Rent vs buy calculator · England
Rent vs buy in Dover: is it cheaper to rent or buy?
Buying leaves you £83,727 better off after 7 years. Owning a 2-bed terraced house costs about £1,671 a month, against £1,134 to rent the same size home.
- After 7 years
- Buy +£83,727
- Difference in net wealth
- Monthly cost to own
- £1,671
- Mortgage £1,263, of which £381 is capital
- Monthly cost to rent
- £1,134
- Rent £952 plus council tax
- Median price
- £245,000
- terraced house
- Cash needed to buy
- £24,500
- £24,500 deposit + £0 SDLT
- Price-to-rent ratio
- 21.4
- Price divided by a year of rent
Renting vs buying in Dover by home size
| Bedrooms | Price | Rent / mo | Owning vs renting / mo | After 7 yrs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 bed | £160,000 | £728 | +£251 | Buy £67,354 |
| 2 bed | £245,000 | £952 | +£536 | Buy £83,727 |
| 3 bed | £300,000 | £1,166 | +£652 | Buy £103,747 |
| 4+ bed | £426,250 | £1,661 | +£913 | Buy £140,467 |
Average rent and house prices in Dover
The ONS average private rent in Dover is £1,021 a month (Aug 2026, provisional), up 8.6% on a year earlier. The median price paid is £290,000 (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 £2,188 a year (Band C) and is paid whether you rent or buy, so it does not change the verdict.
Renting or buying in Dover: FAQs
Is it cheaper to rent or buy in Dover?
For a 2-bed home in Dover, owning costs about £1,671 a month and renting about £1,134, both including council tax. Buying leaves you £83,727 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 Dover?
The ONS average private rent in Dover is £1,021 a month across all home sizes (Aug 2026, provisional), with £728 for 1 bed, £952 for 2 bed, £1,166 for 3 bed, £1,661 for 4 or more bed. Rents rose 8.6% over the past year.
What is the average house price in Dover?
The median price paid in Dover is £290,000 (ONS median price paid, year ending Mar 2026). The calculator uses £245,000 for a terraced house, the property type typical for a 2-bed home.
How much is stamp duty on an average home in Dover?
A first-time buyer paying £245,000 would pay £0 in SDLT. With a 10% deposit of £24,500, the cash needed on day one is about £24,500.
What is the price-to-rent ratio in Dover?
About 21.4: the 2-bed price is 21.4 times a year of rent. Higher ratios favour renting; lower ratios favour buying.
Which home size is best value to buy in Dover?
On the default assumptions, a 4+-bed home gives buying its strongest position: buying ahead by £140,467 after 7 years.
Areas with a similar price-to-rent ratio
Browse every local authority.