Rent vs buy calculator · England
Rent vs buy in Canterbury: is it cheaper to rent or buy?
Buying leaves you £56,075 better off after 7 years. Owning a 2-bed terraced house costs about £1,967 a month, against £1,311 to rent the same size home.
- After 7 years
- Buy +£56,075
- Difference in net wealth
- Monthly cost to own
- £1,967
- Mortgage £1,521, of which £459 is capital
- Monthly cost to rent
- £1,311
- Rent £1,132 plus council tax
- Median price
- £295,000
- terraced house
- Cash needed to buy
- £29,500
- £29,500 deposit + £0 SDLT
- Price-to-rent ratio
- 21.7
- Price divided by a year of rent
Renting vs buying in Canterbury by home size
| Bedrooms | Price | Rent / mo | Owning vs renting / mo | After 7 yrs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 bed | £189,000 | £876 | +£277 | Buy £52,779 |
| 2 bed | £295,000 | £1,132 | +£656 | Buy £56,075 |
| 3 bed | £340,000 | £1,368 | +£690 | Buy £70,101 |
| 4+ bed | £475,000 | £1,903 | +£963 | Buy £89,858 |
Average rent and house prices in Canterbury
The ONS average private rent in Canterbury is £1,280 a month (Aug 2026, provisional), up 5.4% on a year earlier. The median price paid is £340,000 (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 £2,151 a year (Band C) and is paid whether you rent or buy, so it does not change the verdict.
Renting or buying in Canterbury: FAQs
Is it cheaper to rent or buy in Canterbury?
For a 2-bed home in Canterbury, owning costs about £1,967 a month and renting about £1,311, both including council tax. Buying leaves you £56,075 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 Canterbury?
The ONS average private rent in Canterbury is £1,280 a month across all home sizes (Aug 2026, provisional), with £876 for 1 bed, £1,132 for 2 bed, £1,368 for 3 bed, £1,903 for 4 or more bed. Rents rose 5.4% over the past year.
What is the average house price in Canterbury?
The median price paid in Canterbury is £340,000 (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 Canterbury?
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 Canterbury?
About 21.7: the 2-bed price is 21.7 times a year of rent. Higher ratios favour renting; lower ratios favour buying.
Which home size is best value to buy in Canterbury?
On the default assumptions, a 4+-bed home gives buying its strongest position: buying ahead by £89,858 after 7 years.
Areas with a similar price-to-rent ratio
Browse every local authority.