Most rent-vs-buy tools ignore opportunity cost — what your down payment would earn if invested. This one runs the full math: mortgage + maintenance + tax vs rent + rent inflation + invested savings — and shows the crossover year.
Buying
Renting
OVER 15 YEARS, BUY WINSSAVES $181,863
★ Break-even: year 1
★ CHART · CUMULATIVE NET COST ★
Lower line wins
Buy (net of equity) Rent (net of investment growth)