Rent vs buy calculator · Wales
Rent vs buy in Carmarthenshire: is it cheaper to rent or buy?
Buying leaves you £46,281 better off after 7 years. Owning a 2-bed terraced house costs about £1,034 a month, against £821 to rent the same size home.
- After 7 years
- Buy +£46,281
- Difference in net wealth
- Monthly cost to own
- £1,034
- Mortgage £722, of which £218 is capital
- Monthly cost to rent
- £821
- Rent £647 plus council tax
- Median price
- £140,000
- terraced house
- Cash needed to buy
- £14,000
- £14,000 deposit + £0 LTT
- Price-to-rent ratio
- 18.0
- Price divided by a year of rent
Renting vs buying in Carmarthenshire by home size
| Bedrooms | Price | Rent / mo | Owning vs renting / mo | After 7 yrs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 bed | £150,000 | £500 | +£419 | Buy £25,317 |
| 2 bed | £140,000 | £647 | +£212 | Buy £46,281 |
| 3 bed | £180,000 | £740 | +£359 | Buy £48,570 |
| 4+ bed | £295,000 | £997 | +£791 | Buy £48,982 |
Average rent and house prices in Carmarthenshire
The ONS average private rent in Carmarthenshire is £687 a month (Aug 2026, provisional), up 6.6% on a year earlier. The median price paid is £200,000 (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 £2,090 a year (Band C) and is paid whether you rent or buy, so it does not change the verdict.
Renting or buying in Carmarthenshire: FAQs
Is it cheaper to rent or buy in Carmarthenshire?
For a 2-bed home in Carmarthenshire, owning costs about £1,034 a month and renting about £821, both including council tax. Buying leaves you £46,281 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 Carmarthenshire?
The ONS average private rent in Carmarthenshire is £687 a month across all home sizes (Aug 2026, provisional), with £500 for 1 bed, £647 for 2 bed, £740 for 3 bed, £997 for 4 or more bed. Rents rose 6.6% over the past year.
What is the average house price in Carmarthenshire?
The median price paid in Carmarthenshire is £200,000 (ONS median price paid, year ending Mar 2026). The calculator uses £140,000 for a terraced house, the property type typical for a 2-bed home.
How much is stamp duty on an average home in Carmarthenshire?
A first-time buyer paying £140,000 would pay £0 in LTT. With a 10% deposit of £14,000, the cash needed on day one is about £14,000.
What is the price-to-rent ratio in Carmarthenshire?
About 18.0: the 2-bed price is 18.0 times a year of rent. Higher ratios favour renting; lower ratios favour buying.
Which home size is best value to buy in Carmarthenshire?
On the default assumptions, a 4+-bed home gives buying its strongest position: buying ahead by £48,982 after 7 years.
Areas with a similar price-to-rent ratio
Compare with the Wales average or browse every local authority.