Rent vs buy calculator · England
Rent vs buy in Dartford: is it cheaper to rent or buy?
Buying leaves you £34,036 better off after 7 years. Owning a 2-bed terraced house costs about £2,353 a month, against £1,595 to rent the same size home.
- After 7 years
- Buy +£34,036
- Difference in net wealth
- Monthly cost to own
- £2,353
- Mortgage £1,857, of which £561 is capital
- Monthly cost to rent
- £1,595
- Rent £1,419 plus council tax
- Median price
- £360,000
- terraced house
- Cash needed to buy
- £39,000
- £36,000 deposit + £3,000 SDLT
- Price-to-rent ratio
- 21.1
- Price divided by a year of rent
Renting vs buying in Dartford by home size
| Bedrooms | Price | Rent / mo | Owning vs renting / mo | After 7 yrs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 bed | £227,500 | £1,092 | +£292 | Buy £45,367 |
| 2 bed | £360,000 | £1,419 | +£758 | Buy £34,036 |
| 3 bed | £445,000 | £1,709 | +£978 | Buy £32,586 |
| 4+ bed | £620,000 | £2,369 | +£1,366 | Buy £29,274 |
Average rent and house prices in Dartford
The ONS average private rent in Dartford is £1,575 a month (Aug 2026, provisional), up 3.1% on a year earlier. The median price paid is £375,000 (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 £2,111 a year (Band C) and is paid whether you rent or buy, so it does not change the verdict.
Renting or buying in Dartford: FAQs
Is it cheaper to rent or buy in Dartford?
For a 2-bed home in Dartford, owning costs about £2,353 a month and renting about £1,595, both including council tax. Buying leaves you £34,036 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 Dartford?
The ONS average private rent in Dartford is £1,575 a month across all home sizes (Aug 2026, provisional), with £1,092 for 1 bed, £1,419 for 2 bed, £1,709 for 3 bed, £2,369 for 4 or more bed. Rents rose 3.1% over the past year.
What is the average house price in Dartford?
The median price paid in Dartford is £375,000 (ONS median price paid, year ending Mar 2026). The calculator uses £360,000 for a terraced house, the property type typical for a 2-bed home.
How much is stamp duty on an average home in Dartford?
A first-time buyer paying £360,000 would pay £3,000 in SDLT. With a 10% deposit of £36,000, the cash needed on day one is about £39,000.
What is the price-to-rent ratio in Dartford?
About 21.1: the 2-bed price is 21.1 times a year of rent. Higher ratios favour renting; lower ratios favour buying.
Which home size is best value to buy in Dartford?
On the default assumptions, a 1-bed home gives buying its strongest position: buying ahead by £45,367 after 7 years.
How many years until buying pays off in Dartford?
The lead first changes hands in year 2 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.