Rent vs Buy Calculator

Compare renting and buying with the same assumptions: mortgage, rent, maintenance, investment opportunity cost, and home equity.

Report
Comparison assumptions
Inputs
Buying costs
%
%
%
%
Renting costs
%
Growth and investment assumptions
%
%
%
Initial conclusion
-
-
Buying cash paid
-
Renting cash paid
-
Net worth difference
-
Break-even year
-

Annual net worth comparison

This is a simplified estimate and not financial advice. Local taxes, transaction costs, investment risk, and personal cash flow should be reviewed separately.

Annual detail table

Year Renting cumulative cost Buying cumulative cost Home equity Investment assets Buying - renting
Load a sample or enter assumptions to show annual details.
Enter buying terms
Add home price, down payment, mortgage rate, loan term, taxes, management fees, and maintenance rate.
Add renting costs
Enter monthly rent, deposit months, and expected annual rent growth so rental cost compounds by year.
Set growth assumptions
Adjust home appreciation, investment return, inflation, and comparison years to test different scenarios.
Read and copy results
Review total cost, net worth difference, break-even year, annual table, and chart results for each scenario.
When should I use this tool?
Use it when you are weighing renting against buying and want mortgage cost, rent, down payment opportunity cost, and home equity in one comparison.
Can I treat the result as financial advice?
No. This is a simplified calculator, not financial, tax, or investment advice. Real decisions should include cash flow, risk tolerance, location, and professional guidance.
How should I enter taxes and one-time costs?
Use the percentage field to approximate local transfer taxes, agent fees, legal fees, registration costs, or other transaction costs.
What does investment return mean?
It estimates how the down payment and monthly cash-flow differences could grow if invested instead of used to buy. It is not a guaranteed return.
How is the break-even year calculated?
The calculator compares buying net worth with renting-plus-investing net worth each year and reports the first year buying is not lower.
travel preparation baggage weight limit time zone calculator
2026-05-15

Travel Prep Without the Stress: Baggage Weight, Time Zones, and Currency Budgets — All Sorted Before You Leave

Discovering your bag is overweight at check-in, losing track of time zones at your destination, standing at an exchange counter not knowing how much to get — these classic travel mishaps are all preventable with 15 minutes of prep before you leave.

tariff war exchange rate Taiwan dollar
2026-05-08

US-China Tariff War & Currency Impact Guide: Why Exchange Rates Swing and How to Plan Your Currency Exchange

In April 2025, the US imposed 145% tariffs on Chinese goods and 32% on Taiwanese goods (later paused 90 days), triggering major foreign exchange volatility. Why do tariffs cause currency fluctuations? What happened to the US dollar, Taiwan dollar, and Chinese yuan? This guide explains the economic mechanics and offers practical currency exchange strategies for individuals.

PDPA Personal Data Protection Taiwan
2026-05-06

Taiwan's Personal Data Protection Act Amendments: PDPC, Breach Notification & Your Rights

Taiwan's Personal Data Protection Act was significantly amended in November 2025 and took effect January 2026. This guide covers the new Personal Data Protection Commission, mandatory 72-hour breach notification, Data Protection Officer requirements, and expanded rights for data subjects.

currency exchange travel exchange rate
2026-04-28

Best Ways to Exchange Currency for Travel: Airport, Bank, Credit Card & Foreign Currency Account Compared

Is airport currency exchange really that expensive? Is paying by credit card better than exchanging cash? This guide breaks down the fee structures of 5 exchange methods and shows you how to build the most cost-effective strategy for your trip.

Candlestick Chart K-Line Technical Analysis
2026-04-23

Candlestick Chart Guide: How to Read K-Line Patterns, OHLC, and Technical Analysis Basics

What are those candle-shaped bars on stock and crypto charts? This guide explains the four key prices in a candlestick (Open, High, Low, Close), the difference between bullish and bearish candles, common patterns like Doji and Hammer, and when to use candlestick charts versus line charts.

50/30/20 rule personal finance budgeting
2026-04-21

Personal Finance 101: The 50/30/20 Rule, Emergency Fund & Savings Rate Guide

You spend everything each month but can't say where it went. The 50/30/20 rule is the simplest budgeting framework — split your after-tax income into needs (50%), wants (30%), and savings (20%). This guide explains the rule, how to size your emergency fund, and how to calculate your savings rate.