Rent v Buy is a free, independent platform built to help people make more informed housing decisions. We provide calculators and guides for comparing the true cost of renting vs buying a home, estimating mortgage payments, understanding closing costs, and exploring every financial dimension of the housing decision.
The rent vs buy decision is one of the most consequential financial choices most people ever make — and it is surrounded by biased advice. Real estate agents want you to buy. Landlords benefit when you rent. Most online calculators are built by mortgage lenders with an obvious interest in one outcome.
We built Rent v Buy to be genuinely neutral. Our calculators have no affiliation with any lender, real estate company, or financial services firm. We do not receive referral fees, sell mortgage leads, or recommend specific products. We simply provide the best financial analysis tools we can build and let you draw your own conclusions.
Every calculator on this site uses standard financial formulas — fixed-rate amortization, compound growth, and present value analysis. The rent vs buy calculator runs a month-by-month simulation over your planned horizon, tracking every cost on both sides including PMI removal, rent growth, home appreciation, maintenance, and the opportunity cost of your down payment.
All methodology is documented on each calculator page. We show our work so you can understand exactly how each result is calculated and evaluate whether our assumptions apply to your situation.
Our calculators are educational tools, not financial advice. They produce estimates based on the inputs you provide and general assumptions about costs and returns. Actual outcomes will vary based on your specific lender, local tax rates, market conditions, and individual circumstances.
Always consult with a licensed financial advisor, mortgage professional, and real estate attorney before making housing decisions.
For questions, feedback, or corrections to our calculators or content, please visit our contact page.