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Rent or buy a home – cost comparison

Compare renting and buying over the same period with your own interest, house price and saving assumptions. See payments, economic cost and final wealth.

Your assumptions

Enter rent, price and ongoing ownership expenses. Advanced settings cover amortization, transaction costs and your own return assumptions.

Your details

Full purchase price in SEK.

Cash used for the home; the renter invests the same amount.

Rent for comparable accommodation, including expenses not entered elsewhere.

Association fee, utilities, maintenance, insurance and property charge; exclude interest and principal.

Both alternatives use the same whole-year horizon.

Nominal annual interest before any tax relief.

Advanced settings

Enter the contracted repayment rate; changing lender requirements are not simulated.

All one-off spending beyond the down payment, such as registration, mortgage deeds and moving.

Broker fees and other sale costs in your scenario.

Your constant assumption, including negative values; not a housing forecast.

Your return after investment taxes and fees; negative returns are supported.

Same assumed increase for rent and ownership expenses; mortgage interest stays constant.

Results update instantly

Calculated result

Example using default values

A positive wealth difference favors buying in this scenario. Payments include principal; economic cost subtracts net sale proceeds. This is not a forecast.

Wealth difference: buy minus rent
-SEK 84,800

Estimate, not a legal decision

Read methodology

Use the result as decision support and planning help. For high-stakes choices, confirm the details with the relevant authority, lender, employer, or adviser.

Result details

Average monthly cost difference
-SEK 707

Rent cost minus buy cost: positive favours buying. Average over the entire period including sale, before interest tax relief; principal repayments are not a cost.

Buy: average monthly economic cost
SEK 12,707

Rent cost minus buy cost: positive favours buying. Average over the entire period including sale, before interest tax relief; principal repayments are not a cost.

Rent: average monthly economic cost
SEK 12,000

Rent cost minus buy cost: positive favours buying. Average over the entire period including sale, before interest tax relief; principal repayments are not a cost.

Result details

Result details

Final wealth when buying
SEK 1,020,000
Final wealth when renting
SEK 1,104,800
Economic cost of buying
SEK 1,524,800
Economic cost of renting
SEK 1,440,000
Buy payments before sale
SEK 2,544,800
Rent payments
SEK 1,440,000
Mortgage remaining at sale
SEK 1,920,000
Principal repaid
SEK 480,000
Interest paid
SEK 864,800
Assumed sale price
SEK 3,000,000
Estimated capital gains tax
SEK 0
Sale proceeds after debt and tax
SEK 1,020,000
Save and compare

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Analysis & guidance

  • Principal builds equity

    Assess cost and remaining debt alongside monthly payments.

  • Test falling prices

    Debt and selling costs can exceed the sale price, leaving a negative net amount.

  • Investing the down payment

    The renter also invests money otherwise spent on purchase costs.

About this calculator

Rent or buy a home – cost comparison

Compare renting and buying over the same period with your own interest, house price and saving assumptions. See payments, economic cost and final wealth.

Equal funding

Both alternatives start with the down payment plus purchase costs. The renter invests this money, while the buyer uses it for the home. Each month both receive a budget equal to the larger housing payment and invest any unused amount at month end.

Principal versus economic cost

Principal payments reduce debt rather than adding a second expense. The home is sold at the end. Selling costs, remaining mortgage and 22% of a positive capital gain are deducted. No tax relief for a loss is assumed.

A scenario using your assumptions

Price growth and net investment returns are assumptions you enter. Include utilities, association charges and maintenance in running expenses. Interest is before tax relief. Purchase expenses do not reduce the modeled taxable gain; tax changes, deferrals and previous deferred gains are excluded.

Example

A home costing SEK 1,000,000 with SEK 200,000 down, zero interest and SEK 2,000 monthly running expenses costs SEK 24,000 over one year with an unchanged price and no fees. Rent of SEK 5,000 costs SEK 60,000. With zero investment return, buying ends with SEK 36,000 more wealth. Principal payments change debt and cash payments without changing that economic cost.

Method and scope

This simplified scenario assumes a private home and a sale at the end. It does not assess mortgage eligibility, statutory amortization or tax classification. Interest tax relief, loss relief, individual deductions, deferral and unexpected renovations are excluded. Future price growth and investment returns are not guaranteed.

Sources

Skatteverket.

Rent cost minus buy cost: positive favours buying. Average over the entire period including sale, before interest tax relief; principal repayments are not a cost.

How the calculation works

Equal funding

Both alternatives start with the down payment plus purchase costs. The renter invests this money, while the buyer uses it for the home. Each month both receive a budget equal to the larger housing payment and invest any unused amount at month end.

Principal versus economic cost

Principal payments reduce debt rather than adding a second expense. The home is sold at the end. Selling costs, remaining mortgage and 22% of a positive capital gain are deducted. No tax relief for a loss is assumed.

A scenario using your assumptions

Price growth and net investment returns are assumptions you enter. Include utilities, association charges and maintenance in running expenses. Interest is before tax relief. Purchase expenses do not reduce the modeled taxable gain; tax changes, deferrals and previous deferred gains are excluded.

How to read this calculator

These results are meant as guidance. They are based on rules, assumptions, and simplified models that can differ from your exact real-world situation.

Estimate, not a legal decision

Use the result as decision support and planning help. For high-stakes choices, confirm the details with the relevant authority, lender, employer, or adviser.

Methodology

Each calculator uses defined inputs, assumptions, and logic. We explain the broader approach on the methodology page.

Read methodology

Sources and updates

Important calculators should be traceable back to official rules, public guidance, or other clearly stated references.

Read about sources

Sources

Last reviewed
Rule set
Rent or buy a home – cost comparison

Important limitations

  • The result is an estimate
  • Your individual facts can change the outcome
  • Rates and rules can change
  • The lender decides credit and terms
Verify with the responsible authority or service

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