Rent vs buy calculator · England
Rent vs buy in Barnet: is it cheaper to rent or buy?
Renting leaves you £33,429 better off after 7 years. Owning a 2-bed terraced house costs about £4,043 a month, against £2,016 to rent the same size home.
- After 7 years
- Rent +£33,429
- Difference in net wealth
- Monthly cost to own
- £4,043
- Mortgage £3,326, of which £1,004 is capital
- Monthly cost to rent
- £2,016
- Rent £1,858 plus council tax
- Median price
- £645,000
- terraced house
- Cash needed to buy
- £86,750
- £64,500 deposit + £22,250 SDLT
- Price-to-rent ratio
- 28.9
- Price divided by a year of rent
Renting vs buying in Barnet by home size
| Bedrooms | Price | Rent / mo | Owning vs renting / mo | After 7 yrs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 bed | £390,000 | £1,500 | +£857 | Buy £35,401 |
| 2 bed | £645,000 | £1,858 | +£2,027 | Rent £33,429 |
| 3 bed | £816,850 | £2,256 | +£2,658 | Rent £54,891 |
| 4+ bed | £1,235,000 | £3,192 | +£4,227 | Rent £134,438 |
Average rent and house prices in Barnet
The ONS average private rent in Barnet is £1,949 a month (Aug 2026, provisional), up 3.3% on a year earlier. The median price paid is £590,000 (ONS median price paid, year ending Mar 2026).
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 £1,896 a year (Band C) and is paid whether you rent or buy, so it does not change the verdict.
Renting or buying in Barnet: FAQs
Is it cheaper to rent or buy in Barnet?
For a 2-bed home in Barnet, owning costs about £4,043 a month and renting about £2,016, both including council tax. Renting leaves you £33,429 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 Barnet?
The ONS average private rent in Barnet is £1,949 a month across all home sizes (Aug 2026, provisional), with £1,500 for 1 bed, £1,858 for 2 bed, £2,256 for 3 bed, £3,192 for 4 or more bed. Rents rose 3.3% over the past year.
What is the average house price in Barnet?
The median price paid in Barnet is £590,000 (ONS median price paid, year ending Mar 2026). The calculator uses £645,000 for a terraced house, the property type typical for a 2-bed home.
How much is stamp duty on an average home in Barnet?
A first-time buyer paying £645,000 would pay £22,250 in SDLT. With a 10% deposit of £64,500, the cash needed on day one is about £86,750.
What is the price-to-rent ratio in Barnet?
About 28.9: the 2-bed price is 28.9 times a year of rent. Higher ratios favour renting; lower ratios favour buying.
Which home size is best value to buy in Barnet?
On the default assumptions, a 1-bed home gives buying its strongest position: buying ahead by £35,401 after 7 years.
Areas with a similar price-to-rent ratio
Browse every local authority.