About
The Rent or Buy Guide was built because most rent vs buy calculators only compare your mortgage payment to rent — and that's not enough. The real comparison has to include closing costs, property taxes, insurance, PMI, maintenance, HOA fees, the opportunity cost of your down payment, and the cost of selling when you eventually move.
We built this calculator to include all of those. The result is a more complete picture of which path actually makes financial sense for your specific situation and how long you plan to stay.
The True Cost Comparison models every real cost of buying and renting over your expected time horizon. The Breakeven Timeline shows exactly how many years until buying becomes the better financial choice. The Scenario Planner shows the verdict at 3, 5, 7, 10, and 15 years simultaneously. The Market Data tab shows price-to-rent ratios and rent vs buy verdicts for all 50 states.
This site is supported by Google AdSense advertising and affiliate links to mortgage comparison tools and financial services. We may earn a commission if you use those services — at no extra cost to you. We never collect your data or sell your information.