Rent affordability, deposit timelines, moving costs, lease lengths, room shares and tenant rights — type your question and get a straight answer in seconds. The full detailed report costs less than a cup of coffee: $2.95.
The rent-versus-buy decision is really two decisions, and this check keeps them separate. First: what does owning the home you are eyeing actually cost per month — loan repayment plus the rates, insurance and upkeep that every owner pays and every comparison forgets? Second: what rent can your income comfortably carry while you decide? Most renters can answer neither number, which is how they end up stretching rent on a maybe, or romanticising a purchase that quietly costs hundreds more a month than the rent they pay today.
Considering buying the place you rent? This quick check shows the all-in monthly cost of owning it versus renting it — and what rent your income comfortably carries while you decide.
Owners pay rates, building insurance and upkeep on top of the repayment — typically 1-2% of the home's value every year. The calculator adds a 1% upkeep line so the all-in number is honest.
The common rule of thumb is roughly 4-7 years in the same home: buying builds equity but costs more monthly early on, so a short horizon usually favours renting. The longer you stay, the more the maths flips.
Inside your affordability ceiling — about 30% of take-home after your other commitments. Stretching rent while saving a deposit is the one move that undermines both goals at once.
Every tool answers instantly from our own knowledge and calculators — no AI wait, no account. Want the deeper, personalised version? Each has a $2.95 full report.