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Rent vs Buy
Home ownership or renting — the honest math
Your inputs
Lowest total cost
10
Stability & control
7
Flexibility to relocate
6
Building equity
7
Option ratings default to this template’s typical case. Adjust them in the decision wizard for a personalised run.
Results
BUY
total monthly ownership cost
$2,467
score 12/100
RENT
current monthly rent
$2,200
score 88/100
Monthly — Buy
$2,467
mortgage + tax + upkeep
Monthly — Rent
$2,200
growing 3%/yr
Break-even
16.5 years
when buying pulls ahead
8-year difference
$72,306
in favor of renting
High confidence · 88 vs 12 — a clear separation given your priorities.
Strongest reasons
- Renting costs $267/mo less right now — that gap can be invested.
- At these numbers, buying only wins if you stay beyond ≈ 16.5 years.
- Renting keeps relocation flexibility without selling costs.
Main tradeoffs
- You forgo equity growth and fixed housing costs.
- Rent will likely rise over time.
What would change the result
- If rent rises above $2,878/mo → BUY becomes the better option.
- If the home price drops below $263,811 → BUY becomes the better option.
- If you stay fewer than 16.5 years → RENT becomes the better option.
Assumptions: Rent grows at the rate you entered; home value held flat (conservative). · Down payment otherwise invested at the return you entered. · Selling costs excluded from the break-even estimate.. Pearto is a decision-support tool, not financial, legal or medical advice.
Want to change what matters and see the answer move?
The decision workspace exposes the weighted scoring, the flip points and the scenarios.