Buy vs. Rent
Drag the dials to see what really happens over the life of a mortgage. We model every dollar you'd hand to the bank, the city, the insurer, and the utility company — and stack it next to the same years spent renting.
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Over 25 years, owning will cost you about $1,429,901 all-in versus $1,050,027 in rent — but you'll own a home worth roughly $1,360,956, leaving you with $1,360,956 in equity. A renter who paid the same total ends with $0.
Lines show cumulative cash spent each year. The green band shows what you actually own at that point — the part of the home that's no longer the bank's.
| End of year | Owning paid (cumulative) | Rent paid (cumulative) | Mortgage balance | Home equity |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Year 5 | $373,640 | $152,903 | $462,435 | $291,094 |
| Year 13 | $778,798 | $449,792 | $332,389 | $622,158 |
| Year 25 | $1,429,901 | $1,050,027 | $0 | $1,360,956 |
A renter who spends $1,050,027 over 25 years walks away with the same thing they started with: a stack of receipts. Their landlord owns the appreciation, the equity, and the asset.
A homeowner who spends more — $1,429,901 — walks away with an asset projected to be worth $1,360,956. That's the trade: higher monthly cost in exchange for a real, sellable, borrow-against-able asset at the end.
Estimates only. Actual mortgage amounts depend on lender, qualification, and compounding method. Speak with a licensed mortgage professional for a personalised quote.