Buy or rent: when does buying come out ahead?
The owner's net worth against a renter who invests the down payment and the difference in costs, year by year, with figures for your city where we have them.
What this calculator is for
Compare, over the same period, how your net worth evolves if you buy, or rent and invest the difference.
How to read the result
The big number shows when buying comes out ahead. The two curves show each option's net worth, selling costs deducted: where the green line crosses above, buying wins.
Assumptions and limits
Prices, rents and returns grow at constant rates. Buying costs and property tax vary by municipality: check official rates. Open "Advanced assumptions" to adjust them.
Have the result checked
An adviser goes through these figures with your actual situation: tax, pensions, existing investments.
Frequently asked questions
Why does the renter invest the down payment?
To compare like with like: the down payment and buying costs the renter does not spend are invested, as is the monthly difference between the owner's costs and the rent.
Are my city's figures up to date?
They come from official statistics that we refresh every quarter; the source is shown under the city list. Replace them with your own figures when you have them.