Rent vs buy calculator · England
Rent vs buy in Cornwall: is it cheaper to rent or buy?
Buying leaves you £7,674 better off after 7 years. Owning a 2-bed terraced house costs about £1,591 a month, against £1,072 to rent the same size home.
- After 7 years
- Buy +£7,674
- Difference in net wealth
- Monthly cost to own
- £1,591
- Mortgage £1,186, of which £358 is capital
- Monthly cost to rent
- £1,072
- Rent £880 plus council tax
- Median price
- £230,000
- terraced house
- Cash needed to buy
- £23,000
- £23,000 deposit + £0 SDLT
- Price-to-rent ratio
- 21.8
- Price divided by a year of rent
Renting vs buying in Cornwall by home size
| Bedrooms | Price | Rent / mo | Owning vs renting / mo | After 7 yrs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 bed | £175,000 | £688 | +£381 | Buy £7,029 |
| 2 bed | £230,000 | £880 | +£519 | Buy £7,674 |
| 3 bed | £265,000 | £1,077 | +£531 | Buy £16,865 |
| 4+ bed | £404,000 | £1,502 | +£939 | Close £4,463 |
Average rent and house prices in Cornwall
The ONS average private rent in Cornwall is £1,000 a month (Aug 2026, provisional), up 1.8% on a year earlier. The median price paid is £285,000 (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 £2,303 a year (Band C) and is paid whether you rent or buy, so it does not change the verdict.
Renting or buying in Cornwall: FAQs
Is it cheaper to rent or buy in Cornwall?
For a 2-bed home in Cornwall, owning costs about £1,591 a month and renting about £1,072, both including council tax. Buying leaves you £7,674 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 Cornwall?
The ONS average private rent in Cornwall is £1,000 a month across all home sizes (Aug 2026, provisional), with £688 for 1 bed, £880 for 2 bed, £1,077 for 3 bed, £1,502 for 4 or more bed. Rents rose 1.8% over the past year.
What is the average house price in Cornwall?
The median price paid in Cornwall is £285,000 (ONS median price paid, year ending Mar 2026). The calculator uses £230,000 for a terraced house, the property type typical for a 2-bed home.
How much is stamp duty on an average home in Cornwall?
A first-time buyer paying £230,000 would pay £0 in SDLT. With a 10% deposit of £23,000, the cash needed on day one is about £23,000.
What is the price-to-rent ratio in Cornwall?
About 21.8: the 2-bed price is 21.8 times a year of rent. Higher ratios favour renting; lower ratios favour buying.
Which home size is best value to buy in Cornwall?
On the default assumptions, a 3-bed home gives buying its strongest position: buying ahead by £16,865 after 7 years.
How many years until buying pays off in Cornwall?
The lead first changes hands in year 4 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.