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MovingCal

100 pages · Updated June 2026

Rent vs Buy Calculator.

Not a mortgage-vs-rent toy: this model carries property tax, maintenance, insurance, HOA, ~3% buying and ~7% selling costs – and lets the renter invest the down payment plus every monthly difference at your chosen return. The output is the only number that matters: who is wealthier at your horizon.

City pages preset 2026 prices, rents, and mortgage rates for 28 markets from Manhattan to Berlin; the strategy pages handle rent-stabilized leases, the 5% rule, and interest-rate sensitivity.

Rent vs buy calculator · 2026

Verdict at your horizon

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Mortgage P&I
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Owner all-in /mo
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Cash needed upfront
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PMI
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Buyer net worth
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Renter net worth
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Interest paid by then
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Price-to-rent ratio
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Net worth year by year

Buying Renting + investing

Renter invests the down payment + closing costs + monthly difference at your chosen return. PMI of 0.55%/yr is added automatically while the down payment is under 20% and equity is below 20%. Price-to-rent under ~15 usually favors buying; over ~20 favors renting.

City calculators

Rent + invest the difference

Rent control & below-market leases

True ownership costs

Breakeven timelines

Plan the whole move, not just one number.

Every MovingCal tool shares the same 2026 dataset – carry your cities, salary, and countries from one calculator to the next.

Cost of Living Salary After Tax Relocation Budget Country Comparison