Rent vs buy calculator · England
Rent vs buy in Barnsley: is it cheaper to rent or buy?
Buying leaves you £52,594 better off after 7 years. Owning a 2-bed terraced house costs about £1,014 a month, against £802 to rent the same size home.
- After 7 years
- Buy +£52,594
- Difference in net wealth
- Monthly cost to own
- £1,014
- Mortgage £707, of which £213 is capital
- Monthly cost to rent
- £802
- Rent £630 plus council tax
- Median price
- £137,000
- terraced house
- Cash needed to buy
- £13,700
- £13,700 deposit + £0 SDLT
- Price-to-rent ratio
- 18.1
- Price divided by a year of rent
Renting vs buying in Barnsley by home size
| Bedrooms | Price | Rent / mo | Owning vs renting / mo | After 7 yrs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 bed | £105,000 | £507 | +£143 | Buy £42,872 |
| 2 bed | £137,000 | £630 | +£212 | Buy £52,594 |
| 3 bed | £175,000 | £753 | +£316 | Buy £61,156 |
| 4+ bed | £305,000 | £1,087 | +£761 | Buy £80,534 |
Average rent and house prices in Barnsley
The ONS average private rent in Barnsley is £696 a month (Aug 2026, provisional), up 7.8% on a year earlier. The median price paid is £179,000 (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 £2,068 a year (Band C) and is paid whether you rent or buy, so it does not change the verdict.
Renting or buying in Barnsley: FAQs
Is it cheaper to rent or buy in Barnsley?
For a 2-bed home in Barnsley, owning costs about £1,014 a month and renting about £802, both including council tax. Buying leaves you £52,594 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 Barnsley?
The ONS average private rent in Barnsley is £696 a month across all home sizes (Aug 2026, provisional), with £507 for 1 bed, £630 for 2 bed, £753 for 3 bed, £1,087 for 4 or more bed. Rents rose 7.8% over the past year.
What is the average house price in Barnsley?
The median price paid in Barnsley is £179,000 (ONS median price paid, year ending Mar 2026). The calculator uses £137,000 for a terraced house, the property type typical for a 2-bed home.
How much is stamp duty on an average home in Barnsley?
A first-time buyer paying £137,000 would pay £0 in SDLT. With a 10% deposit of £13,700, the cash needed on day one is about £13,700.
What is the price-to-rent ratio in Barnsley?
About 18.1: the 2-bed price is 18.1 times a year of rent. Higher ratios favour renting; lower ratios favour buying.
Which home size is best value to buy in Barnsley?
On the default assumptions, a 4+-bed home gives buying its strongest position: buying ahead by £80,534 after 7 years.
Areas with a similar price-to-rent ratio
Browse every local authority.