Rent vs buy calculator · Scotland
Rent vs buy in East Ayrshire: is it cheaper to rent or buy?
Buying leaves you £18,807 better off after 7 years. Owning a 2-bed terraced house costs about £877 a month, against £722 to rent the same size home.
- After 7 years
- Buy +£18,807
- Difference in net wealth
- Monthly cost to own
- £877
- Mortgage £627, of which £189 is capital
- Monthly cost to rent
- £722
- Rent £595 plus council tax
- Median price
- £121,633
- terraced house
- Cash needed to buy
- £12,163
- £12,163 deposit + £0 LBTT
- Price-to-rent ratio
- 17.0
- Price divided by a year of rent
Renting vs buying in East Ayrshire by home size
| Bedrooms | Price | Rent / mo | Owning vs renting / mo | After 7 yrs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 bed | £77,665 | £460 | +£26 | Buy £20,445 |
| 2 bed | £121,633 | £595 | +£154 | Buy £18,807 |
| 3 bed | £154,155 | £778 | +£166 | Buy £27,255 |
| 4+ bed | £267,805 | £1,285 | +£340 | Buy £38,404 |
Average rent and house prices in East Ayrshire
The ONS average private rent in East Ayrshire is £643 a month (Aug 2026, provisional), up 2.0% on a year earlier. The median price paid is £138,971 (UK HPI local authority average, Jul 2026). Rents here are published for the Ayrshires 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 £1,526 a year (Band C) and is paid whether you rent or buy, so it does not change the verdict.
Renting or buying in East Ayrshire: FAQs
Is it cheaper to rent or buy in East Ayrshire?
For a 2-bed home in East Ayrshire, owning costs about £877 a month and renting about £722, both including council tax. Buying leaves you £18,807 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 East Ayrshire?
The ONS average private rent in East Ayrshire is £643 a month across all home sizes (Aug 2026, provisional), with £460 for 1 bed, £595 for 2 bed, £778 for 3 bed, £1,285 for 4 or more bed. Rents rose 2.0% over the past year.
What is the average house price in East Ayrshire?
The median price paid in East Ayrshire is £138,971 (UK HPI local authority average, Jul 2026). The calculator uses £121,633 for a terraced house, the property type typical for a 2-bed home.
How much is stamp duty on an average home in East Ayrshire?
A first-time buyer paying £121,633 would pay £0 in LBTT. With a 10% deposit of £12,163, the cash needed on day one is about £12,163.
What is the price-to-rent ratio in East Ayrshire?
About 17.0: the 2-bed price is 17.0 times a year of rent. Higher ratios favour renting; lower ratios favour buying.
Which home size is best value to buy in East Ayrshire?
On the default assumptions, a 4+-bed home gives buying its strongest position: buying ahead by £38,404 after 7 years.
Areas with a similar price-to-rent ratio
Compare with the Scotland average or browse every local authority.