Rent vs Buy Calculator
Find out whether renting or buying makes more financial sense. Accounts for opportunity cost, property taxes, maintenance, appreciation, and investment returns.
Defaults forUS
Buying likely wins over this time horizon
Buy — net wealth gain: $435,534
Rent+invest — net wealth gain: $333,052
Break-even year: Year 3
Upfront cost: $101,250
AI Insights
- ›You break even in Year 3. If you plan to stay longer, buying builds more wealth.
- ›Upfront cost of $101,250 equals 46 months of rent — that's the capital at stake on day one.
- ›Buying leaves you $102,482 better off after 15 years at these assumptions.
Net Wealth Gain Over Time
Buying
$450,000
$67,500$1,800,000
20.0%
3.0%40.0%
6.8%
1.0%30.0%
1.1%
0.1%3.5%
1.0%
0.5%3.0%
3.5%
0.0%10.0%
Renting
$2,200
$440$11,000
3.0%
0.0%10.0%
Assumptions
7.0%
2.0%12.0%
22.0%
10.0%45.0%
15 yrs
3 yrs30 yrs
Not financial advice. Estimates only. Consult a qualified adviser.
How this calculator works
Most rent-vs-buy tools only compare your monthly mortgage to your monthly rent. That misses two big factors:
- Opportunity cost — the down payment could be invested and compounding instead
- True ownership costs — property tax, maintenance (~1–2% of home value/year), insurance, and HOA
This calculator tracks your net worth under both scenarios and finds the year where buying pulls ahead.