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Landlords price commitment: a 12-month lease means no vacancy gap and no re-letting costs for them, so it is usually offered cheaper per month than a 6-month lease on the same place. But the 6-month lease is not automatically the expensive mistake it looks like — its true cost depends on how often you renew and what the rent does at each renewal. This calculator runs both options over a realistic 24-month window with your renewal increase percentage, so you see the actual dollar difference and can weigh it honestly against the flexibility a short lease buys you.
Compare the real 24-month cost of a 12-month lease against renewing a 6-month lease — most landlords price the longer commitment cheaper, and this shows the exact dollar difference.
Usually, but not always — and the gap varies. Some landlords offer identical pricing and rely on the lease length for stability, which is why the calculator lets you enter both real figures instead of assuming.
Because a 6-month lease rarely lasts six months — most tenants renew, and each renewal is priced again. Comparing one term each would hide the compounding effect of more frequent renewals and increases.
Check the break-lease cost tool first. If breaking the 12-month lease costs less than the premium you would pay on 6-month terms, the long lease can still win — the calculator's numbers plus the break cost give you the real comparison.
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