☰

Rent or buy: Compare the economics of two homes

How long you expect to live in the same place can matter a lot for the choice between renting and buying. When buying, transaction costs and financing must be spread over the period. When renting, you have other payments and typically tie up less capital.

Applies to the amounts in this calculator.

years

Owning

GBP
GBP
GBP
%
years
GBP/year
% per year
%

Renting

GBP/mo
% per year
GBP

After tax and costs.

% per year

No connection. Your numbers have been kept. Please try again.

Worked example
  • Period: 5 years
  • Purchase price: 230,000.00 GBP
  • Down payment: 11,000.00 GBP
  • Trading costs: 5,600.00 GBP
  • Interest rate: 0 %
  • Term: 30 years
  • Rent: 1,100.00 GBP

Largest wealth after 5 years: Owning

77,000 GBP

Owning 77,000 GBP (home 230,000 GBP minus selling costs and remaining debt 182,500 GBP plus savings 29,500 GBP ) · renting 16,600 GBP · difference 60,400 GBP

The same budget every month; the cheaper home invests the difference. Repayments are savings in the home.

Use two specific housing scenarios

Enter the rent and other rental payments for one home. For the owned home, the purchase price, financing, ownership costs, maintenance and costs of a later sale are included. Shared consumption items are treated the same way.

The calculator keeps housing costs and the development of wealth separate. Principal payments move money from cash to equity. That is why they cannot be treated as a loss in the same way as interest or a fee.

Guide to a useful comparison

Choose a realistic time in the home

Look at both your expected period and a shorter period. An earlier sale can make the transaction costs more noticeable. It can also change the result if the value of the home develops differently than assumed.

Calculate with the money you do not tie up

If the renter keeps an amount that the buyer uses for the down payment, the alternative use must be shown. An assumed investment return is a scenario and must be treated with relevant costs and tax.

The result describes the chosen economic paths. The location and size of the homes and the freedom to change them can differ. So compare homes that actually meet your needs, and try several developments in home prices and interest rates. Use the budget calculator to also check your ongoing ability to pay.