Buy vs Rent Calculator

Estimate the monthly cost of owning versus renting in the Des Moines metro.

Home price ($) Down payment (%) Interest rate (%) Loan term (years) Monthly rent ($)

Mortgage (P&I)—

Taxes/ins/upkeep—

Est. total to own—

Monthly rent—

Estimates assume property tax ≈1.5%, insurance ≈0.5%, and maintenance ≈1% of home value per year. It compares monthly cash cost and does not count home equity, appreciation, or tax effects — so owning often looks better over time than a pure monthly comparison shows. Not financial advice.