Result
Buy vs Rent (1–30 years)—
The table below shows the average cost based on how long you stay (up to 30 years).
| Staying Length | Average Buying Cost | Average Renting Cost | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Monthly | Annual | Monthly | Annual | |
Note: This is a simplified financial model for comparison and education. Real outcomes depend on local taxes, insurance, fees, and market conditions.
These pages target common U.S. long-tail searches (cities + decision scenarios). Start here, then use the calculator above.
Top U.S. cities
More U.S. metros
Time horizon pages
Tip: publish these pages as individual HTML files later. Even now, this hub helps you plan your internal linking structure.
Rent vs buy in the U.S.: what usually drives the result
In the United States, the rent vs buy decision is often dominated by mortgage interest rates, selling costs (frequently agent commissions), and local property taxes. Your expected time in the home is usually the single biggest factor—short stays often make renting cheaper, while longer stays can favor buying if equity and appreciation outweigh ownership costs.
How to use this USA rent vs buy calculator
- Start with your expected stay. Try 3, 5, 7, and 10 years to see how break-even changes.
- Set a realistic mortgage rate. Even small changes can shift the outcome.
- Don’t ignore selling costs. High selling costs often delay break-even.
- Use a conservative investment return. This represents opportunity cost of cash.
Common U.S. assumptions to sanity-check
- Property tax varies widely by state/county and can materially change costs.
- Maintenance scales with home price—older homes often cost more to maintain.
- HOA fees can be substantial in condos and some planned communities.
- Rent growth matters most if you expect to rent for many years.
FAQ
Is this rent vs buy calculator USA-only?
This page is written for U.S. terminology and typical cost categories. Use the country navigation for Canada, UK, and Australia so your labels and assumptions better match local norms.
What affects break-even the most in the U.S.?
Time horizon, mortgage rate, selling costs, local property taxes, rent growth, appreciation, and the opportunity cost of the down payment are usually the biggest drivers.
Should I rent or buy if I might move in 3 to 5 years?
Many 3–5 year scenarios favor renting because transaction costs are spread across fewer years. Change “Years you plan to stay” to see whether you reach break-even before your move.
Does this include taxes and deductions?
This version focuses on a clear cost comparison model. You can add U.S. tax deduction logic later (optional), but many users still get a helpful estimate without modeling every tax rule.
Next step: publish city pages (e.g., New York, Los Angeles, San Francisco) with localized default inputs and short city-specific guidance.