Custom Rent vs Buy Scenario Calculator Skip to main content
🔗

Custom Scenario

This URL contains your specific inputs and can be bookmarked or shared.

Custom Rent vs Buy Scenario

Adjust the inputs below to update your analysis.

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.

Save or share

Next best actions

Estimate rent budget

Project rent costs by year.

Check affordability

Sanity-check monthly comfort.

Take the rent vs buy quiz

Get a tailored recommendation.

Practice with a game

Down Payment Boss Fight

Build a savings runway before buying.

Rent vs Buy Speed Run

Test what would need to change to buy sooner.

Next steps

Check affordabilityEstimate mortgageCompare cities

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

Answer a few questions to get personalized advice for your situation

How this custom scenario is calculated

We compare the total cost of renting versus buying over your selected horizon, including taxes, insurance, HOA, maintenance, closing/selling costs, and the opportunity cost of your down payment. Update any input to match your personal situation.

View the main calculator
← Back to the main calculator