Rent vs buy calculator · England
Rent vs buy in Harlow: is it cheaper to rent or buy?
Buying leaves you £49,417 better off after 7 years. Owning a 2-bed terraced house costs about £2,168 a month, against £1,497 to rent the same size home.
- After 7 years
- Buy +£49,417
- Difference in net wealth
- Monthly cost to own
- £2,168
- Mortgage £1,702, of which £514 is capital
- Monthly cost to rent
- £1,497
- Rent £1,327 plus council tax
- Median price
- £330,000
- terraced house
- Cash needed to buy
- £34,500
- £33,000 deposit + £1,500 SDLT
- Price-to-rent ratio
- 20.7
- Price divided by a year of rent
Renting vs buying in Harlow by home size
| Bedrooms | Price | Rent / mo | Owning vs renting / mo | After 7 yrs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 bed | £213,000 | £1,022 | +£275 | Buy £51,292 |
| 2 bed | £330,000 | £1,327 | +£671 | Buy £49,417 |
| 3 bed | £425,000 | £1,573 | +£994 | Buy £42,281 |
| 4+ bed | £518,500 | £2,199 | +£928 | Buy £73,368 |
Average rent and house prices in Harlow
The ONS average private rent in Harlow is £1,521 a month (Aug 2026, provisional), up 4.0% on a year earlier. The median price paid is £332,000 (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 £2,043 a year (Band C) and is paid whether you rent or buy, so it does not change the verdict.
Renting or buying in Harlow: FAQs
Is it cheaper to rent or buy in Harlow?
For a 2-bed home in Harlow, owning costs about £2,168 a month and renting about £1,497, both including council tax. Buying leaves you £49,417 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 Harlow?
The ONS average private rent in Harlow is £1,521 a month across all home sizes (Aug 2026, provisional), with £1,022 for 1 bed, £1,327 for 2 bed, £1,573 for 3 bed, £2,199 for 4 or more bed. Rents rose 4.0% over the past year.
What is the average house price in Harlow?
The median price paid in Harlow is £332,000 (ONS median price paid, year ending Mar 2026). The calculator uses £330,000 for a terraced house, the property type typical for a 2-bed home.
How much is stamp duty on an average home in Harlow?
A first-time buyer paying £330,000 would pay £1,500 in SDLT. With a 10% deposit of £33,000, the cash needed on day one is about £34,500.
What is the price-to-rent ratio in Harlow?
About 20.7: the 2-bed price is 20.7 times a year of rent. Higher ratios favour renting; lower ratios favour buying.
Which home size is best value to buy in Harlow?
On the default assumptions, a 4+-bed home gives buying its strongest position: buying ahead by £73,368 after 7 years.
Areas with a similar price-to-rent ratio
Browse every local authority.