Rent vs buy calculator · England
Rent vs buy in Lewes: is it cheaper to rent or buy?
Buying leaves you £56,653 better off after 7 years. Owning a 2-bed terraced house costs about £2,322 a month, against £1,421 to rent the same size home.
- After 7 years
- Buy +£56,653
- Difference in net wealth
- Monthly cost to own
- £2,322
- Mortgage £1,805, of which £545 is capital
- Monthly cost to rent
- £1,421
- Rent £1,217 plus council tax
- Median price
- £350,000
- terraced house
- Cash needed to buy
- £37,500
- £35,000 deposit + £2,500 SDLT
- Price-to-rent ratio
- 24.0
- Price divided by a year of rent
Renting vs buying in Lewes by home size
| Bedrooms | Price | Rent / mo | Owning vs renting / mo | After 7 yrs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 bed | £224,000 | £924 | +£439 | Buy £54,759 |
| 2 bed | £350,000 | £1,217 | +£900 | Buy £56,653 |
| 3 bed | £385,000 | £1,506 | +£821 | Buy £81,217 |
| 4+ bed | £485,000 | £2,170 | +£756 | Buy £131,409 |
Average rent and house prices in Lewes
The ONS average private rent in Lewes is £1,333 a month (Aug 2026, provisional), up 5.9% on a year earlier. The median price paid is £380,000 (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 £2,450 a year (Band C) and is paid whether you rent or buy, so it does not change the verdict.
Renting or buying in Lewes: FAQs
Is it cheaper to rent or buy in Lewes?
For a 2-bed home in Lewes, owning costs about £2,322 a month and renting about £1,421, both including council tax. Buying leaves you £56,653 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 Lewes?
The ONS average private rent in Lewes is £1,333 a month across all home sizes (Aug 2026, provisional), with £924 for 1 bed, £1,217 for 2 bed, £1,506 for 3 bed, £2,170 for 4 or more bed. Rents rose 5.9% over the past year.
What is the average house price in Lewes?
The median price paid in Lewes is £380,000 (ONS median price paid, year ending Mar 2026). The calculator uses £350,000 for a terraced house, the property type typical for a 2-bed home.
How much is stamp duty on an average home in Lewes?
A first-time buyer paying £350,000 would pay £2,500 in SDLT. With a 10% deposit of £35,000, the cash needed on day one is about £37,500.
What is the price-to-rent ratio in Lewes?
About 24.0: the 2-bed price is 24.0 times a year of rent. Higher ratios favour renting; lower ratios favour buying.
Which home size is best value to buy in Lewes?
On the default assumptions, a 4+-bed home gives buying its strongest position: buying ahead by £131,409 after 7 years.
Areas with a similar price-to-rent ratio
Browse every local authority.