Rent vs buy calculator · Scotland
Rent vs buy in Dumfries and Galloway: is it cheaper to rent or buy?
Buying leaves you £36,724 better off after 7 years. Owning a 2-bed terraced house costs about £958 a month, against £681 to rent the same size home.
- After 7 years
- Buy +£36,724
- Difference in net wealth
- Monthly cost to own
- £958
- Mortgage £706, of which £213 is capital
- Monthly cost to rent
- £681
- Rent £564 plus council tax
- Median price
- £136,978
- terraced house
- Cash needed to buy
- £13,698
- £13,698 deposit + £0 LBTT
- Price-to-rent ratio
- 20.2
- Price divided by a year of rent
Renting vs buying in Dumfries and Galloway by home size
| Bedrooms | Price | Rent / mo | Owning vs renting / mo | After 7 yrs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 bed | £87,699 | £427 | +£119 | Buy £30,991 |
| 2 bed | £136,978 | £564 | +£277 | Buy £36,724 |
| 3 bed | £170,149 | £760 | +£280 | Buy £53,719 |
| 4+ bed | £259,681 | £1,076 | +£500 | Buy £70,391 |
Average rent and house prices in Dumfries and Galloway
The ONS average private rent in Dumfries and Galloway is £558 a month (Aug 2026, provisional), up 6.6% on a year earlier. The median price paid is £169,511 (UK HPI local authority average, Jul 2026). Rents here are published for the Dumfries and Galloway BRMA Broad Rental Market Area.
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 £1,403 a year (Band C) and is paid whether you rent or buy, so it does not change the verdict.
Renting or buying in Dumfries and Galloway: FAQs
Is it cheaper to rent or buy in Dumfries and Galloway?
For a 2-bed home in Dumfries and Galloway, owning costs about £958 a month and renting about £681, both including council tax. Buying leaves you £36,724 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 Dumfries and Galloway?
The ONS average private rent in Dumfries and Galloway is £558 a month across all home sizes (Aug 2026, provisional), with £427 for 1 bed, £564 for 2 bed, £760 for 3 bed, £1,076 for 4 or more bed. Rents rose 6.6% over the past year.
What is the average house price in Dumfries and Galloway?
The median price paid in Dumfries and Galloway is £169,511 (UK HPI local authority average, Jul 2026). The calculator uses £136,978 for a terraced house, the property type typical for a 2-bed home.
How much is stamp duty on an average home in Dumfries and Galloway?
A first-time buyer paying £136,978 would pay £0 in LBTT. With a 10% deposit of £13,698, the cash needed on day one is about £13,698.
What is the price-to-rent ratio in Dumfries and Galloway?
About 20.2: the 2-bed price is 20.2 times a year of rent. Higher ratios favour renting; lower ratios favour buying.
Which home size is best value to buy in Dumfries and Galloway?
On the default assumptions, a 4+-bed home gives buying its strongest position: buying ahead by £70,391 after 7 years.
Areas with a similar price-to-rent ratio
Compare with the Scotland average or browse every local authority.