Sotheby's International Realty Canada
Contact Shanna
Calculator

Rent vs. buy
calculator.
The real math.

See your break-even year, what your down payment could earn elsewhere, and how your net worth compares over time — renting vs. buying in Calgary.

Rent vs. Buy Calculator

Compare buying and renting scenarios side by side.

Buying scenario
Home price $700,000
Down payment $140,000
Mortgage rate 5.14%
Amortization
Renting scenario
Monthly rent (comparable home) $2,400
Assumptions
Moderate: 4% annual home appreciation, 5% investment return, 3% rent growth.
Years you plan to stay 10
After 10 years, buying leaves you ahead by
$0
Net worth comparison including equity, appreciation, and investment returns
Break-even year
Year 0
From this year onward, buying builds more net worth than renting and investing the difference.
Where your money goes — at year 10
If you buy — equity you keep
$0
If you rent — total rent paid (kept $0)
$0
If your $140,000 down payment were invested instead at 5% annually, it would grow to approximately $228,000 over 10 years. This is the "cost" of using that cash as a down payment instead — but it's already factored into the net worth comparison above.
Net Worth Over Time

Net worth over time.

Buying
Renting + investing

Estimates are for illustrative purposes only and do not constitute financial advice. Assumes property tax (~0.65%), maintenance (~1%), and home insurance (~$150/mo) for the buying scenario, and that the difference between renting and buying costs is invested at the selected return rate. Actual outcomes depend on market performance, lifestyle changes, and individual circumstances. Connect with Shanna or a financial advisor before making a decision based on these projections.

Thinking it might be time to buy?

Shanna can walk you through your specific numbers — no pressure, no pitch.

Talk to Shanna See mortgage calculator
Monthly newsletter

Stay one step ahead
of the market.

Every month I send a short, no-nonsense update on what's actually happening in Calgary real estate — what's selling, what's sitting, and what it means for you.

Join hundreds of Calgary homeowners and buyers who read it every month.

Subscribe to Shanna's market update

Email

No spam. Unsubscribe anytime. Published monthly.

✓

You're subscribed.

Shanna's next market update will land in your inbox shortly.

Sotheby's International Realty Canada

Your multilingual Calgary REALTOR® — serving buyers and sellers across SW and NW Calgary with Sotheby's global platform and personal, trilingual service.

Phone (587) 585-8333
Email shanna.lin@sothebysrealty.ca
Office 5111 Elbow Dr SW
Calgary, AB T2V 1H2
© 2026 Shanna Lin Real Estate. All rights reserved.
Privacy Policy Terms of Use Sitemap
Sotheby's International Realty Canada

This website is not the official website of Sotheby's International Realty, Inc. Sotheby's International Realty, Inc. does not make any representation or warranty regarding any information, including without limitation its accuracy or completeness, contained on this website. Shanna Lin is a licensed REALTOR® with Sotheby's International Realty Canada. The trademarks REALTOR®, REALTORS®, and the REALTOR® logo are controlled by The Canadian Real Estate Association (CREA) and identify real estate professionals who are members of CREA.