Rent vs buy calculator · England
Rent vs buy in Exeter: is it cheaper to rent or buy?
Renting and buying finish within £4,489 of each other after 7 years: too close to call. Owning a 2-bed terraced house costs about £1,853 a month, against £1,316 to rent the same size home.
- After 7 years
- Close +£4,489
- Difference in net wealth
- Monthly cost to own
- £1,853
- Mortgage £1,418, of which £428 is capital
- Monthly cost to rent
- £1,316
- Rent £1,131 plus council tax
- Median price
- £275,000
- terraced house
- Cash needed to buy
- £27,500
- £27,500 deposit + £0 SDLT
- Price-to-rent ratio
- 20.3
- Price divided by a year of rent
Renting vs buying in Exeter by home size
| Bedrooms | Price | Rent / mo | Owning vs renting / mo | After 7 yrs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 bed | £176,500 | £915 | +£163 | Buy £22,703 |
| 2 bed | £275,000 | £1,131 | +£537 | Close £4,489 |
| 3 bed | £332,500 | £1,362 | +£651 | Close £3,418 |
| 4+ bed | £450,000 | £1,919 | +£797 | Close £6,775 |
Average rent and house prices in Exeter
The ONS average private rent in Exeter is £1,318 a month (Aug 2026, provisional), up 0.5% on a year earlier. The median price paid is £295,000 (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 £2,218 a year (Band C) and is paid whether you rent or buy, so it does not change the verdict.
Renting or buying in Exeter: FAQs
Is it cheaper to rent or buy in Exeter?
For a 2-bed home in Exeter, owning costs about £1,853 a month and renting about £1,316, both including council tax. Renting and buying finish within £4,489 of each other after 7 years: too close to call. 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 Exeter?
The ONS average private rent in Exeter is £1,318 a month across all home sizes (Aug 2026, provisional), with £915 for 1 bed, £1,131 for 2 bed, £1,362 for 3 bed, £1,919 for 4 or more bed. Rents rose 0.5% over the past year.
What is the average house price in Exeter?
The median price paid in Exeter is £295,000 (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 Exeter?
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 Exeter?
About 20.3: the 2-bed price is 20.3 times a year of rent. Higher ratios favour renting; lower ratios favour buying.
Which home size is best value to buy in Exeter?
On the default assumptions, a 1-bed home gives buying its strongest position: buying ahead by £22,703 after 7 years.
How many years until buying pays off in Exeter?
The lead first changes hands in year 6 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.