Rent vs. Buy Calculator
Rent vs. Buy: The Real Math
See what buying and renting actually cost and create. We provide the math, you make the decision.
Start here — auto-fills local data *
Enter your ZIP → we fill in the local medians, which you can edit
LOCATION & HOME
The home you're considering buying
Enter the purchase price of the home you're considering.
Current 30-year fixed rate.
Monthly mortgage payment (principal + interest)
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Assumes a 30-year fixed-rate loan — the most common mortgage term in the U.S.
RENT
The equivalent rental you're comparing against
Median rent for this ZIP.
Historical 5-year rent escalation for this ZIP.
TIME & SAVINGS ABILITY
Please share your savings goals for both buying and renting.
WANT TO CHECK IF YOUR SAVINGS PLAN IS REALISTIC? ADD YOUR INCOME.
HIDDEN COSTS OF OWNING A HOME
Estimated property tax rate.
Annual homeowners insurance premium.
1% of home value per year is the NAHB-recommended reserve for typical single-family homes.
Monthly Homeowners Association fee.
10-year annualized ZIP rate (Zillow). Adjust if you expect different trends; some markets are negative.
Hidden ownership costs
Total true cost of owning: $125/mo
Enter your home price and current rent to see the math
These two numbers are the foundation of the comparison — we won't guess them for you.