House Hacking Calculator
Calculate your net housing cost when living in one unit and renting others. See how much you save vs traditional renting using a multi-unit property.
Inputs
Results
You save money vs renting.
- Rental units: 3 (you live in 1)
- Rental income (gross): $4,200
- Rental income (after vacancy): $3,990
- Operating expenses: $1,150
- Mortgage payment: $2,528
- Total housing cost: $3,678
- Offset by rental income: −$2,840
- Your net cost: $838
- If you rented instead: $1,400/month
- House hacking cost: $838/month
- Monthly difference: $562
Tip: FHA loans allow 3.5% down on 2-4 unit properties if you live in one. Down payment: $20,000
How to Use This House Hacking Calculator (Mini Guide)
Live in one unit of a 2-4 unit property and rent out the others — see how much you save vs renting and whether you can live for free (or profit).
What house hacking is
Buy a duplex, triplex, or fourplex with an owner-occupant loan (3.5-5% down).
Live in one unit, rent out the others.
Rental income offsets (or eliminates) your housing cost.
Why house hacking is powerful
FHA loans allow 3.5% down on 2-4 unit properties if you live in one.
Conventional loans allow 5% down on 2-unit, 10-15% on 3-4 units.
You get investment property benefits with homeowner financing.
How to use this calculator
Enter purchase price and number of units (2, 3, or 4).
Enter rent per rental unit (not your own).
Value of your unit = what you'd pay to rent something similar.
Net cost = your total housing cost minus rental income offset.
What success looks like
Net housing cost < $500/month = you're winning.
Net housing cost ≤ $0 = you live for free.
Net housing cost < $0 (negative) = tenants pay you to live there.
Reality check
You're a landlord living next door to tenants — not for everyone.
Vacancy and maintenance are real — don't assume 0%.
Market rent matters — verify with comps, not wishful thinking.
Try it with local assumptions
Pick a city: