Rent vs Buy Calculator

Compare a simplified renting scenario with a mortgage scenario and see how your assumptions change the result.

Home price ($)

Down payment ($)

Mortgage rate (%)

Mortgage term (years)

Monthly rent ($)

Annual rent increase (%)

Years staying

Enter your numbers and select Calculate.

What this calculator helps you understand

Free US rent vs buy calculator. Compare simplified rent and mortgage cash outlays over a chosen time horizon. The goal is to make the financial concept easier to understand by letting you test different scenarios rather than relying on a single example.

How to use it

Enter numbers that match your situation.
Change one assumption at a time and compare the result.
Use the result as an estimate, not a guarantee.

Important: This is an educational calculator. Actual results can differ because of rates, taxes, fees, plan rules, market performance, lender terms and other circumstances.

Frequently asked questions

Is renting or buying always cheaper?

No. The answer depends on price, rent, rates, time horizon, maintenance, taxes, insurance and selling costs.

Does this include property taxes and maintenance?

This simplified comparison does not. Those costs can materially change the result.

Why does the time horizon matter?

Buying has transaction and ownership costs while building equity; renting avoids many ownership costs.

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