Rent vs buy calculator · England
Rent vs buy in Leeds: is it cheaper to rent or buy?
Buying leaves you £52,484 better off after 7 years. Owning a 2-bed terraced house costs about £1,372 a month, against £1,144 to rent the same size home.
- After 7 years
- Buy +£52,484
- Difference in net wealth
- Monthly cost to own
- £1,372
- Mortgage £1,017, of which £307 is capital
- Monthly cost to rent
- £1,144
- Rent £975 plus council tax
- Median price
- £197,250
- terraced house
- Cash needed to buy
- £19,725
- £19,725 deposit + £0 SDLT
- Price-to-rent ratio
- 16.9
- Price divided by a year of rent
Renting vs buying in Leeds by home size
| Bedrooms | Price | Rent / mo | Owning vs renting / mo | After 7 yrs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 bed | £150,000 | £782 | +£137 | Buy £44,247 |
| 2 bed | £197,250 | £975 | +£227 | Buy £52,484 |
| 3 bed | £260,000 | £1,138 | +£440 | Buy £52,871 |
| 4+ bed | £425,000 | £1,690 | +£877 | Buy £59,765 |
Average rent and house prices in Leeds
The ONS average private rent in Leeds is £1,145 a month (Aug 2026, provisional), up 4.2% on a year earlier. The median price paid is £245,000 (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 £2,030 a year (Band C) and is paid whether you rent or buy, so it does not change the verdict.
Renting or buying in Leeds: FAQs
Is it cheaper to rent or buy in Leeds?
For a 2-bed home in Leeds, owning costs about £1,372 a month and renting about £1,144, both including council tax. Buying leaves you £52,484 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 Leeds?
The ONS average private rent in Leeds is £1,145 a month across all home sizes (Aug 2026, provisional), with £782 for 1 bed, £975 for 2 bed, £1,138 for 3 bed, £1,690 for 4 or more bed. Rents rose 4.2% over the past year.
What is the average house price in Leeds?
The median price paid in Leeds is £245,000 (ONS median price paid, year ending Mar 2026). The calculator uses £197,250 for a terraced house, the property type typical for a 2-bed home.
How much is stamp duty on an average home in Leeds?
A first-time buyer paying £197,250 would pay £0 in SDLT. With a 10% deposit of £19,725, the cash needed on day one is about £19,725.
What is the price-to-rent ratio in Leeds?
About 16.9: the 2-bed price is 16.9 times a year of rent. Higher ratios favour renting; lower ratios favour buying.
Which home size is best value to buy in Leeds?
On the default assumptions, a 4+-bed home gives buying its strongest position: buying ahead by £59,765 after 7 years.
Areas with a similar price-to-rent ratio
Browse every local authority.