Rent vs Buy · 2026 · INDwallet
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    INDwallet › Tools › Rent vs Buy · 2026
    🏠
    🏢
    💰
    📊
    Own home
    ₹2.65Cr
    🏠 Net worth
    Rent & invest
    ₹2.92Cr
    ▲ Portfolio
    Difference
    +₹27L
    ▲ Renting wins
    Break-even
    15y
    Crossover year
    ⚖️
    Rent vs Buy
    2026 · India market
    Home Loans · Appreciation · Equity · India · In-Browser

    Rent or Buy.
    Find your better path.

    Loan rates at 9–10%, property appreciation 4–6%, equity returns 11–12%. The real comparison most people never run. Move the sliders and see the winner instantly.

    🧮 Run the Comparison 🏦 EMI Calculator →
    ✔ 100% Free ✔ No Login ✔ No Data Stored ✔ 2026 India Rates
    🏠 Own home
    ₹2.65Cr
    Net worth
    🏢 Rent & invest
    ₹2.92Cr
    Portfolio value
    📊 Difference
    +₹27L
    Renting wins
    ⏱️ Break-even
    15y
    ▲ Crossover year
    Live Calculator

    Adjust sliders. See the winner instantly.

    All calculations use 2026 India market assumptions. EMI, maintenance, rent increases, and investment returns are factored in automatically.

    🎛️
    Your assumptions (2026)Drag to compare in real time
    Property price (₹)1.2 Cr
    Down payment (%)20%
    Loan interest (%)9.0%
    Loan tenure (years)20y
    Monthly rent (₹)40,000
    Rent increase (%/yr)6%
    Property appreciation (%)4%
    Maintenance (₹/mo)3,000
    Investment return (%)11%
    Renting wins
    🏠 Own home net worth₹2.65Cr
    🏢 Rent & invest portfolio₹2.92Cr
    📊 Difference+₹27L
    📆 Monthly EMI₹83K
    💡 Insight: Adjust sliders to see which path wins for your numbers.
    📊
    Visual comparisonUpdates live with every slider move
    📊
    Final wealth comparison
    Gold: Own home · Blue: Rent & invest
    📈
    Wealth growth over time
    Watch where the lines cross — that’s your break-even year.
    📖
    Your scenario explainedBased on your current slider values
    • Property: ₹1.2 Cr with 20% down (₹24L), loan at 9% for 20y → EMI ₹83K/mo.
    • Rent: Start ₹40K/mo, ↑6% yearly. Maintenance ₹3K/mo if owned.
    • Assumptions: Appreciation 4%, investment return 11%.
    • Final net worth: Own ₹2.65Cr · Rent+invest ₹2.92Cr → Renting wins by ₹27L.
    • Break-even: Renting overtakes buying in year 15.
    • Key consideration: Owning gives stability and an illiquid asset. Renting+investing requires strict discipline to actually invest the surplus. Track actuals in the Wealth Wallet.
    ✅
    Best practices · 2026Seven rules before making the biggest financial decision of your life
    • Stay ≥7 years if you buy: With 9–10% home loans and stamp duty of 5–7%, you need 7+ years just to break even on transaction costs. Use the Wealth Wallet to model your timeline.
    • Tax benefits still matter (old regime): Interest up to ₹2L/year (Section 24b) + principal up to ₹1.5L (80C) effectively lowers loan cost by ~1% for the 30% bracket. Compare regimes with the Tax Regime Simulator.
    • Appreciation is modest in 2026: Tier-1 cities now see 4–6% p.a. after the post-COVID spike. Adjust expectations accordingly before committing.
    • Budget maintenance honestly: 0.5–1% of property value annually for society charges, property tax, and repairs. Factor this into your owning cost.
    • Equity returns ~11–12%: Renting + investing the surplus can beat real estate if you’re disciplined. Use the Investment Wallet to stay on track.
    • Emergency fund before EMI: Never buy a home without 12 months of expenses saved. Use the Emergency Fund Calculator to set your target first.
    • New HRA cities (2026): Bengaluru, Pune, and Hyderabad now qualify for 50% HRA — renting in these cities may yield significant additional tax savings worth factoring in.

    💡 Run the numbers in real context

    👉 Check Your Wallet Score 🏦 Open Wealth Wallet

    Frequently asked questions

    home loan EMI stamp duty break-even appreciation HRA maintenance equity returns
    🏠 Rent vs Buy Basics
    Based on your inputs, the crossover happens around 15 years. Before that, renting+investing builds more wealth. Use the Wealth Wallet to track your net worth over time.
    Your EMI = ₹83,000. Over 20 years, total interest = ₹80L. Check the EMI Calculator for a detailed amortization schedule.
    💰 Costs, Taxes & Hidden Fees
    Stamp duty + registration is 6–8% of property value (~₹7.2L on your property). This upfront cost alone means you need years just to recover it. For budgeting, use the Expenses Wallet.
    Yes, in the old regime. For your loan of ₹96L, you can deduct up to ₹2L interest/year, saving ~₹60K tax annually if in the 30% bracket. Compare regimes with the Old vs New Tax Simulator.
    📈 Market Assumptions (2026)
    Post-2025, Indian real estate has moderated to 4–6% in most metros after the post-COVID spike. Your slider is at 4% — a realistic long-term assumption. See the Pre-Retirement Life Stage for long-term planning.
    Yes — long-term Nifty 50 CAGR has been 12–14% over 20-year rolling periods. Your investment return of 11% is a conservative planning estimate. Explore the Investment Quest for more insights.
    ⚖️ Lifestyle & Personal Factors
    With your break-even at 15 years, selling earlier would likely lose money after transaction costs and capital gains. Renting is the safer choice for mobility. Use the Expenses Wallet to track your moving costs.
    You’ve set maintenance at ₹3,000/mo. Over 20 years, that’s ₹7.2L — a significant hidden cost of ownership. Track these in the Expenses Wallet.
    Yes — add it to your maintenance slider. Typically 0.1–0.5% of property value = ₹12K–60K/year. Plan for this with the Wealth Wallet.
    Longer tenure lowers EMI but significantly increases total interest paid. Your tenure is currently 20 years. Try the EMI Calculator to model different tenures and see the total cost impact.

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