Rent vs. Buy Calculator
Which builds more wealth over your timeline — buying, or renting and investing the difference? Compared on equal footing.
—Over your timeline
—Net worth if you buy
—Net worth if you rent + invest
—Buying pulls ahead at
How this compares fairly: both paths get the same monthly budget. The renter invests your down payment + closing costs upfront, then invests whatever they save each month while renting is cheaper than owning. Buying counts your home equity after selling costs (default 6%); closing costs to buy default to 3%. It's a model — real results hinge on appreciation, rates, and how long you stay (the single biggest factor). Educational tool, not advice.
Renting isn't "throwing money away"
The honest answer to rent vs. buy is "it depends — mostly on how long you'll stay." Buying carries big upfront costs (down payment, closing) and selling costs that take years of appreciation and equity to overcome. Stay long enough and owning usually wins; move sooner and renting while investing the difference often comes out ahead. This compares the two on equal footing — same budget, real opportunity cost.
Leaning toward buying? Size the true monthly payment in the mortgage calculator first.