Rent vs buy calculator · England
Rent vs buy in Plymouth: is it cheaper to rent or buy?
Buying leaves you £42,431 better off after 7 years. Owning a 2-bed terraced house costs about £1,460 a month, against £1,067 to rent the same size home.
- After 7 years
- Buy +£42,431
- Difference in net wealth
- Monthly cost to own
- £1,460
- Mortgage £1,083, of which £327 is capital
- Monthly cost to rent
- £1,067
- Rent £886 plus council tax
- Median price
- £210,000
- terraced house
- Cash needed to buy
- £21,000
- £21,000 deposit + £0 SDLT
- Price-to-rent ratio
- 19.8
- Price divided by a year of rent
Renting vs buying in Plymouth by home size
| Bedrooms | Price | Rent / mo | Owning vs renting / mo | After 7 yrs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 bed | £135,000 | £705 | +£125 | Buy £42,915 |
| 2 bed | £210,000 | £886 | +£393 | Buy £42,431 |
| 3 bed | £260,000 | £1,065 | +£513 | Buy £49,928 |
| 4+ bed | £390,000 | £1,493 | +£864 | Buy £57,965 |
Average rent and house prices in Plymouth
The ONS average private rent in Plymouth is £1,004 a month (Aug 2026, provisional), up 4.7% on a year earlier. The median price paid is £222,500 (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 £2,171 a year (Band C) and is paid whether you rent or buy, so it does not change the verdict.
Renting or buying in Plymouth: FAQs
Is it cheaper to rent or buy in Plymouth?
For a 2-bed home in Plymouth, owning costs about £1,460 a month and renting about £1,067, both including council tax. Buying leaves you £42,431 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 Plymouth?
The ONS average private rent in Plymouth is £1,004 a month across all home sizes (Aug 2026, provisional), with £705 for 1 bed, £886 for 2 bed, £1,065 for 3 bed, £1,493 for 4 or more bed. Rents rose 4.7% over the past year.
What is the average house price in Plymouth?
The median price paid in Plymouth is £222,500 (ONS median price paid, year ending Mar 2026). The calculator uses £210,000 for a terraced house, the property type typical for a 2-bed home.
How much is stamp duty on an average home in Plymouth?
A first-time buyer paying £210,000 would pay £0 in SDLT. With a 10% deposit of £21,000, the cash needed on day one is about £21,000.
What is the price-to-rent ratio in Plymouth?
About 19.8: the 2-bed price is 19.8 times a year of rent. Higher ratios favour renting; lower ratios favour buying.
Which home size is best value to buy in Plymouth?
On the default assumptions, a 4+-bed home gives buying its strongest position: buying ahead by £57,965 after 7 years.
Areas with a similar price-to-rent ratio
Browse every local authority.