Rent vs Buy Calculator

Compare your options

Renting leads after 10 years

Estimated difference: $26,729
Break-even year: Not reached
Buyer net worth: $292,536
Renter net worth: $319,266

What the comparison means

Renting has the higher modeled net worth by $26,729. This is a scenario comparison, not a prediction. Change the time horizon, appreciation, rent growth, investment return, transaction costs, and ownership expenses to see whether the conclusion remains stable across reasonable assumptions.

Initial buy monthly cost: $3,590.77
Initial rent monthly cost: $2,520.00
Upfront buying cash: $115,000.00
Home equity after sale: $292,536.19
Ending home value: $671,958.19
Ending mortgage balance: $339,104.51
Renter investments: $319,265.66
Total mortgage interest: $242,497.16

Important limitations

This is a scenario estimate, not a forecast, mortgage approval, tax calculation, or recommendation to rent or buy.
The comparison assumes monthly savings are invested at the entered return and a buyer sells at the end of the selected period.
Tax deductions, capital-gains taxes, utilities, security deposits, moving costs, renovations, and unentered fees are excluded.

Rent vs buy net worth

Home equity after selling costs plus invested monthly savings, compared with the renter's investments.

Annual net worth comparison
Year	Buy	Rent	Buy advantage
1	$88,571	$133,649	-$45,078
2	$107,864	$152,686	-$44,822
3	$127,913	$172,115	-$44,202
4	$148,751	$191,938	-$43,187
5	$170,415	$212,158	-$41,743
6	$192,943	$232,777	-$39,834
7	$216,376	$253,796	-$37,421
8	$240,755	$275,217	-$34,462
9	$266,126	$297,040	-$30,914
10	$292,536	$319,266	-$26,729

Annual housing cash flow

Mortgage and entered ownership costs versus rent and renter insurance.

Annual housing cash flow
Year	Buy costs	Rent costs
1	$43,264	$30,654
2	$43,651	$31,573
3	$44,051	$32,520
4	$44,462	$33,496
5	$44,886	$34,501
6	$45,322	$35,536
7	$45,772	$36,602
8	$46,235	$37,700
9	$46,711	$38,831
10	$47,203	$39,996