How to compare renting vs buying in 3 easy steps
- 1
Enter home and loan details
Type the home price, down payment percentage, interest rate, and loan term. Add property tax, insurance, and maintenance assumptions.
- 2
Enter your rent scenario
Type your current monthly rent, expected annual rent increases, and the investment return you'd earn on savings if you keep renting.
- 3
Compare net worth over time
Pick a time horizon (5, 10, 20, or 30 years). The tool shows total costs and estimated net worth for both paths side by side.
Why use the rent vs buy calculator tool from Super Utility Hub?
Should you rent or buy? The rent vs buy calculator puts hard numbers on both sides. It models your full homeownership costs — mortgage principal and interest, property taxes, insurance, maintenance, and closing costs — and compares them with renting while investing the difference.
Crucially, it also accounts for home appreciation and the investment growth of the money you save by renting. In expensive cities or over short horizons, renting often wins; with long horizons and stable areas, buying usually builds more wealth.
The comparison runs locally in your browser and is completely free. Adjust the assumptions — home price, rent, loan terms, appreciation, and investment returns — and see which path builds more net worth over your chosen time frame.
- Processes everything in your browser — no upload servers involved
- Free forever with unlimited uses
- Works on Windows, macOS, Linux, Android and iOS
- No watermark or branding on your output, ever
Frequently asked questions
Why does renting sometimes look better?
The money saved by renting — a smaller upfront cost plus lower monthly outflows — can earn investment returns. Over short horizons or in high-price markets, that compounding often beats home equity growth.
Does the calculator include the down payment?
Yes. The down payment and closing costs are counted as upfront money that buyers tie up in the home, while renters are assumed to invest the same amount.
What is a realistic home appreciation rate?
Historically US home prices have appreciated around 3–5% per year over long periods. Use a conservative 3% unless you have a strong reason to expect otherwise.
Are property tax and insurance estimates included?
Yes. You can set an annual property tax percentage (often 0.8–1.2% of home value) and monthly insurance plus maintenance costs.