Rent vs buy calculator · England
Rent vs buy in Cambridge: is it cheaper to rent or buy?
Renting leaves you £26,892 better off after 7 years. Owning a 2-bed terraced house costs about £3,199 a month, against £1,796 to rent the same size home.
- After 7 years
- Rent +£26,892
- Difference in net wealth
- Monthly cost to own
- £3,199
- Mortgage £2,578, of which £778 is capital
- Monthly cost to rent
- £1,796
- Rent £1,613 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
- 25.8
- Price divided by a year of rent
Renting vs buying in Cambridge by home size
| Bedrooms | Price | Rent / mo | Owning vs renting / mo | After 7 yrs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 bed | £325,000 | £1,256 | +£712 | Buy £12,506 |
| 2 bed | £500,000 | £1,613 | +£1,403 | Rent £26,892 |
| 3 bed | £562,500 | £1,907 | +£1,483 | Rent £29,614 |
| 4+ bed | £803,748 | £2,656 | +£2,180 | Rent £53,363 |
Average rent and house prices in Cambridge
The ONS average private rent in Cambridge is £1,805 a month (Aug 2026, provisional), up 1.8% on a year earlier. The median price paid is £490,000 (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 £2,193 a year (Band C) and is paid whether you rent or buy, so it does not change the verdict.
Renting or buying in Cambridge: FAQs
Is it cheaper to rent or buy in Cambridge?
For a 2-bed home in Cambridge, owning costs about £3,199 a month and renting about £1,796, both including council tax. Renting leaves you £26,892 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 Cambridge?
The ONS average private rent in Cambridge is £1,805 a month across all home sizes (Aug 2026, provisional), with £1,256 for 1 bed, £1,613 for 2 bed, £1,907 for 3 bed, £2,656 for 4 or more bed. Rents rose 1.8% over the past year.
What is the average house price in Cambridge?
The median price paid in Cambridge is £490,000 (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 Cambridge?
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 Cambridge?
About 25.8: the 2-bed price is 25.8 times a year of rent. Higher ratios favour renting; lower ratios favour buying.
Which home size is best value to buy in Cambridge?
On the default assumptions, a 1-bed home gives buying its strongest position: buying ahead by £12,506 after 7 years.
Areas with a similar price-to-rent ratio
Browse every local authority.