Add the numbers for your scenario.
01Real Estate toolCalculated result
Rent vs Buy
Compare renting against buying over your real time horizon.
100% FreeRuns instantlyNo watermark
- 1Enter detailsAdd the numbers for your scenario.
- 2CalculateVootkit updates the result instantly.
- 3ReviewCheck totals, notes and breakdowns.
Private by designProcessed on your device where possible.
Works on any deviceDesktop, tablet and mobile browsers.
No installationOpen the page and start working.
Always free coreUse the free plan for everyday tasks.
How to use Rent vs Buy
Vootkit updates the result instantly.
02Check totals, notes and breakdowns.
03Copy the answer into your workflow.
04Your files stay private
Your work is processed locally in your browser where possible and is never added to a Vootkit upload library.
Learn more about privacyThe instinct that renting is "throwing money away" ignores the money buying throws away too — interest, transaction costs, maintenance and the return your deposit could have earned elsewhere.
What Rent vs Buy does
Compares the cost of renting against buying over time, using a 350,000 property with a 70,000 deposit by default.
The comparison turns on how long you stay. Buying carries large one-off costs at both ends, and those only amortise over years — which is why the same purchase can be sensible at ten years and expensive at three.
What the comparison involves
| Default price / deposit | 350,000 / 70,000 |
|---|---|
| Buying costs include | Interest, closing costs, maintenance, insurance, tax |
| Renting costs include | Rent, and rent increases over time |
| <strong>Decisive variable</strong> | <strong>How long you stay</strong> |
| Break-even | Commonly several years |
| Opportunity cost | What the deposit could earn invested |
| Not modelled | Job mobility, flexibility, security of tenure |
| Is this advice? | <strong>No</strong> |
Detailed steps
- Enter price, deposit and expected rent for the same standard of home.
- Include maintenance — commonly around 1% of value a year.
- Test it at three years and at ten. The answer often flips.
Worth knowing
Run the comparison at several time horizons before deciding. Buying carries heavy costs at purchase and at sale, and those need years of ownership to amortise — so a purchase that looks poor over three years can look strong over ten. If your job or circumstances might move you within a few years, that fact matters more than any of the percentages.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is renting really throwing money away?
Not straightforwardly. Mortgage interest, closing costs, maintenance and the foregone return on your deposit are all money that does not build equity either. Early in a mortgage, most of the payment is interest rather than principal.
What is the break-even point?
It depends on prices, rates, rent and local transaction costs, and is commonly several years. That is why the horizon is the most important input here — and why the tool cannot give one universal answer.
What does it not account for?
Flexibility, job mobility, security of tenure, the stress of maintenance and the freedom to change a home you own. Those are real and they are not financial, but they decide plenty of cases.
Should I buy?
This compares costs; it cannot answer that. The decision involves job security, family plans, local market conditions and your own tolerance for risk. Speak to an independent financial adviser rather than a calculator.
Is Rent vs Buy free?
Yes. The Vootkit free plan includes 5 tool runs a day. Upgrade to Vootkit Pro for unlimited daily use, an ad-free workspace and saved workflows.
Are my files uploaded?
No. Rent vs Buy runs entirely in your browser — your file is processed on your own device and never sent to a server. There is nothing for us to store or delete.
Do I need to install anything?
No. Rent vs Buy works in any modern browser on desktop, tablet or phone. Open the page and start.
How often can I use it? Is there a daily limit?
On the free plan you get 5 tool runs a day. When you reach the limit you'll see a prompt to upgrade, and it resets the next day. Vootkit Pro removes the cap entirely for unlimited daily use.
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This tool processes everything locally in your browser. You can disconnect from the internet after the page loads and it will still work.