Rent vs buy calculator with invested savings

Compare net assets from buying a home or renting and investing the difference. Include a mortgage, ownership costs, rent increases, selling costs and refundable deposit.

Currency (no exchange conversion)

Input number format

Amounts: up to 12 whole digits and 2 decimals; VND whole amounts only. Rates: up to 4 decimals; areas: 6. Use the selected number format.

Purchase price0.01 … 999,999,999,999.99

Down payment (0–100% of price)0 … 100

Annual rate (%)0 … 100

Loan term in months (1–600)1 … 600

Years (1–50)1 … 50

Monthly rent0 … 999,999,999,999.99

Annual rent increase (−20 to 100%)-20 … 100

Annual home-price change (−50 to 100%)-50 … 100

Effective annual investment return (−50 to 100%)-50 … 100

Annual ownership costs (0–20% of current home value)0 … 20

Other upfront purchase costs0 … 999,999,999,999.99

Selling costs at the comparison date (0–30%)0 … 30

Refundable rent deposit, months (0–12)0 … 12

Investment: −50 to 100%; loans: 0 to 100%. Enter your own assumption, not a promised return.

Preparing your tool…

How it works

Both options start with equal capital: the larger of down payment + buying costs and refundable rent deposit. Each month, the cheaper option invests the cash-flow difference; both receive the same cash budget. Investment and home growth compound monthly from effective annual rates; rent changes each year. Ownership costs follow current home value. Buyer wealth assumes sale after selling costs and remaining debt; renter wealth includes deposit refunded without interest. No local tax rules, rent caps or investment fees are built in; include costs yourself.

Example

With zero growth, fees, interest and ownership costs, equal starting capital and cash budgets prevent either option from receiving free extra investment money.

Does this simply compare rent with the mortgage payment?

No. Down payment, principal repayment, remaining debt, home value and both investment portfolios are included. The cheaper option invests the monthly difference. The result is conditional on your assumptions, not a recommendation to buy or rent.