Rent vs Buy Calculator
A simplified net-cost comparison — assumptions are editable.
Estimated monthly P&I: $2,022.62
Buy net cost
$183,725.63
- Cash out: $321,299.88
- Opportunity cost of down: $32,568.03
- Ending equity: $170,142.28
- Home value at end: $459,474.27
- Loan balance left: $289,331.98
Rent net cost
$169,720.97
- Rent paid: $202,289.00
- Down payment invested to: $112,568.03
Renting looks better by about $14,004.67 in net cost over this horizon (under these assumptions).
What is this tool?
Compares the net cost of buying versus renting over a time horizon. Buying includes down payment, principal & interest, property tax, maintenance, insurance, and the opportunity cost of tying up the down payment; equity at the end reduces buy net cost. Renting includes growing rent, with credit for investing the same down payment. Tax deductions, PMI, HOA, and selling costs are omitted — change the assumption fields to stress-test the result.
How to use it
- Enter home price, down payment, mortgage rate/term, and monthly rent.
- Set the comparison horizon and adjust tax, maintenance, insurance, appreciation, and opportunity rate if needed.
- Compare buy vs rent net cost under those assumptions.
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