Rent vs buy calculator · England
Rent vs buy in East Cambridgeshire: is it cheaper to rent or buy?
Renting leaves you £14,760 better off after 7 years. Owning a 2-bed terraced house costs about £1,852 a month, against £1,142 to rent the same size home.
- After 7 years
- Rent +£14,760
- Difference in net wealth
- Monthly cost to own
- £1,852
- Mortgage £1,418, of which £428 is capital
- Monthly cost to rent
- £1,142
- Rent £958 plus council tax
- Median price
- £275,000
- terraced house
- Cash needed to buy
- £27,500
- £27,500 deposit + £0 SDLT
- Price-to-rent ratio
- 23.9
- Price divided by a year of rent
Renting vs buying in East Cambridgeshire by home size
| Bedrooms | Price | Rent / mo | Owning vs renting / mo | After 7 yrs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 bed | £160,250 | £732 | +£249 | Buy £9,280 |
| 2 bed | £275,000 | £958 | +£710 | Rent £14,760 |
| 3 bed | £300,000 | £1,168 | +£650 | Close £1,902 |
| 4+ bed | £450,000 | £1,665 | +£1,051 | Rent £21,475 |
Average rent and house prices in East Cambridgeshire
The ONS average private rent in East Cambridgeshire is £1,038 a month (Aug 2026, provisional), up 0.5% on a year earlier. The median price paid is £340,000 (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 £2,209 a year (Band C) and is paid whether you rent or buy, so it does not change the verdict.
Renting or buying in East Cambridgeshire: FAQs
Is it cheaper to rent or buy in East Cambridgeshire?
For a 2-bed home in East Cambridgeshire, owning costs about £1,852 a month and renting about £1,142, both including council tax. Renting leaves you £14,760 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 Cambridgeshire?
The ONS average private rent in East Cambridgeshire is £1,038 a month across all home sizes (Aug 2026, provisional), with £732 for 1 bed, £958 for 2 bed, £1,168 for 3 bed, £1,665 for 4 or more bed. Rents rose 0.5% over the past year.
What is the average house price in East Cambridgeshire?
The median price paid in East Cambridgeshire is £340,000 (ONS median price paid, year ending Mar 2026). The calculator uses £275,000 for a terraced house, the property type typical for a 2-bed home.
How much is stamp duty on an average home in East Cambridgeshire?
A first-time buyer paying £275,000 would pay £0 in SDLT. With a 10% deposit of £27,500, the cash needed on day one is about £27,500.
What is the price-to-rent ratio in East Cambridgeshire?
About 23.9: the 2-bed price is 23.9 times a year of rent. Higher ratios favour renting; lower ratios favour buying.
Which home size is best value to buy in East Cambridgeshire?
On the default assumptions, a 1-bed home gives buying its strongest position: buying ahead by £9,280 after 7 years.
Areas with a similar price-to-rent ratio
Browse every local authority.