Rent vs buy calculator · England
Rent vs buy in County Durham: is it cheaper to rent or buy?
Buying leaves you £44,862 better off after 7 years. Owning a 2-bed terraced house costs about £814 a month, against £773 to rent the same size home.
- After 7 years
- Buy +£44,862
- Difference in net wealth
- Monthly cost to own
- £814
- Mortgage £515, of which £156 is capital
- Monthly cost to rent
- £773
- Rent £579 plus council tax
- Median price
- £99,950
- terraced house
- Cash needed to buy
- £9,995
- £9,995 deposit + £0 SDLT
- Price-to-rent ratio
- 14.4
- Price divided by a year of rent
Renting vs buying in County Durham by home size
| Bedrooms | Price | Rent / mo | Owning vs renting / mo | After 7 yrs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 bed | £85,000 | £456 | +£74 | Buy £33,229 |
| 2 bed | £99,950 | £579 | +£41 | Buy £44,862 |
| 3 bed | £148,475 | £693 | +£217 | Buy £46,851 |
| 4+ bed | £263,000 | £999 | +£597 | Buy £57,162 |
Average rent and house prices in County Durham
The ONS average private rent in County Durham is £650 a month (Aug 2026, provisional), up 6.1% on a year earlier. The median price paid is £140,000 (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 £2,331 a year (Band C) and is paid whether you rent or buy, so it does not change the verdict.
Renting or buying in County Durham: FAQs
Is it cheaper to rent or buy in County Durham?
For a 2-bed home in County Durham, owning costs about £814 a month and renting about £773, both including council tax. Buying leaves you £44,862 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 County Durham?
The ONS average private rent in County Durham is £650 a month across all home sizes (Aug 2026, provisional), with £456 for 1 bed, £579 for 2 bed, £693 for 3 bed, £999 for 4 or more bed. Rents rose 6.1% over the past year.
What is the average house price in County Durham?
The median price paid in County Durham is £140,000 (ONS median price paid, year ending Mar 2026). The calculator uses £99,950 for a terraced house, the property type typical for a 2-bed home.
How much is stamp duty on an average home in County Durham?
A first-time buyer paying £99,950 would pay £0 in SDLT. With a 10% deposit of £9,995, the cash needed on day one is about £9,995.
What is the price-to-rent ratio in County Durham?
About 14.4: the 2-bed price is 14.4 times a year of rent. Higher ratios favour renting; lower ratios favour buying.
Which home size is best value to buy in County Durham?
On the default assumptions, a 4+-bed home gives buying its strongest position: buying ahead by £57,162 after 7 years.
Areas with a similar price-to-rent ratio
Browse every local authority.