Answer 4 quick questions

1) What do you pay in rent each month? * 2) How much do you have saved toward buying a home? * 3) What monthly housing payment would feel comfortable? *

4) How long do you think you'll stay in your next home? * 1–3 years 4–6 years 7+ years

Want to fine-tune the numbers?

These optional assumptions let you adjust how the rent vs buy calculator models housing costs and break-even timing.

Modeled home price (optional override) Down payment mode Down payment (%) Down payment amount (optional override) Mortgage interest rate (%) Mortgage term (years) Annual rent growth (%) Renter insurance (monthly) Property tax mode Property tax rate (%) Property tax amount (annual optional) Home insurance (annual) HOA (monthly) Maintenance (% annual) Buyer closing costs (%) Home appreciation (%) Selling costs (%) Opportunity-cost return (%) Break-even analysis horizon (years)

Your comparison

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For this comparison, we modeled a $0 home.

Based on what you told us:

Time period

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Rent cost over your timeline

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Buy cost over your timeline

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Estimated equity

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Difference

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See detailed assumptions and break-even details

Additional model explanation

Model disclosures

Want to keep working on this decision?

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How this rent vs buy comparison works

This renting vs buying calculator models rent over time, mortgage costs, common ownership expenses, estimated home-value changes, selling costs, estimated equity, and an opportunity-cost estimate for upfront cash.

Break-even means the point where buying starts looking stronger in the model. If no break-even occurs in the horizon, renting stays lower-cost in the modeled period.

Planning assumptions are generalized for education and vary by home and location. Actual taxes, insurance, HOA costs, and market conditions can be different.

Rent or Buy?