Rent vs buy calculator · Scotland
Rent vs buy in Argyll and Bute: is it cheaper to rent or buy?
Renting leaves you £7,249 better off after 7 years. Owning a 2-bed terraced house costs about £1,178 a month, against £886 to rent the same size home.
- After 7 years
- Rent +£7,249
- Difference in net wealth
- Monthly cost to own
- £1,178
- Mortgage £882, of which £266 is capital
- Monthly cost to rent
- £886
- Rent £754 plus council tax
- Median price
- £171,084
- terraced house
- Cash needed to buy
- £17,108
- £17,108 deposit + £0 LBTT
- Price-to-rent ratio
- 18.9
- Price divided by a year of rent
Renting vs buying in Argyll and Bute by home size
| Bedrooms | Price | Rent / mo | Owning vs renting / mo | After 7 yrs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 bed | £118,925 | £562 | +£171 | Close £1,657 |
| 2 bed | £171,084 | £754 | +£292 | Rent £7,249 |
| 3 bed | £218,652 | £980 | +£351 | Rent £8,035 |
| 4+ bed | £338,121 | £1,653 | +£393 | Close £2,809 |
Average rent and house prices in Argyll and Bute
The ONS average private rent in Argyll and Bute is £822 a month (Aug 2026, provisional), up -1.6% on a year earlier. The median price paid is £189,366 (UK HPI local authority average, Jul 2026). Rents here are published for the Argyll and Bute 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 £1,585 a year (Band C) and is paid whether you rent or buy, so it does not change the verdict.
Renting or buying in Argyll and Bute: FAQs
Is it cheaper to rent or buy in Argyll and Bute?
For a 2-bed home in Argyll and Bute, owning costs about £1,178 a month and renting about £886, both including council tax. Renting leaves you £7,249 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 Argyll and Bute?
The ONS average private rent in Argyll and Bute is £822 a month across all home sizes (Aug 2026, provisional), with £562 for 1 bed, £754 for 2 bed, £980 for 3 bed, £1,653 for 4 or more bed. Rents rose -1.6% over the past year.
What is the average house price in Argyll and Bute?
The median price paid in Argyll and Bute is £189,366 (UK HPI local authority average, Jul 2026). The calculator uses £171,084 for a terraced house, the property type typical for a 2-bed home.
How much is stamp duty on an average home in Argyll and Bute?
A first-time buyer paying £171,084 would pay £0 in LBTT. With a 10% deposit of £17,108, the cash needed on day one is about £17,108.
What is the price-to-rent ratio in Argyll and Bute?
About 18.9: the 2-bed price is 18.9 times a year of rent. Higher ratios favour renting; lower ratios favour buying.
Which home size is best value to buy in Argyll and Bute?
On the default assumptions, a 1-bed home gives buying its strongest position: renting still ahead by £1,657 after 7 years.
How many years until buying pays off in Argyll and Bute?
The lead first changes hands in year 11 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.