- 100% FREE
- ~4 min
- For GTA renters weighing a first purchase
- Break-even year & net cost of each path
- Licensed Ontario REALTOR®
Your assumptions
Change any number below. The comparison updates against your own situation, not a national average.
$
%
$
$
%
%
$
%
Rent vs buy questions Ontario households ask
- Is renting or buying better in the GTA right now?
- It depends on how long you plan to stay, your down payment, your rent today, and your mortgage rate. Buying usually wins over longer horizons because principal paydown and appreciation compound, while renting can win over short horizons because you avoid land transfer tax, closing costs and selling costs.
- What is the break-even point in a rent vs buy comparison?
- It is the year at which the total cost of owning (including the equity you keep) becomes lower than the total cost of renting. Before that year, renting has cost you less overall.
- Which costs does this calculator include?
- On the buying side: down payment, mortgage principal and interest, property tax, insurance, condo or maintenance fees, land transfer tax and closing costs, plus estimated selling costs at the end. On the renting side: rent with annual increases, tenant insurance, and investment returns on the money you did not put into a down payment.
- Does this replace mortgage advice?
- No. It is an educational model built on the assumptions you enter. It is not a mortgage approval, an appraisal, or a financial, tax or legal opinion. Speak with a licensed mortgage professional before making an offer.
Your recommended next step
Keep the momentum going
Buyer Readiness Calculator
If buying wins on your numbers, size up the price range your down payment supports.
Free AI real estate platform
Continue exploring
Every tool on Hamodi Realty is free, educational, and built for Ontario. Pair this page with the resources below for a fuller picture of your next move.