Rent vs Buy Calculator UK
Is it cheaper to rent or buy? Compare the true net cost of buying with a repayment mortgage against renting and investing the difference, over the years you choose.
The return the renter earns on the deposit and buying costs a buyer would tie up.
How long you expect to stay in the home before selling.
Over 10 years
Buying is cheaper by £103,136 over 10 years
Buying leaves you better off in cash terms, mostly through the equity you build.
Net cost of buying
£58,892
Net cost of renting
£162,028
Not financial advice. For educational purposes only. This is an illustrative projection on fixed assumptions, not a forecast. House prices, rents and investment returns are uncertain and rarely move in a straight line; the result is very sensitive to the growth and return figures you choose. It ignores tax and the non-financial value of owning or renting. Verify figures with a broker, adviser and accountant before deciding.
The answer lives in the assumptions. Rent vs buy is not a fixed fact: it turns on house price growth, the mortgage rate, the rent, and what the renter earns on the deposit. Buying tends to win the longer you stay, because upfront costs and early interest are spread over more years of equity growth. Nudge the sliders and watch the headline flip.