Rent vs buy calculator · Scotland
Rent vs buy in Aberdeenshire: is it cheaper to rent or buy?
Buying leaves you £11,771 better off after 7 years. Owning a 2-bed terraced house costs about £1,053 a month, against £901 to rent the same size home.
- After 7 years
- Buy +£11,771
- Difference in net wealth
- Monthly cost to own
- £1,053
- Mortgage £781, of which £236 is capital
- Monthly cost to rent
- £901
- Rent £776 plus council tax
- Median price
- £151,474
- terraced house
- Cash needed to buy
- £15,147
- £15,147 deposit + £0 LBTT
- Price-to-rent ratio
- 16.3
- Price divided by a year of rent
Renting vs buying in Aberdeenshire by home size
| Bedrooms | Price | Rent / mo | Owning vs renting / mo | After 7 yrs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 bed | £102,401 | £601 | +£33 | Buy £15,646 |
| 2 bed | £151,474 | £776 | +£152 | Buy £11,771 |
| 3 bed | £182,726 | £965 | +£150 | Buy £17,640 |
| 4+ bed | £301,147 | £1,577 | +£248 | Buy £24,292 |
Average rent and house prices in Aberdeenshire
The ONS average private rent in Aberdeenshire is £845 a month (Aug 2026, provisional), up -0.5% on a year earlier. The median price paid is £204,894 (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 £1,499 a year (Band C) and is paid whether you rent or buy, so it does not change the verdict.
Renting or buying in Aberdeenshire: FAQs
Is it cheaper to rent or buy in Aberdeenshire?
For a 2-bed home in Aberdeenshire, owning costs about £1,053 a month and renting about £901, both including council tax. Buying leaves you £11,771 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 Aberdeenshire?
The ONS average private rent in Aberdeenshire 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 Aberdeenshire?
The median price paid in Aberdeenshire is £204,894 (UK HPI local authority average, Jul 2026). The calculator uses £151,474 for a terraced house, the property type typical for a 2-bed home.
How much is stamp duty on an average home in Aberdeenshire?
A first-time buyer paying £151,474 would pay £0 in LBTT. With a 10% deposit of £15,147, the cash needed on day one is about £15,147.
What is the price-to-rent ratio in Aberdeenshire?
About 16.3: the 2-bed price is 16.3 times a year of rent. Higher ratios favour renting; lower ratios favour buying.
Which home size is best value to buy in Aberdeenshire?
On the default assumptions, a 4+-bed home gives buying its strongest position: buying ahead by £24,292 after 7 years.
How many years until buying pays off in Aberdeenshire?
The lead first changes hands in year 5 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.