Compare buying with renting over a period you choose. See the monthly mortgage payment against current rent, and the total cost of each path once rent rises over time.
Buying
£
£
%
yrs
£
Renting
£
%
years
Buying costs less in cash
£24,517
Over 10 years
Monthly mortgage payment£1,064
Total cost of buying (10yr)£133,685
Total cost of renting (10yr)£158,202
Cash difference£24,517
Cash comparison only. The buyer also repays capital and may gain (or lose) from house-price changes, while paying maintenance and selling costs later. Treat this as one input, not the whole decision.
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What the comparison includes
The headline buy vs rent question is rarely just about the monthly figure. This calculator compares your mortgage payment with current rent, then projects both over your chosen number of years - letting rent grow at an assumed rate so you can see the cumulative difference. It is a starting framework: buying also builds equity and carries maintenance and transaction costs, while renting keeps you flexible.
Buying side: mortgage payment (from price, deposit, rate and term) plus your upfront buying costs.
Renting side: current monthly rent, grown each year by an inflation assumption.
Compare the totals over the period - and remember the buyer also owns an asset at the end.
Worked example
Buy 250,000 with 40,000 deposit gives 210,000 loan at 4.5% over 30 years, about 1,064/month.
Rent today 1,150/month, rising 3% a year.
Over 10 years renting costs about 158,000; the mortgage payments total about 128,000 - plus the buyer has paid down capital and may have gained equity.
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Frequently asked questions
Does this account for house price growth and equity?
Not directly - it focuses on cash cost. Remember the buyer repays capital and may benefit from price growth, while also paying maintenance, insurance and buying/selling costs. Treat it as one input, not a verdict.
What rent growth rate should I use?
Long-run UK rent growth has often tracked roughly 2-4% a year, but it is volatile. Try a few values to see how sensitive the comparison is.
Report a bug or ask a question about this calculator
Important: BrickCrunch provides general information and estimates only — this is not financial, tax, mortgage or legal advice. Calculations are simplified and your circumstances may differ. UK tax and rate figures are checked against gov.uk (21 June 2026 (2026/27 tax year)) but rates change and errors are possible. Always confirm figures with gov.uk or a qualified professional before making decisions.
