Taxes, maintenance, insurance, PMI, appreciation, and what your down payment could earn elsewhere.
Whether buying beats renting depends on how long you stay, the full cost of owning (property tax, insurance, maintenance, PMI and closing costs) and what your down payment could earn if invested. This calculator compares both paths over time with your numbers.
Educational only, not financial advice. This tool gives estimates based on what you enter and the stated assumptions. It is not financial, tax, or legal advice. Talk to a licensed professional before you make decisions. Everything is calculated in your browser, and nothing you type or upload leaves your device.
It depends. Buying tends to make more sense the longer you stay, because upfront costs are spread over more years. Renting can win over shorter stays or where prices are high relative to rents.
Property tax, homeowners insurance, maintenance and repairs, HOA dues, PMI if you put down less than 20% on a conventional loan, and closing costs when you buy and sell.
Money used for a down payment could otherwise be invested. Including that opportunity cost makes the comparison fair to renting.
There is no single answer. Try different time horizons here; the point where buying pulls ahead depends on your prices, rates and assumptions.