Decision tool
Rent vs Buy Calculator.
See which actually leaves you wealthier after 10, 15, or 20 years — buying and building home equity, or renting and investing the difference. Free, instant, no signup.
Rent vs Buy
Should you rent or buy?
This compares net worth after 10 years under each path — buying builds home equity; renting assumes you invest the down payment and any monthly savings instead. Real returns vary — treat this as a planning estimate, not a guarantee.
Net worth after 10 years, side by side
If you buy
Property worth ₹1,07,45,086, minus ₹33,59,612 loan remaining
If you rent & invest
Down payment + monthly savings invested, growing at your assumed return
Why this isn't a simple "which is cheaper" question
Comparing rent to an EMI alone misses the point — buying converts your money into an appreciating asset (equity), while renting frees up your down payment and any monthly savings to be invested elsewhere. Which one wins depends on how property prices and investment returns actually perform over your holding period, which is why this calculator compares final net worth under both paths instead of just monthly cash flow.
Frequently asked questions
Is it better to rent or buy a home in India?
It depends entirely on how long you plan to stay, local property prices relative to rent, and what you'd do with the money instead. As a rule of thumb, buying tends to win over longer holding periods (7-10+ years) in cities where rent is high relative to property price, while renting and investing the difference can win in expensive metros with low rental yields, or if you might relocate within a few years. Use the calculator above with your actual numbers rather than a generic rule.
What costs does buying include that renting doesn't?
Stamp duty and registration (typically 5-8% of property value, varies by state), ongoing maintenance and property tax (roughly 1% of value per year), and the opportunity cost of your down payment being locked in the property instead of invested elsewhere. Renters pay none of these, but also don't build equity or benefit from property appreciation.
How accurate is a rent vs buy calculator?
It's only as accurate as the assumptions you put in — property appreciation and investment returns are genuinely unpredictable over 10+ years, and past averages don't guarantee future results. Treat the output as a way to see which assumptions would have to hold true for one option to win, not a precise prediction.
Does this calculator account for home loan tax benefits?
No — this calculator focuses on net worth from equity and investment growth, not tax deductions. Home loan interest (up to ₹2 lakh under Section 24b) and principal repayment (under Section 80C) are deductible under the old tax regime, which would improve the buy scenario further. Use the Income Tax calculator alongside this one if you want to factor that in separately.