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Rent vs. Buy VA Loan Calculator
Should active duty service members or military veterans buy or rent? This VA loan rent vs. buy calculator helps you compare the real financial impact of each option. Factor in your VA loan, interest rate, funding fee, taxes, maintenance, rent increases, home appreciation, and investment returns to see which choice makes the most sense for you and your family. Results update live as you adjust inputs.
Your Details
Property
$
%
$0 down%
Funding Fee: 2.15% — $7,525
%
$8,750 at closingCosts & Assumptions
$
$
%/yr
%/yr
%/yr
%/yr
%/yr
yrs
Recommendation
Close Call — Consider Both
Based on 7-year horizon
Break-even: 3 yr 7 mo
Buying / Month
$2,814
Total Monthly Ownership
P&I: $2,201
Tax: $321
Maint: $292
Renting / Month
$1,820
Total Monthly Renting
Rent: $1,800
Renter's Insurance: $20
Equity
$108,563
Accumulated after 7 years
Closing Costs: $8,750
VA Funding Fee: $7,525
Total Buy Cost (7yr)
$245,113
Total Rent Cost (7yr)
$170,714
Break-Even Point
3 yr 7 mo
Cumulative Cost Comparison
Buy CostRent CostEquityBreak-Even
30-Year Comparison Table
| Year | Buy: Total Cost | Buy: Home Equity | Buy: Net Cost | Rent: Total Cost | Rent: Opportunity Cost | Rent: Net Cost | Savings (Buy vs Rent) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | $43,741 | $7,164 | $36,577 | $21,840 | $0 | $21,840 | $-14,737 |
| 2 | $78,989 | $22,438 | $56,551 | $44,436 | $0 | $44,436 | $-12,115 |
| 3 | $114,503 | $38,324 | $76,179 | $67,814 | $0 | $67,814 | $-8,365 |
| 4 | $150,289 | $54,848 | $95,441 | $92,003 | $0 | $92,003 | $-3,438 |
| 5 | $186,356 | $72,042 | $114,314 | $117,029 | $0 | $117,029 | +$2,715 |
| 6 | $222,713 | $89,936 | $132,777 | $142,923 | $0 | $142,923 | +$10,146 |
| 7 Planned | $259,368 | $108,563 | $150,805 | $169,715 | $0 | $169,715 | +$18,910 |
| 8 | $296,331 | $127,958 | $168,372 | $197,436 | $0 | $197,436 | +$29,064 |
| 9 | $333,609 | $148,158 | $185,452 | $226,120 | $0 | $226,120 | +$40,668 |
| 10 | $371,214 | $169,200 | $202,014 | $255,798 | $0 | $255,798 | +$53,784 |
| 11 | $409,154 | $191,125 | $218,029 | $286,507 | $0 | $286,507 | +$68,478 |
| 12 | $447,440 | $213,977 | $233,463 | $318,282 | $0 | $318,282 | +$84,819 |
| 13 | $486,082 | $237,799 | $248,283 | $351,161 | $0 | $351,161 | +$102,878 |
| 14 | $525,091 | $262,640 | $262,451 | $385,183 | $0 | $385,183 | +$122,732 |
| 15 | $564,477 | $288,549 | $275,928 | $420,387 | $0 | $420,387 | +$144,459 |
| 16 | $604,253 | $315,580 | $288,673 | $456,814 | $0 | $456,814 | +$168,141 |
| 17 | $644,430 | $343,788 | $300,642 | $494,508 | $0 | $494,508 | +$193,866 |
| 18 | $685,019 | $373,232 | $311,787 | $533,513 | $0 | $533,513 | +$221,726 |
| 19 | $726,033 | $403,975 | $322,059 | $573,875 | $0 | $573,875 | +$251,816 |
| 20 | $767,486 | $436,081 | $331,405 | $615,641 | $0 | $615,641 | +$284,236 |
| 21 | $809,389 | $469,620 | $339,769 | $658,861 | $0 | $658,861 | +$319,092 |
| 22 | $851,757 | $504,666 | $347,091 | $703,584 | $0 | $703,584 | +$356,493 |
| 23 | $894,604 | $541,296 | $353,308 | $749,865 | $0 | $749,865 | +$396,557 |
| 24 | $937,944 | $579,591 | $358,353 | $797,757 | $0 | $797,757 | +$439,404 |
| 25 | $981,791 | $619,638 | $362,153 | $847,317 | $0 | $847,317 | +$485,164 |
| 26 | $1,026,161 | $661,529 | $364,632 | $898,603 | $0 | $898,603 | +$533,971 |
| 27 | $1,071,070 | $705,360 | $365,711 | $951,676 | $0 | $951,676 | +$585,965 |
| 28 | $1,116,534 | $751,232 | $365,302 | $1,006,598 | $0 | $1,006,598 | +$641,296 |
| 29 | $1,162,569 | $799,255 | $363,314 | $1,063,433 | $0 | $1,063,433 | +$700,119 |
| 30 | $1,209,193 | $849,542 | $359,651 | $1,122,250 | $0 | $1,122,250 | +$762,599 |
VA Funding Fee Exemptions
- Veterans receiving VA compensation for service-connected disabilities
- Veterans entitled to receive VA compensation but receiving retirement/active duty pay
- Surviving spouses of veterans who died in service or from service-connected disabilities
- Service members with proposed or memorandum disability ratings before loan closing
- Purple Heart recipients serving on active duty
VA funding fee rates per VA.gov guidelines (2025). Home appreciation, rent inflation, and investment returns are estimates. Actual results will vary. Consult a VA-approved lender for current rates.
Estimates only. This calculator is for informational purposes and does not constitute financial advice. Actual loan terms may vary. Consult a VA-approved lender for official quotes.