Rent vs buy calculator · England
Rent vs buy in Brighton and Hove: is it cheaper to rent or buy?
Renting leaves you £94,854 better off after 7 years. Owning a 2-bed terraced house costs about £3,207 a month, against £1,709 to rent the same size home.
- After 7 years
- Rent +£94,854
- Difference in net wealth
- Monthly cost to own
- £3,207
- Mortgage £2,578, of which £778 is capital
- Monthly cost to rent
- £1,709
- Rent £1,518 plus council tax
- Median price
- £500,000
- terraced house
- Cash needed to buy
- £60,000
- £50,000 deposit + £10,000 SDLT
- Price-to-rent ratio
- 27.4
- Price divided by a year of rent
Renting vs buying in Brighton and Hove by home size
| Bedrooms | Price | Rent / mo | Owning vs renting / mo | After 7 yrs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 bed | £297,500 | £1,189 | +£614 | Rent £18,534 |
| 2 bed | £500,000 | £1,518 | +£1,498 | Rent £94,854 |
| 3 bed | £500,000 | £1,797 | +£1,219 | Rent £64,709 |
| 4+ bed | £725,000 | £2,478 | +£1,886 | Rent £122,692 |
Average rent and house prices in Brighton and Hove
The ONS average private rent in Brighton and Hove is £1,808 a month (Aug 2026, provisional), up -1.2% on a year earlier. The median price paid is £415,000 (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 £2,294 a year (Band C) and is paid whether you rent or buy, so it does not change the verdict.
Renting or buying in Brighton and Hove: FAQs
Is it cheaper to rent or buy in Brighton and Hove?
For a 2-bed home in Brighton and Hove, owning costs about £3,207 a month and renting about £1,709, both including council tax. Renting leaves you £94,854 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 Brighton and Hove?
The ONS average private rent in Brighton and Hove is £1,808 a month across all home sizes (Aug 2026, provisional), with £1,189 for 1 bed, £1,518 for 2 bed, £1,797 for 3 bed, £2,478 for 4 or more bed. Rents rose -1.2% over the past year.
What is the average house price in Brighton and Hove?
The median price paid in Brighton and Hove is £415,000 (ONS median price paid, year ending Mar 2026). The calculator uses £500,000 for a terraced house, the property type typical for a 2-bed home.
How much is stamp duty on an average home in Brighton and Hove?
A first-time buyer paying £500,000 would pay £10,000 in SDLT. With a 10% deposit of £50,000, the cash needed on day one is about £60,000.
What is the price-to-rent ratio in Brighton and Hove?
About 27.4: the 2-bed price is 27.4 times a year of rent. Higher ratios favour renting; lower ratios favour buying.
Which home size is best value to buy in Brighton and Hove?
On the default assumptions, a 1-bed home gives buying its strongest position: renting still ahead by £18,534 after 7 years.
Areas with a similar price-to-rent ratio
Browse every local authority.