Meet the Rent vs Buy Calculator
Free rent vs buy calculator. Compare renting to buying a home over 5–30 years, including mortgage interest, property tax, maintenance.
- Free to use
- No signup
- Nothing to install
- Runs in your browser
Illustration. Open the tool for the real thing.
See it in action
Sample input: Monthly rent ($) = 1800; Home price ($) = 350000; Down payment (%) = 20; Mortgage rate (% APR) = 6.5
What is the Rent vs Buy Calculator?
Buying a home is not just the mortgage payment versus the rent — it includes a down payment, closing costs, property tax, maintenance, insurance and eventual selling costs, weighed against what your money could earn if invested instead of tied up in a down payment. This calculator takes your rent, home price, mortgage rate and term, expected home appreciation and investment return, and works out the total cost of each path over your chosen number of years.
It shows the estimated net cost of renting versus buying side by side, so you can see not just the monthly numbers but the long-term picture, including how home equity and opportunity cost of the down payment change the outcome over 5, 10 or 30 years.
3 steps to your result
Open the tool and follow along. Nothing to install.
What you get
Mortgage interest, tax, maintenance, closing and selling costs.
Models investment growth on the money not spent on a down payment.
Compare over 5, 10, 15 or 30 years.
Net cost of renting vs buying, plus the break-even year.
AZRS tools are free to open and use.
It opens in your browser, so there is nothing to download.
Used for
Pick one to see how it fits.
Renters considering a move
Compare the true cost, not just the headline monthly payment.
Try it freeHow it compares
A plain look at this tool next to the usual alternative.
| This calculator | Desktop software | |
|---|---|---|
| Install | Nothing to install | Usually an app or program to install |
| Account | No signup | Depends on the product |
| Cost | Free to use | Free or paid, depends on the product |
| Where it runs | In your browser tab | On your computer |
Questions people ask
How long do I need to stay to make buying worth it?
It varies by market, but the calculator's break-even year shows the point at which buying overtakes renting for your inputs — often 5–7 years is a common range.
Does this include property tax and insurance?
Yes, you can enter both, plus estimated annual maintenance.
What is the opportunity cost of a down payment?
The investment return you give up by putting that money into a home instead of, for example, index funds — the calculator models this.
Is this financial advice?
No, it is a planning estimate based on the numbers you enter — consult a financial advisor for personal advice.
Does it account for tax deductions?
It focuses on cash costs; mortgage interest deductibility varies by country and situation and is not automatically applied.
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