Rent vs Buy Calculator
Compare renting vs buying over 10 years. Enter monthly rent, home price, down payment, mortgage rate, and growth assumptions. See break-even year and a recommendation.
Rent vs Buy Calculator
Rent or Buy?
Enter your monthly rent and expected annual rent increase. Then enter a home price, down payment, mortgage rate, and expected home appreciation. The calculator shows cumulative rent vs net cost of owning over 10 years, the break-even year (when buying becomes cheaper), and a simple recommendation based on how long you plan to stay.
Renting
$
%
Typical 2–4%
Buying
$
%
%
%
Long-term average ~3%
Comparison uses up to 10 years on chart
Rent vs Buy Comparison
Break-Even Year
Year 1
First year when net cost of buying is less than or equal to cumulative rent
Recommendation
Buying may be better if you stay at least 1 year.
Est. Monthly Payment (P&I)
$2,395
30-year mortgage at 7% on $360,000
Rent vs Buy Calculator Report
February 9, 2026
Inputs
Monthly Rent: $2,000
Home Price: $450,000
Down Payment: 20%
Mortgage Rate: 7%
Years to Stay: 10
Rent Increase: 3%
Home Appreciation: 3%
| RENT VS BUY COMPARISON | |
|---|---|
| Break-Even Year | Year 1 |
| Recommendation | Buying may be better if you stay at least 1 year. |
| Est. Monthly Payment (P&I) | $2,395 |
| Loan Amount | $360,000 |
| Down Payment | $90,000 |
| Period | Rent (Cumulative) | Buy (Net Cost) | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Start | $24,000 | $28,741 | $4,741 (rent ahead) |
| Year 1 | $48,720 | $40,325 | $8,395 (buy ahead) |
| Year 2 | $74,182 | $51,240 | $22,942 (buy ahead) |
| Year 3 | $100,407 | $61,454 | $38,953 (buy ahead) |
| Year 4 | $127,419 | $70,935 | $56,484 (buy ahead) |
| Year 5 | $155,242 | $79,647 | $75,595 (buy ahead) |
| Year 6 | $183,899 | $87,554 | $96,345 (buy ahead) |
| Year 7 | $213,416 | $94,616 | $118,800 (buy ahead) |
| Year 8 | $243,819 | $100,793 | $143,026 (buy ahead) |
| Year 9 | $275,133 | $106,041 | $169,092 (buy ahead) |
| Year 10 | $307,387 | $110,314 | $197,073 (buy ahead) |
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10-Year Cost Comparison: Rent vs Buy
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