Rent vs Buy Calculator
Should you rent or buy? Compare the real cost over time.
This calculator compares the total cost of renting against the total cost of buying a home over the period you choose, in real time and with no account needed. It accounts for rising rent, mortgage payments, property tax, insurance, maintenance, the home equity you build, and expected appreciation, so you can see which path keeps more money in your pocket over your time horizon.
Your inputs
Set your situation
Applied at a fixed 1.25% of the purchase price per year. Actual rates vary by county.
Defaults to 1% of the home price per year.
The growth the renter's down payment could earn if invested instead of used to buy.
Over 7 years
Renting
Cheapertotal cost to rent over the period
Buying
Cheapertotal cost to buy over the period
Estimates, not financial advice
These results are estimates based on the assumptions you set. They do not include HOA fees, closing costs, mortgage insurance, taxes on investment gains, or changes in your personal situation, and they are not financial or tax advice. Alejandro Espitia of Apex Realty & Investments can help you run the real numbers for your situation, in English or Spanish, and pair the math with a straight conversation about what fits your goals.
How it works
How the two sides are compared.
The renting side adds up every rent payment over your chosen period, with your annual rent increase applied each year, then adds the growth that your down payment could have earned if it had been invested instead. The buying side adds the mortgage principal and interest, property tax, insurance, and maintenance you pay, then subtracts the equity you build and the home's expected appreciation, which you get back when you own.
- Rent: all rent paid, with increases, plus the down payment's forgone investment growth
- Buy: principal and interest, tax, insurance, and maintenance paid over the period
- Then buying subtracts the home equity you build and expected appreciation
- The lower total over your time horizon is the option that comes out ahead
Why the time horizon matters
Buying usually pays off the longer you stay.
Buying has higher upfront and monthly costs, but you keep the equity and, over time, the home's appreciation. Renting keeps your cash free and your costs predictable, but you build no equity and rent tends to rise. The breakeven point is different for every buyer, which is why the years you plan to stay matter as much as the price. Slide the years to see how the comparison shifts.
Property tax and appreciation notes
This calculator applies a fixed 1.25% property tax rate per year for simplicity, and appreciation is your own assumption. Actual rates and market conditions vary, so confirm the local numbers for a home you are serious about.
Turn the comparison into a plan
Get the real numbers for your situation.
A calculator uses assumptions. Alejandro brings the facts: actual loan quotes, your county's tax rate, real insurance estimates, and a clear read on whether renting or buying fits your timeline and budget. Share your situation and get a straight answer, in English or Spanish.
- Call or text (626) 314-9170
- Apex Realty & Investments, 1775 E. Lincoln Ave., #105, Anaheim, CA 92805
- Serving Los Angeles, San Bernardino, Riverside, and the San Gabriel Valley
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Run your real numbers
Ready to make the call?
Whether you rent or buy, the right move starts with real numbers for your budget and timeline. Alejandro will help you line both up.