Should You Buy or Rent?
Stop guessing about monthly rent vs mortgage payments. Get a clear financial answer to one of life's biggest decisions with our comprehensive calculator.
Calculate Your Best Option →You're Not Alone in This Struggle
💭 Endless Uncertainty
You've been going back and forth for months. Should you keep renting and have flexibility, or is it time to build equity in your own home?
📊 Complex Numbers
Monthly rent vs mortgage payment, Property taxes, maintenance costs, rent increases, opportunity cost of your down payment... When comparing the cost to buy a house versus renting, there are so many factors to consider in your rental vs purchase comparison.
⏰ Time Pressure
Your lease is ending, or you found the perfect house, but you need to decide quickly. You can't afford to make the wrong choice.
Get Your Answer in Minutes
Complete Financial Picture
Our home buying vs renting cost estimator factors in everything: mortgage payments, property taxes, maintenance, closing costs, home appreciation, rent increases, and investment returns on your down payment. Get a true rental vs purchase comparison.
See Your Break-Even Point
Discover exactly when buying becomes more advantageous than renting. Whether it's year 2 or year 7, you'll know your timeline.
Tailored to Your Situation
Input your specific home price, down payment, local tax rates, and timeline. Get results that actually apply to your real-world scenario.
How It Works
Enter Your Details
Home price, down payment, mortgage rate, and monthly rent for a similar property to start your rental vs purchase comparison
Optionally Customize Settings
Optionally adjust property taxes, expected home appreciation, and your planned timeline or keep the default settings for a quick answer
Get Your Answer
See a clear recommendation, your break-even point, and year-by-year financial breakdown
Real Example: $650K Home vs. $3,500 Rent
Scenario: $650,000 home, $130,000 down payment, 7% mortgage rate, planning to stay 5 years
Alternative: Rent similar property for $3,500/month and invest the down payment
In this case, buying becomes the better option after year 3. Your situation will likely be different—that's why you need to run your own numbers.
Ready to Make Your Decision?
Join thousands who've already found their answer. It takes less than 5 minutes.
Start Your Calculation Now →