Rent vs. Buy Calculator

Compare the true financial cost of renting against buying over the years you plan to stay.

Buying is not always cheaper — it depends on how long you stay, the price, and what your down payment could earn invested. This weighs equity and appreciation against rent and opportunity cost. Assumes 3% home appreciation, 3% rent growth, and a 5% return on invested savings.

Have a real scenario? Talk it through — Pre-Approval

Purchase priceDown paymentMortgage rateMonthly rent (comparable home)Years you plan to stay

Buying comes out ahead

by $69,014 over 5 years

Net cost to buy: $77,910
Net cost to rent: $146,924
Home equity at end: $323,874
Total rent paid: $191,129

Get pre-approved

Email me this estimate

Get a branded PDF of this scenario — sent to your inbox.

NameEmail

I agree to receive my estimate and occasional mortgage rate updates and offers from GTA Lenders by email. I can unsubscribe at any time. (Required to email the PDF.)

Terms, in plain language

Equity: The part of the home you own — its value minus what you still owe. Buying builds equity over time; rent does not.
Opportunity cost: What your down payment could have earned if invested instead of tied up in a home. This calculator credits the renter with that growth.
Appreciation: How much the home’s value is assumed to grow each year. Higher appreciation favours buying.
Break-even horizon: Roughly how long you must stay for buying to beat renting. Short stays often favour renting because of closing costs.