Rent versus Buy Cash Cost Calculator
Compare rent payments with net ownership cash cost after a modeled sale, including remaining mortgage debt.
YOUR CALCULATION
Result
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Calculation steps
Work through one step at a time or reveal the complete calculation. The steps use your current inputs.
How to calculate
Accumulate mortgage payments and ownership running costs. At each comparison year subtract sale proceeds after sale costs and outstanding mortgage. Compare with accumulated rent.
Owner net cash cost=down payment+buy fees+payments+running costs−(sale price−sale costs−remaining debt)
Worked example
At zero growth/rates/fees and price 120000, 20% down, 120-month mortgage, annual running cost 1200 and rent 1000/month, after ten years owner net cash cost is 12000 versus rent 120000.
Assumptions and input details
Undiscounted nominal cash-cost comparison. Does not invest unused down payment or monthly savings; opportunity costs can materially change the result. No tax deductions, income/capital-gains tax, rent deposits, moving expenses, future repairs beyond entered costs or purchase eligibility. Annual costs/rent change at year starts, property value at year ends. A sale is assumed at each displayed horizon, not every year consecutively. No live market data or national tax rules are inferred. Enter consistent amounts in one currency unless explicitly stated otherwise.
References: CFPB: rent/buy assumptions and costs
Using this calculator
Can I enter my own problem?
Yes. Replace the example values with your own inputs. The result, calculation steps, tables and applicable diagrams update from those inputs. Blank or invalid values clear the result; example values are never silently substituted for missing inputs.
Are the results exact?
Results use floating-point arithmetic and displayed rounding. Read the formula, assumptions and any stated data precision before interpreting the result.
Is my input uploaded?
The calculation runs in your browser. No account, file upload or external AI service is required. Inputs are not saved between page reloads.
Translate an entered debt-service budget and available upfront cash into a modeled loan and purchase-price ceiling.
Separate sale price, selling costs, loan payoff and optional entered tax amount to estimate cash received.
Add balances in different currencies, including debts. Convert the total and compare a table and currency chart.
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