Rent vs. buy calculator
Renting or buying — which makes sense?
Compare the real cost of renting and buying over your time horizon. Enter your numbers to see the estimated financial difference and when buying may start to pay off.
This is a planning estimate. Results depend on assumptions that vary by market and situation.
Compare the real numbers.
This calculator estimates the total cost of renting versus buying over the number of years you plan to stay. It accounts for mortgage payments, taxes, insurance, appreciation, and equity built — use your best guess on any input.
Based on the assumptions entered over 7 years. Results will vary.
Staying 7 years gives enough time for equity to build and upfront costs to be absorbed. Home appreciation at 3% is a meaningful driver of the buying advantage in this scenario. With rent increasing 3% annually, the long-term cost of renting grows over time.
This comparison is illustrative and based on the assumptions you entered. It does not account for closing costs, maintenance, HOA fees, selling costs, tax impacts, or investment returns on the down payment. An Intra officer can help you weigh the full picture with your actual numbers.
Want a more exact estimate?
An Intra loan officer can review this scenario with your real numbers and help you understand what may change. No hard credit pull required.
Talk to an Intra loan officer →What this estimate includes
Included
- Estimated total cost of renting versus buying over your time horizon
- Mortgage payment, taxes, insurance, and equity built while owning
- Rent growth and home appreciation assumptions you control
Not included
- Maintenance, moving costs, and opportunity cost of your down payment
- Tax benefits of homeownership or market specifics
- A recommendation to buy or rent — that depends on your goals
How to use this calculator
- Enter your current rent and how long you expect to stay in the area.
- Add a home price, down payment, and estimated rate.
- Set appreciation and rent-increase assumptions — conservative guesses are fine.
- Review the break-even timing and total cost difference, then weigh lifestyle factors too.
Common questions, plain answers.
This calculator estimates the total cost of renting over your chosen time horizon versus the net cost of buying, which accounts for mortgage payments, taxes, insurance, and the equity you build through appreciation and principal paydown.
The break-even year is the point at which the cumulative net cost of buying becomes less than the cumulative cost of renting. Before that point, renting may be cheaper. After it, buying typically has the financial advantage.
This calculator does not account for closing costs, maintenance, HOA dues, selling costs, tax deductions, or investment returns on the down payment. These factors can significantly affect the real comparison.
Historical U.S. home appreciation has averaged around 3% to 4% annually, though it varies significantly by market and time period. Use a conservative estimate for planning purposes.
A larger down payment reduces your monthly mortgage payment and total interest, which can make buying look more favorable. However, it also represents cash committed to the home that could otherwise be invested.
No. This tool is designed to compare estimated financial outcomes based on the assumptions you enter. The right decision may also depend on your flexibility needs, risk tolerance, maintenance responsibilities, regional market conditions, job stability, and personal goals. Use this as a starting point for your thinking, not a final answer.
Buying involves upfront costs and early mortgage payments that are mostly interest. The longer you stay, the more equity you build and the more those costs are spread out. Short time horizons often favor renting.
Ready for the next step
Your numbers make more sense with a real conversation.
Estimates are a starting point. An Intra loan officer can show you your actual rate — based on your real situation, not a guess.
