Rent vs. Buy
A cumulative cost comparison over your time horizon. Read this as one honest input among many — the real answer depends on timing, not just math.
$2,200
$400,000
6.5%
3.5%
5 yrs
Cumulative cost over 5 years
Renting (cumulative) Buying (net of equity)
Renting, 5yr total
$140,161
Buying, 5yr net cost
$176,283
What this means
At this horizon, renting looks cheaper on paper — but this assumes steady appreciation and ignores the risk of needing to sell in a down market, closing costs, and how a mortgage changes your flexibility to move. The answer depends on timing, not just math: how long you'll actually stay, and how much certainty you need, matter as much as the numbers above.