Rent vs buy calculator · England
Rent vs buy in Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole: is it cheaper to rent or buy?
Buying leaves you £27,785 better off after 7 years. Owning a 2-bed terraced house costs about £1,968 a month, against £1,349 to rent the same size home.
- After 7 years
- Buy +£27,785
- Difference in net wealth
- Monthly cost to own
- £1,968
- Mortgage £1,521, of which £459 is capital
- Monthly cost to rent
- £1,349
- Rent £1,169 plus council tax
- Median price
- £295,000
- terraced house
- Cash needed to buy
- £29,500
- £29,500 deposit + £0 SDLT
- Price-to-rent ratio
- 21.0
- Price divided by a year of rent
Renting vs buying in Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole by home size
| Bedrooms | Price | Rent / mo | Owning vs renting / mo | After 7 yrs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 bed | £212,000 | £918 | +£373 | Buy £27,559 |
| 2 bed | £295,000 | £1,169 | +£619 | Buy £27,785 |
| 3 bed | £340,000 | £1,456 | +£602 | Buy £42,413 |
| 4+ bed | £475,000 | £2,080 | +£786 | Buy £57,524 |
Average rent and house prices in Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole
The ONS average private rent in Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole is £1,398 a month (Aug 2026, provisional), up 2.8% on a year earlier. The median price paid is £335,000 (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 £2,165 a year (Band C) and is paid whether you rent or buy, so it does not change the verdict.
Renting or buying in Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole: FAQs
Is it cheaper to rent or buy in Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole?
For a 2-bed home in Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole, owning costs about £1,968 a month and renting about £1,349, both including council tax. Buying leaves you £27,785 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 Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole?
The ONS average private rent in Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole is £1,398 a month across all home sizes (Aug 2026, provisional), with £918 for 1 bed, £1,169 for 2 bed, £1,456 for 3 bed, £2,080 for 4 or more bed. Rents rose 2.8% over the past year.
What is the average house price in Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole?
The median price paid in Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole is £335,000 (ONS median price paid, year ending Mar 2026). The calculator uses £295,000 for a terraced house, the property type typical for a 2-bed home.
How much is stamp duty on an average home in Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole?
A first-time buyer paying £295,000 would pay £0 in SDLT. With a 10% deposit of £29,500, the cash needed on day one is about £29,500.
What is the price-to-rent ratio in Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole?
About 21.0: the 2-bed price is 21.0 times a year of rent. Higher ratios favour renting; lower ratios favour buying.
Which home size is best value to buy in Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole?
On the default assumptions, a 4+-bed home gives buying its strongest position: buying ahead by £57,524 after 7 years.
How many years until buying pays off in Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole?
The lead first changes hands in year 2 on the default settings. Staying longer spreads stamp duty and selling costs over more years.
Areas with a similar price-to-rent ratio
Browse every local authority.