Rent vs buy calculator · England
Rent vs buy in Portsmouth: is it cheaper to rent or buy?
Buying leaves you £29,925 better off after 7 years. Owning a 2-bed terraced house costs about £1,778 a month, against £1,305 to rent the same size home.
- After 7 years
- Buy +£29,925
- Difference in net wealth
- Monthly cost to own
- £1,778
- Mortgage £1,367, of which £413 is capital
- Monthly cost to rent
- £1,305
- Rent £1,135 plus council tax
- Median price
- £265,000
- terraced house
- Cash needed to buy
- £26,500
- £26,500 deposit + £0 SDLT
- Price-to-rent ratio
- 19.5
- Price divided by a year of rent
Renting vs buying in Portsmouth by home size
| Bedrooms | Price | Rent / mo | Owning vs renting / mo | After 7 yrs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 bed | £167,500 | £901 | +£123 | Buy £38,974 |
| 2 bed | £265,000 | £1,135 | +£473 | Buy £29,925 |
| 3 bed | £338,750 | £1,360 | +£690 | Buy £26,228 |
| 4+ bed | £530,000 | £1,961 | +£1,235 | Close £3,973 |
Average rent and house prices in Portsmouth
The ONS average private rent in Portsmouth is £1,368 a month (Aug 2026, provisional), up 2.4% on a year earlier. The median price paid is £260,000 (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 £2,037 a year (Band C) and is paid whether you rent or buy, so it does not change the verdict.
Renting or buying in Portsmouth: FAQs
Is it cheaper to rent or buy in Portsmouth?
For a 2-bed home in Portsmouth, owning costs about £1,778 a month and renting about £1,305, both including council tax. Buying leaves you £29,925 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 Portsmouth?
The ONS average private rent in Portsmouth is £1,368 a month across all home sizes (Aug 2026, provisional), with £901 for 1 bed, £1,135 for 2 bed, £1,360 for 3 bed, £1,961 for 4 or more bed. Rents rose 2.4% over the past year.
What is the average house price in Portsmouth?
The median price paid in Portsmouth is £260,000 (ONS median price paid, year ending Mar 2026). The calculator uses £265,000 for a terraced house, the property type typical for a 2-bed home.
How much is stamp duty on an average home in Portsmouth?
A first-time buyer paying £265,000 would pay £0 in SDLT. With a 10% deposit of £26,500, the cash needed on day one is about £26,500.
What is the price-to-rent ratio in Portsmouth?
About 19.5: the 2-bed price is 19.5 times a year of rent. Higher ratios favour renting; lower ratios favour buying.
Which home size is best value to buy in Portsmouth?
On the default assumptions, a 1-bed home gives buying its strongest position: buying ahead by £38,974 after 7 years.
How many years until buying pays off in Portsmouth?
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
Browse every local authority.