Rent vs Buy Calculator
Estimate which is financially better: renting or buying, using local assumptions.
Inputs
Results
Renting is cheaper (monthly).
All-in buy (monthly)
$2,841
Rent (monthly)
$2,200
Buy − Rent
$641
Breakdown (buy)
- Mortgage: $1,816
- Property tax: $583
- Insurance: $150
- HOA: $0
- Maintenance: $292
- Down payment: $70,000
Tip: This compares *monthly cash cost* only. For a full model (equity, appreciation, tax effects), add a “5-year horizon” later.
Try it with local assumptions
Local pages (cities) help you rank and increase ad RPM. Pick a city:
IL
IN
FL
FAQ
What does this Rent vs Buy calculator compare?
It compares your estimated monthly cash cost of buying (mortgage + taxes + insurance + HOA + maintenance) against your monthly rent.
Is buying always better if monthly cost is lower?
Not always. A full decision should include opportunity cost of the down payment, appreciation, and tax effects. This tool is a quick cash-cost benchmark.
What maintenance assumption should I use?
A common rule-of-thumb is 1% of home value per year, but older homes or deferred maintenance may be higher.