Rent vs buy calculator · England
Rent vs buy in Islington: is it cheaper to rent or buy?
Renting leaves you £143,449 better off after 7 years. Owning a 2-bed terraced house costs about £9,091 a month, against £2,853 to rent the same size home.
- After 7 years
- Rent +£143,449
- Difference in net wealth
- Monthly cost to own
- £9,091
- Mortgage £7,674, of which £2,317 is capital
- Monthly cost to rent
- £2,853
- Rent £2,697 plus council tax
- Median price
- £1,488,028
- terraced house
- Cash needed to buy
- £241,356
- £148,803 deposit + £92,553 SDLT
- Price-to-rent ratio
- 46.0
- Price divided by a year of rent
Renting vs buying in Islington by home size
| Bedrooms | Price | Rent / mo | Owning vs renting / mo | After 7 yrs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 bed | £589,500 | £2,178 | +£1,374 | Buy £99,053 |
| 2 bed | £1,488,028 | £2,697 | +£6,238 | Rent £143,449 |
| 3 bed | £2,077,500 | £3,005 | +£9,461 | Rent £339,745 |
| 4+ bed | £2,180,000 | £4,229 | +£8,851 | Rent £232,722 |
Average rent and house prices in Islington
The ONS average private rent in Islington is £2,868 a month (Aug 2026, provisional), up 6.2% on a year earlier. The median price paid is £669,772 (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 £1,874 a year (Band C) and is paid whether you rent or buy, so it does not change the verdict.
Renting or buying in Islington: FAQs
Is it cheaper to rent or buy in Islington?
For a 2-bed home in Islington, owning costs about £9,091 a month and renting about £2,853, both including council tax. Renting leaves you £143,449 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 Islington?
The ONS average private rent in Islington is £2,868 a month across all home sizes (Aug 2026, provisional), with £2,178 for 1 bed, £2,697 for 2 bed, £3,005 for 3 bed, £4,229 for 4 or more bed. Rents rose 6.2% over the past year.
What is the average house price in Islington?
The median price paid in Islington is £669,772 (ONS median price paid, year ending Mar 2026). The calculator uses £1,488,028 for a terraced house, the property type typical for a 2-bed home.
How much is stamp duty on an average home in Islington?
A first-time buyer paying £1,488,028 would pay £92,553 in SDLT. With a 10% deposit of £148,803, the cash needed on day one is about £241,356.
What is the price-to-rent ratio in Islington?
About 46.0: the 2-bed price is 46.0 times a year of rent. Higher ratios favour renting; lower ratios favour buying.
Which home size is best value to buy in Islington?
On the default assumptions, a 1-bed home gives buying its strongest position: buying ahead by £99,053 after 7 years.
Areas with a similar price-to-rent ratio
Browse every local authority.