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Rent vs Buy Calculator

Compare estimated rent paid with the estimated cash cost and equity of buying over a period you choose.

What is Rent vs Buy Calculator?

A rent vs buy calculator estimates rent paid and the cash cost and equity of buying over the years you choose. Rent growth and home-value change are assumptions, not a recommendation.

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Rent vs Buy Calculator — Estimated Rent and Buying Cost — Tools Star Hub

What this tool does

Estimate rent paid over several years next to the cash you would pay to buy, the remaining loan, and the equity from the home-value change you enter.

How to use

  1. Enter monthly rent and an annual rent change. Use 0 if rent stays flat.
  2. Enter the home price, down payment, rate, and loan term.
  3. Enter yearly property tax, insurance, and maintenance, and monthly HOA. Blank means 0.
  4. Enter a home-value change and how many years to compare, then press Calculate.

Examples

  • Paying all cash

    A down payment equal to the price has no loan payment. Equity follows the home-value change you enter.

  • A longer comparison than the loan

    After the loan term, principal and interest stop. Tax, insurance, HOA, and maintenance continue.

Main features

  • Rent that can rise or fall each year.
  • A loan payment from the same installment math as the mortgage calculator.
  • Cash cost, remaining balance, and equity shown separately.

How it works

Each year of rent is the prior year multiplied by one plus the rent-change percent. The loan payment uses the standard monthly installment. Buying cash is the down payment, principal and interest through the comparison, and the housing costs you typed. Equity is the estimated home value minus the remaining balance. Net buying cost is cash minus equity. The difference is rent cost minus that net buying cost. Neither result is labeled as the better choice.

Tips

  • Use 0 for rent change and home-value change when you want a flat comparison.
  • The rate is an example you type, not a live mortgage offer.

Limitations

Rent growth and home-value change are assumptions, not forecasts. The page does not include selling costs, repairs beyond the maintenance amount, or taxes on a sale.

See the disclaimer for what these tools do not cover.

FAQ

How does this compare renting and buying?
It totals rent over the years you enter and totals buying cash, then subtracts estimated equity from the buying cash.
Does the calculator recommend buying or renting?
No. It shows the two estimated costs and the difference. It does not call either one better.
What happens when the comparison is longer than the loan?
Principal and interest stop when the term ends. The other yearly and monthly costs you entered continue.
How is home equity estimated?
The home price is changed by your annual value assumption, then the remaining loan balance is subtracted.
Are rent growth and home prices forecasts?
No. Both are rates you type for this estimate.
Are these numbers sent to a server?
No. Rent, price, and the rates you assume are compared in this tab. They are not sent to a server.

Related tools

Helpful guides

Guide

How to Compare Renting and Buying Costs

How to compare an estimated rent cost with an estimated buying cost for the same period.

Read guide