy calculator decide buying or renting?

It totals the real cost of each path over your time frame — for buying: down payment, closing costs, mortgage, taxes, insurance and upkeep, minus your home equity after selling; for renting: rising rent minus the investment growth on the money you didn't put down. Whichever ends lower wins.

What is the break-even year on rent vs. buy?

It is the year buying becomes cheaper than renting. Before it, renting is ahead because closing and selling costs are spread over fewer years; after it, ownership and equity pull ahead.

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🏡 Rent vs. Buy Calculator

Should You Rent or Buy?

Enter the numbers and instantly see the total cost of buying vs. renting over your time frame — and the exact year buying pays off.

Rent vs. Buy Calculator

The home you'd buy

Home price ($)

Down payment (%)

Mortgage rate (%)

Loan term (years)

Renting instead

Monthly rent ($)

Annual rent increase (%)

Time frame & assumptions

Years in the home

Home appreciation (%/yr)

Property tax (%/yr)

Home insurance ($/yr)

Maintenance + HOA ($/yr)

Return on savings (%/yr)

Buying closing costs (%)

Selling costs (%)

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