Rent vs buy calculator BC

Rent vs Buy Calculator

Compare the net cost of renting versus buying a home in Metro Vancouver and B.C. over the years you expect to stay. Buy-side property transfer tax is included as its own line. The result is free — no contact wall.

By Alex Lam

Use the calculator First-time buyer guide

Free estimate

Compare the net cost of renting and buying

This is an occupier decision, not a landlord ROI tool. Empty money and percent fields count as 0 — this page does not prefill rent, a 20% down payment, appreciation, commission, or an opportunity return. Enter how many years you expect to stay to see a result.

Rent and holding periodMonthly rentWhat you pay (or would pay) in rent each month. Blank is $0.Rent inflation % per yearOptional. Blank is 0% — rent stays flat for every year in the comparison.Holding yearsRequired for a result. Leave blank or enter 0 if you are not ready to compare. This page does not assume a 5-year stay.

Buy-side property transfer tax

PTT is calculated with the same engine as the BC property transfer tax calculator. It appears as its own buy-breakdown line. Other buyer closing costs are one lump dollar below — use that full closer if you want legal, inspection, and GST lines.

Purchase price / fair market valueTax is on fair market value at Land Title registration. Blank is $0.

Property is residential?

YesNo

Specified additional-tax region?

YesNo

Metro Vancouver, Fraser Valley, Capital, Central Okanagan, and Nanaimo regional districts. Burnaby is Metro Vancouver.

BuyerEligible ownership %I will use this as my principal residenceRequired to estimate a first-time or newly built exemption. This is an eligibility reminder, not a legal determination.

Exemption program

NoneFirst-time home buyerNewly built home

Confirm principal residence to estimate an exemption. The two programs cannot stack.

Cash, carry, and saleDown paymentCash you put in at purchase. Blank is $0 — this page does not assume 20%.Monthly mortgage paymentType the payment you already have, or leave blank / $0 for cash. This is not a mortgage calculator.

Annual property taxType the annual amount. This page does not look up mill rates.Annual insuranceAnnual maintenanceAnnual strata feesEnter 0 or leave blank if the property is not strata.

Other buyer closing costsOne lump dollar added to computed PTT. Blank is $0. Do not re-enter PTT here.Estimated remaining mortgage at saleType the balance you expect at sale. Blank is $0 (cash or paid off). This page does not amortize.Annual appreciation %Optional. Blank is 0% — expected sale equals the purchase price.

Selling costs $Dollar amount at sale. Adds to the percent below.Selling costs % of expected saleOptional percent of expected sale. Adds to the dollar amount. Commissions are negotiable — see the realtor commission calculator.

Selling costs are whatever you type. This page does not import a 7% / 3%+3% commission stack. Estimate a listing contract on the realtor commission calculator.

Opportunity return % per yearOptional return you could have earned on the down payment instead. Blank is 0% — no opportunity cost.

Enter how many years you expect to stay to see a rent-versus-buy comparison. Empty money and percent fields count as $0 or 0%. No email or phone is required to view the result.

What this calculator estimates.

This page is for people deciding whether to keep renting or buy a home they will live in. It adds rent over the holding years, then compares that with the cash you put into a purchase — down payment, B.C. property transfer tax, other buyer closing costs you type, owner housing, selling costs, and optional opportunity cost — minus equity recovered at sale.

It is not a landlord ROI, cap-rate, or cash-flow tool. Those live on the rental property calculator. It is not a generic mortgage calculator and it does not amortize a remaining balance.

How to use this calculator.

Start with monthly rent and the number of years you expect to stay. Years are required for a result. Add the purchase price and the compact PTT questions if you are estimating a B.C. buy. Type your monthly mortgage payment, or leave it blank for cash. Type remaining mortgage at sale, or leave it blank for $0.

Empty money and percent fields are 0. This page does not prefill $2,500 rent, 20% down, 5% appreciation, a 7% / 3%+3% commission, or a 6% opportunity return. For a full closer worksheet use the BC property transfer tax calculator. To estimate a listing contract use the realtor commission calculator.

Property transfer tax is one buy line.

Buy-side PTT calls the same B.C. property transfer tax engine as the dedicated calculator. First-time and newly built exemptions need the principal-residence checkbox. At $835,000 inclusive, a qualifying first-time exemption still leaves $6,700 payable — not $0, and not a $834,999 cutoff.

Rent vs buy: common questions.

Is this an Ontario land transfer tax calculator?

No. This is a British Columbia occupier comparison. Buy-side tax is B.C. property transfer tax (PTT), not Ontario land transfer tax. The page calls the live B.C. PTT engine and does not encode Ontario LTT rates.

Is property transfer tax hidden inside a lump closing number?

No. PTT is its own buy-breakdown line so a first-time exemption at $835,000 still shows $6,700 payable, not $0. Other buyer closing costs are one optional dollar amount you type. Use the dedicated BC property transfer tax calculator for the full closer worksheet.

Do you calculate capital gains when I sell?

No. The principal residence exemption (PRE) may make a qualifying sale gain $0 for tax, but this page does not compute income tax or capital gains. Confirm tax treatment with your accountant.

Do you assume a 7% or 3%+3% selling commission?

No. Selling costs are the dollar amount and/or percent of expected sale that you type — they sum. Empty fields are $0. Real estate commissions are negotiable. Use the realtor commission calculator if you want to estimate a listing contract.

Why isn’t there a mortgage calculator?

Type the monthly mortgage payment you already have, or leave it blank / $0 for a cash purchase. Remaining mortgage at sale is also typed. This page does not amortize, invent price minus down, or encode a CMHC table.

Is this a rental property ROI calculator?

No. This page compares the net cost of occupying as a renter versus occupying as an owner. Landlord cash flow, cap rate, and management fees are on the rental property calculator.

Disclaimer

This calculator provides estimates only. It is not legal, tax, or financial advice and it does not create a listing, mortgage, or purchase agreement. A negative net cost means equity recovered exceeded cash spent in this model — it is not a guarantee of profit. Actual costs depend on rent, financing, tax, selling costs, and the market.

Confirm figures with your lawyer or notary, lender, and accountant. Real estate services are provided by Alex Lam Personal Real Estate Corporation through Coldwell Banker Prestige Realty.

Buying or renting in B.C.

Use the estimate, then review the property and the timing.

Deciding whether to keep renting or buy in Metro Vancouver? I can help you review the numbers and the next step. The calculator result above does not require this step.

Ask about this estimate Contact Alex

Also see the first-time buyer guide, BC property transfer tax calculator, realtor commission calculator, and rental property calculator.