Mortgage Calculators

Home Rent vs. Buy Calculator

Renting or buying? This compares the net cost of each over your time horizon, counting the equity and appreciation you gain by owning.

Inputs

Home price

Down payment

Mortgage rate

Mortgage term (years)

Monthly rent

Years you’ll stay

Home appreciation / year

Tax, insurance & upkeep / year

Estimates only. Change any value to recalculate instantly.

Cheaper over 7 years Buying by $46,255

Net cost of buying $128,449

Total cost of renting $174,704

Home value at end $430,456

Equity recovered $151,463

Net cost compared

Buying (net) $128k
Renting $175k

Net cost if you exit Buy (net of equity)Rent

Over 7 years, buying nets $128,449 after counting the equity and appreciation you keep, versus $174,704 to rent. Buying tends to win the longer you stay; renting can win for short horizons or pricey markets.

Net cost by year if you move out that yearView table

Year	Buy (net)	Rent (total)	Equity built
1	$37,988	$22,800	$62,000
2	$54,470	$46,284	$75,505
3	$70,424	$70,473	$89,539
4	$85,824	$95,387	$104,126
5	$100,647	$121,048	$119,290
6	$114,865	$147,480	$135,060
7	$128,449	$174,704	$151,463

How this calculator works

This calculator runs entirely in your browser — nothing you enter is sent anywhere, and there is no sign-up. Change any input and the result, breakdown, and schedule update instantly.

Rate and cost fields are pre-filled with current benchmarks (Federal Reserve / Freddie Mac via FRED (St. Louis Fed)), so your first result is already realistic — replace them with your own quote to see your numbers. To weigh one option against another, use the loan comparison calculator.

30-year fixed mortgage rate, 2019–2026

Source: Freddie Mac PMMS via FRED. Annual averages; latest weekly reading shown.

Common questions

Is this calculator free, and do I need to sign up?

Yes and no — it is completely free and asks for no account or personal details. Every calculation happens in your browser, so nothing you type is stored or sent to us.

How accurate are the results?

The math is exact for the inputs you give it, but the defaults are national benchmarks — your real rate, fees, taxes, and insurance will differ. Treat the result as a close estimate to refine with a real quote.