What's Left, step 2 of 7: What does my home cost each month?
Rent vs buy calculator
Compare the real cost of renting with buying over the next few years.
Buying works out
£11,059.85
cheaper than renting over 5 years, on these assumptions.
Cost over 5 years
| Item | Renting | Buying |
|---|---|---|
| Rent, rising 3.8% a year | £77,683.92 | – |
| Mortgage interest | – | £54,662.08 |
| Stamp duty and fees | – | £5,500.00 |
| Upkeep at 1.0% of value a year | – | £12,500.00 |
| Interest lost on your deposit at 4.0% | – | £5,416.32 |
| Home value growth at 0.9% a year | – | −£11,454.33 |
| Total cost | £77,683.92 | £66,624.07 |
This is an estimate, not advice. Unless you change them, house prices and rents grow at the latest ONS yearly rates (0.9% to August 2026, 3.8% to September 2026). It assumes a 25-year repayment mortgage and that these rates stay the same; if prices fall, renting can come out ahead. It ignores selling costs.
What counts as a cost
Mortgage capital repayments are not counted as a cost, because you keep that money as equity in your home.
We include stamp duty plus £3,000 of buying fees, upkeep at 1% of the price a year, the 4% your deposit could have earned in savings, and house prices rising 2% a year.
The biggest unknown is house prices: growth makes buying cheaper, a fall makes it more expensive.
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These results are an estimate, not financial advice. They use the 2026/27 rates in force on 24 October 2026 and the inputs shown, so your actual tax, pay or costs may differ. Before making a decision about your money, check the figures with HMRC or your provider, or speak to a regulated financial adviser. Free, impartial guidance is available from MoneyHelper.
This page explains the rules using the 2026/27 rates in force on 24 October 2026. It is general information, not financial advice. For decisions about your own money, speak to a regulated financial adviser, or get free, impartial guidance from MoneyHelper.