Rent vs buy calculator · England
Rent vs buy in Oxford: is it cheaper to rent or buy?
Buying leaves you £27,180 better off after 7 years. Owning a 2-bed terraced house costs about £3,005 a month, against £1,865 to rent the same size home.
- After 7 years
- Buy +£27,180
- Difference in net wealth
- Monthly cost to own
- £3,005
- Mortgage £2,398, of which £724 is capital
- Monthly cost to rent
- £1,865
- Rent £1,667 plus council tax
- Median price
- £465,000
- terraced house
- Cash needed to buy
- £54,750
- £46,500 deposit + £8,250 SDLT
- Price-to-rent ratio
- 23.2
- Price divided by a year of rent
Renting vs buying in Oxford by home size
| Bedrooms | Price | Rent / mo | Owning vs renting / mo | After 7 yrs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 bed | £323,750 | £1,351 | +£609 | Buy £46,818 |
| 2 bed | £465,000 | £1,667 | +£1,139 | Buy £27,180 |
| 3 bed | £490,000 | £2,034 | +£922 | Buy £60,438 |
| 4+ bed | £800,500 | £2,858 | +£1,958 | Buy £25,205 |
Average rent and house prices in Oxford
The ONS average private rent in Oxford is £1,963 a month (Aug 2026, provisional), up 3.5% on a year earlier. The median price paid is £450,000 (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 £2,381 a year (Band C) and is paid whether you rent or buy, so it does not change the verdict.
Renting or buying in Oxford: FAQs
Is it cheaper to rent or buy in Oxford?
For a 2-bed home in Oxford, owning costs about £3,005 a month and renting about £1,865, both including council tax. Buying leaves you £27,180 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 Oxford?
The ONS average private rent in Oxford is £1,963 a month across all home sizes (Aug 2026, provisional), with £1,351 for 1 bed, £1,667 for 2 bed, £2,034 for 3 bed, £2,858 for 4 or more bed. Rents rose 3.5% over the past year.
What is the average house price in Oxford?
The median price paid in Oxford is £450,000 (ONS median price paid, year ending Mar 2026). The calculator uses £465,000 for a terraced house, the property type typical for a 2-bed home.
How much is stamp duty on an average home in Oxford?
A first-time buyer paying £465,000 would pay £8,250 in SDLT. With a 10% deposit of £46,500, the cash needed on day one is about £54,750.
What is the price-to-rent ratio in Oxford?
About 23.2: the 2-bed price is 23.2 times a year of rent. Higher ratios favour renting; lower ratios favour buying.
Which home size is best value to buy in Oxford?
On the default assumptions, a 3-bed home gives buying its strongest position: buying ahead by £60,438 after 7 years.
How many years until buying pays off in Oxford?
The lead first changes hands in year 3 on the default settings. Staying longer spreads stamp duty and selling costs over more years.
Areas with a similar price-to-rent ratio
Browse every local authority.