Loading Legacy
Compare the true cost of renting vs buying a home over time.
Rent vs Buy Calculator compares the total cost of renting versus buying a home, including mortgage, down payment, property tax, insurance, maintenance, and home appreciation over your chosen time horizon.
See whether renting or buying is the better financial decision in your area. Our calculator factors in mortgage payments, down payments, property taxes, insurance, and appreciation to give you a true total cost comparison.
Enter the home price, down payment, and current mortgage rate.
Input your monthly rent and expected annual increases.
Compare total costs over your expected time horizon.
Rent totals sum monthly payments with annual increases. Buy totals sum down payment, monthly mortgage payments (amortized at the input rate), property tax, homeowner insurance, and estimated 1% annual maintenance. Home equity is projected using the input appreciation rate. Net comparison subtracts remaining mortgage principal from projected home value.
No. In high-cost areas with high price-to-rent ratios, renting and investing the difference can sometimes yield better financial outcomes.
We include down payment, monthly mortgage payments, property tax, homeowner insurance, and estimated maintenance (typically 1% of home value per year).
Yes. We apply your expected annual appreciation rate to estimate home equity at the end of the comparison period.
This calculator shows gross costs. Mortgage interest and property tax may be deductible depending on your tax situation and the 2026 standard deduction.