Rent vs. Buy Calculator
Compare what renting and buying may cost over time — including costs a simple rent-vs-mortgage comparison leaves out.
Start with five details
PLANNING ESTIMATE
Your comparison
Estimated renter cost$0
Estimated homeowner net cost$0
Estimated home equity at the end$0
This is a scenario comparison, not a forecast. Home values, rents, taxes, insurance, repairs and transaction costs can differ substantially.
Adjust the assumptions
What the comparison includes
Rent paid$0
Mortgage interest$0
Property tax$0
Insurance + PMI$0
Maintenance + HOA$0
Buyer closing costs$0
Estimated selling costs$0
Mortgage principal repaid$0
KNOW THIS BEFORE YOU DECIDE
Rent vs. buy is not just rent vs. mortgage
CFPB says homeowners need to account for costs such as property taxes, homeowners insurance, applicable mortgage insurance, HOA dues, maintenance and repairs. Buying and selling also involve transaction costs, so your expected length of stay matters.
Know this before: Change the assumptions and rerun the comparison. If a small change in home-value growth, rent growth, repairs or selling costs flips the result, the decision is sensitive to uncertain future values.
Related guides and tools
- 10 Things to Know Before You Decide Whether to Rent or Buy a Home
- Home Affordability Calculator
- How Much House Can I Afford?
- Things to Know Before Buying Your First Home
- Things to Know Before Getting a Mortgage