Rent vs buy calculator · Scotland
Rent vs buy in North Ayrshire: is it cheaper to rent or buy?
Buying leaves you £14,602 better off after 7 years. Owning a 2-bed terraced house costs about £938 a month, against £720 to rent the same size home.
- After 7 years
- Buy +£14,602
- Difference in net wealth
- Monthly cost to own
- £938
- Mortgage £682, of which £206 is capital
- Monthly cost to rent
- £720
- Rent £595 plus council tax
- Median price
- £132,307
- terraced house
- Cash needed to buy
- £13,231
- £13,231 deposit + £0 LBTT
- Price-to-rent ratio
- 18.5
- Price divided by a year of rent
Renting vs buying in North Ayrshire by home size
| Bedrooms | Price | Rent / mo | Owning vs renting / mo | After 7 yrs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 bed | £89,912 | £460 | +£99 | Buy £15,620 |
| 2 bed | £132,307 | £595 | +£218 | Buy £14,602 |
| 3 bed | £168,641 | £778 | +£253 | Buy £21,548 |
| 4+ bed | £284,311 | £1,285 | +£439 | Buy £30,953 |
Average rent and house prices in North Ayrshire
The ONS average private rent in North Ayrshire is £643 a month (Aug 2026, provisional), up 2.0% on a year earlier. The median price paid is £143,560 (UK HPI local authority average, Jul 2026). Rents here are published for the Ayrshires BRMA Broad Rental Market Area.
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 £1,499 a year (Band C) and is paid whether you rent or buy, so it does not change the verdict.
Renting or buying in North Ayrshire: FAQs
Is it cheaper to rent or buy in North Ayrshire?
For a 2-bed home in North Ayrshire, owning costs about £938 a month and renting about £720, both including council tax. Buying leaves you £14,602 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 North Ayrshire?
The ONS average private rent in North Ayrshire is £643 a month across all home sizes (Aug 2026, provisional), with £460 for 1 bed, £595 for 2 bed, £778 for 3 bed, £1,285 for 4 or more bed. Rents rose 2.0% over the past year.
What is the average house price in North Ayrshire?
The median price paid in North Ayrshire is £143,560 (UK HPI local authority average, Jul 2026). The calculator uses £132,307 for a terraced house, the property type typical for a 2-bed home.
How much is stamp duty on an average home in North Ayrshire?
A first-time buyer paying £132,307 would pay £0 in LBTT. With a 10% deposit of £13,231, the cash needed on day one is about £13,231.
What is the price-to-rent ratio in North Ayrshire?
About 18.5: the 2-bed price is 18.5 times a year of rent. Higher ratios favour renting; lower ratios favour buying.
Which home size is best value to buy in North Ayrshire?
On the default assumptions, a 4+-bed home gives buying its strongest position: buying ahead by £30,953 after 7 years.
How many years until buying pays off in North Ayrshire?
The lead first changes hands in year 2 on the default settings. Staying longer spreads stamp duty and selling costs over more years.
Areas with a similar price-to-rent ratio
Compare with the Scotland average or browse every local authority.