How the comparison works
- Total rent — your rent summed across the years you'll stay, growing each year by the rent-increase rate.
- Net cost to buy — the down payment, the mortgage payments you make, and yearly ownership costs (property tax, maintenance, insurance), minus the equity you'd recover by selling at the end.
- The verdict — whichever total is lower over your holding period, and by how much.
Frequently asked questions
What does “net cost to buy” mean?
It's everything you spend to own the home over the period, reduced by the equity you'd walk away with if you sold — the home's appreciated value less any remaining loan balance.
Why does “years you’ll stay” change the answer so much?
Buying has big upfront costs (down payment, fees). The longer you stay, the more those spread out and the more the home can appreciate, which usually tips the balance toward buying.
What doesn’t the model include?
It's deliberately simple. It doesn't model selling/transaction costs, capital-gains tax, or the return you might earn by investing the down payment instead — so treat it as a guide, not advice.
Is my information uploaded?
No. The calculation runs entirely in your browser. Nothing you enter is stored or sent to a server.