Rent vs buy calculator · England
Rent vs buy in Guildford: is it cheaper to rent or buy?
Buying leaves you £74,414 better off after 7 years. Owning a 2-bed terraced house costs about £2,606 a month, against £1,730 to rent the same size home.
- After 7 years
- Buy +£74,414
- Difference in net wealth
- Monthly cost to own
- £2,606
- Mortgage £2,063, of which £623 is capital
- Monthly cost to rent
- £1,730
- Rent £1,541 plus council tax
- Median price
- £399,995
- terraced house
- Cash needed to buy
- £44,999
- £40,000 deposit + £5,000 SDLT
- Price-to-rent ratio
- 21.6
- Price divided by a year of rent
Renting vs buying in Guildford by home size
| Bedrooms | Price | Rent / mo | Owning vs renting / mo | After 7 yrs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 bed | £270,000 | £1,185 | +£453 | Buy £71,492 |
| 2 bed | £399,995 | £1,541 | +£876 | Buy £74,414 |
| 3 bed | £510,000 | £1,866 | +£1,210 | Buy £70,144 |
| 4+ bed | £875,000 | £2,527 | +£2,735 | Buy £32,730 |
Average rent and house prices in Guildford
The ONS average private rent in Guildford is £1,736 a month (Aug 2026, provisional), up 5.6% on a year earlier. The median price paid is £505,000 (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 £2,264 a year (Band C) and is paid whether you rent or buy, so it does not change the verdict.
Renting or buying in Guildford: FAQs
Is it cheaper to rent or buy in Guildford?
For a 2-bed home in Guildford, owning costs about £2,606 a month and renting about £1,730, both including council tax. Buying leaves you £74,414 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 Guildford?
The ONS average private rent in Guildford is £1,736 a month across all home sizes (Aug 2026, provisional), with £1,185 for 1 bed, £1,541 for 2 bed, £1,866 for 3 bed, £2,527 for 4 or more bed. Rents rose 5.6% over the past year.
What is the average house price in Guildford?
The median price paid in Guildford is £505,000 (ONS median price paid, year ending Mar 2026). The calculator uses £399,995 for a terraced house, the property type typical for a 2-bed home.
How much is stamp duty on an average home in Guildford?
A first-time buyer paying £399,995 would pay £5,000 in SDLT. With a 10% deposit of £40,000, the cash needed on day one is about £44,999.
What is the price-to-rent ratio in Guildford?
About 21.6: the 2-bed price is 21.6 times a year of rent. Higher ratios favour renting; lower ratios favour buying.
Which home size is best value to buy in Guildford?
On the default assumptions, a 2-bed home gives buying its strongest position: buying ahead by £74,414 after 7 years.
Areas with a similar price-to-rent ratio
Browse every local authority.