Compare the total cash cost of renting versus buying a home over a chosen number of years.
Total cost of renting—USD
Total cash cost of buying—USD
Renting savings vs buying—USD
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About the Rent vs. Buy Calculator
This calculator compares the total out-of-pocket cash spent renting versus buying over a given time horizon, including the down payment, mortgage payments, property tax and maintenance.
Formula: Total Buy Cost = Down Payment + (Monthly P&I × Months) + (Property Tax + Maintenance) × Years · Total Rent Cost = Monthly Rent × Months
Note this simplified comparison does not account for home price appreciation, equity built through principal repayment, or investment returns on the money you'd otherwise put toward a down payment — all of which can meaningfully shift the real-world answer.