How it works
- Buying assumes a 30-year loan, a sale at the end of your stay, and yearly taxes and upkeep on the home value.
- Renting assumes the deposit and buying costs are invested instead, and rent rises every year.
- The lower net cost wins, and the breakeven year shows when buying starts to pay off.
Good to know
- Country defaults are typical 2025–2026 figures — adjust them to your own market before deciding.
- Korean figures track Seoul apartments on monthly rent; jeonse lump deposits are a different comparison.
- Moving costs, tax deductions, rent control and stability are left out of the math.
Standards and sources
- Freddie Mac — Primary Mortgage Market Survey
- FHFA — House Price Index
- GOV.UK — Stamp Duty Land Tax
- Deutsche Bundesbank — consumer credit interest rates
Last reviewed October 10, 2026
Frequently asked questions
How is the comparison made?
Buying assumes a 30-year loan, sale at the end of the stay, and spare cash invested; renting assumes the deposit and fees invested instead. The lower net cost wins.
What do the country defaults represent?
Typical 2025–2026 prices, rents and mortgage rates per country, editable to your own market. Korean figures track Seoul apartments on monthly rent.
What is left out?
Moving costs, tax deductions, rent control and personal factors such as stability. Treat the result as a starting point, not advice.