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Rent vs Buy Calculator

BuyRent Today starts with 2026 assumptions for rates, taxes, and selling costs, then lets you use local defaults or your own numbers to see the break-even point and total cost over time.

Review our 2026 assumptions and methodology before you customize.

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Your Scenario

Buying
$
$
%
%
Renting
$
7 years
1 years30 years
Advanced assumptions

These defaults are common starting points. Adjust them to match your situation.

Buying Costs
% / year
$ / year
$ / month
% of home / year
% of price
% of price
Renting Costs
$ / month
month(s) rent
Growth Assumptions
% / year
% / year
Financial AssumptionsNew
% / year
%
Results update automatically as you change values
Renting looks better over 7 years

Estimated difference: ~$38,278 in favor of Renting (based on your assumptions).

Monthly cost today
Renting: $2,000/mo
Owning: $3,095/mo
Break-even
~7 years
Net outcome
Renting ahead by ~$38,278

Why you got this result

  • ⏱️Time horizon: At 7 years, upfront costs (closing + selling) matter a lot.
  • 📊Rate sensitivity: A mortgage rate change of ±1% shifts the result by about ~$16,800.
  • 📈Equity & appreciation: Your outcome assumes 3%/yr home appreciation and 3%/yr rent growth.
Edit assumptions →
Total Rent Paid
$187,579
Over 7 years
Total Owner Costs
$351,954
Incl. upfront costs
Final Equity
$170,761
After selling costs
Upfront Needed
$92,000
20% down + closing
More details
Opportunity Cost
$57,959
If invested @ 7%
Interest Paid
$150,505
Est. Tax Savings
$16,556
@ 22% bracket
Home Appreciation
$91,950
Principal Paid
$28,328

Estimates only. Not financial advice. Assumptions are adjustable.

Confidence ranges

Loading scenario ranges after the page settles.

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Down Payment Boss Fight

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Rent vs Buy Speed Run

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Next steps

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What could change the result?

Try a different rate or appreciation assumption. If the winner flips easily, treat this as a toss-up.

Total cost over time

This compares cumulative out-of-pocket cost and estimated equity (if buying).

Next Steps

Check Your Affordability

See how much home you can realistically afford based on your income

Estimate Your Mortgage Payment

Calculate monthly payments with principal, interest, taxes & insurance

Take the Rent vs Buy Quiz

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Data as of Jan 2026
| View data sources
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Assumptions (2026)

What BuyRent Today preloads before you customize your scenario

We preload a realistic starting point for mortgage rates, property taxes, insurance, and selling costs so you can compare rent vs buy faster. Then you can stress test with your own numbers.

Rate Context

Mortgage Rates Today

Update your baseline rate before running scenarios.

Payment Math

Mortgage Calculator

Check PITI + PMI monthly payment sensitivity.

Cash to Close

Closing Costs Calculator

Estimate upfront cash before comparing monthly costs.

Budget Guardrail

Affordability Calculator

Validate payment comfort before making offers.

Interactive Mode

Play the Housing Decision Games

Fast simulations that teach tradeoffs before you run full calculator scenarios.

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Rent vs Buy Speed Run

Beat 5-year break-even fast

Adjust rent, price, rate, and timeline in six moves before the timer expires.

1-2 min Easy

Rate Shock Simulator

Lock vs float under pressure

Play five rounds of random rate moves and compare strategy impact on payment stress.

2-3 min Medium

Down Payment Boss Fight

Build your cash timeline

Pick a metro, set savings pace, and see how quickly you can hit your target down payment.

2 min Medium

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Keep momentum: run one more scenario before comparing markets.

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Updated Feb 12, 2026
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How it works

A decision model, not a guess

We compare the total cost of renting versus buying over your chosen time horizon. The calculator uses your inputs to estimate monthly costs, equity, and opportunity cost, then summarizes the net difference in today’s dollars.

What’s included

  • Mortgage (principal + interest), property taxes, insurance, HOA, maintenance
  • Closing costs, selling costs, and PMI (when applicable)
  • Rent growth assumptions and renter’s insurance
  • Opportunity cost of investing the down payment

Why it’s credible

City defaults come from public data sources and are refreshed as new datasets are published. You can override any assumption to match your situation. The model is transparent so you can see how the recommendation changes.

Sources: Zillow Research, Tax Foundation

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