Rent vs buy calculator · Scotland
Rent vs buy in Aberdeen City: is it cheaper to rent or buy?
Buying leaves you £14,758 better off after 7 years. Owning a 2-bed terraced house costs about £1,020 a month, against £905 to rent the same size home.
- After 7 years
- Buy +£14,758
- Difference in net wealth
- Monthly cost to own
- £1,020
- Mortgage £749, of which £226 is capital
- Monthly cost to rent
- £905
- Rent £776 plus council tax
- Median price
- £145,174
- terraced house
- Cash needed to buy
- £14,517
- £14,517 deposit + £0 LBTT
- Price-to-rent ratio
- 15.6
- Price divided by a year of rent
Renting vs buying in Aberdeen City by home size
| Bedrooms | Price | Rent / mo | Owning vs renting / mo | After 7 yrs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 bed | £92,897 | £601 | −£24 | Buy £20,152 |
| 2 bed | £145,174 | £776 | +£114 | Buy £14,758 |
| 3 bed | £180,789 | £965 | +£139 | Buy £18,622 |
| 4+ bed | £299,438 | £1,577 | +£238 | Buy £25,200 |
Average rent and house prices in Aberdeen City
The ONS average private rent in Aberdeen City is £845 a month (Aug 2026, provisional), up -0.5% on a year earlier. The median price paid is £130,689 (UK HPI local authority average, Jul 2026). Rents here are published for the Aberdeen and Shire BRMA Broad Rental Market Area.
Default scenario: 2-bed home, 7 years stay, 10% deposit, 4.80% fixed mortgage, monthly difference invested in a S&S ISA at 7.5%. Council tax is £1,553 a year (Band C) and is paid whether you rent or buy, so it does not change the verdict.
Renting or buying in Aberdeen City: FAQs
Is it cheaper to rent or buy in Aberdeen City?
For a 2-bed home in Aberdeen City, owning costs about £1,020 a month and renting about £905, both including council tax. Buying leaves you £14,758 better off after 7 years. This assumes a 2-bed home, 7 years stay, 10% deposit, 4.80% fixed mortgage, monthly difference invested in a S&S ISA at 7.5%.
What is the average rent in Aberdeen City?
The ONS average private rent in Aberdeen City is £845 a month across all home sizes (Aug 2026, provisional), with £601 for 1 bed, £776 for 2 bed, £965 for 3 bed, £1,577 for 4 or more bed. Rents rose -0.5% over the past year.
What is the average house price in Aberdeen City?
The median price paid in Aberdeen City is £130,689 (UK HPI local authority average, Jul 2026). The calculator uses £145,174 for a terraced house, the property type typical for a 2-bed home.
How much is stamp duty on an average home in Aberdeen City?
A first-time buyer paying £145,174 would pay £0 in LBTT. With a 10% deposit of £14,517, the cash needed on day one is about £14,517.
What is the price-to-rent ratio in Aberdeen City?
About 15.6: the 2-bed price is 15.6 times a year of rent. Higher ratios favour renting; lower ratios favour buying.
Which home size is best value to buy in Aberdeen City?
On the default assumptions, a 4+-bed home gives buying its strongest position: buying ahead by £25,200 after 7 years.
How many years until buying pays off in Aberdeen City?
The lead first changes hands in year 4 on the default settings. Staying longer spreads stamp duty and selling costs over more years.
Areas with a similar price-to-rent ratio
Compare with the Scotland average or browse every local authority.