Rent vs buy calculator · England
Rent vs buy in Sheffield: is it cheaper to rent or buy?
Buying leaves you £39,028 better off after 7 years. Owning a 2-bed terraced house costs about £1,351 a month, against £1,026 to rent the same size home.
- After 7 years
- Buy +£39,028
- Difference in net wealth
- Monthly cost to own
- £1,351
- Mortgage £985, of which £297 is capital
- Monthly cost to rent
- £1,026
- Rent £840 plus council tax
- Median price
- £191,000
- terraced house
- Cash needed to buy
- £19,100
- £19,100 deposit + £0 SDLT
- Price-to-rent ratio
- 18.9
- Price divided by a year of rent
Renting vs buying in Sheffield by home size
| Bedrooms | Price | Rent / mo | Owning vs renting / mo | After 7 yrs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 bed | £140,000 | £690 | +£169 | Buy £36,978 |
| 2 bed | £191,000 | £840 | +£325 | Buy £39,028 |
| 3 bed | £220,000 | £967 | +£372 | Buy £45,432 |
| 4+ bed | £375,000 | £1,339 | +£928 | Buy £38,269 |
Average rent and house prices in Sheffield
The ONS average private rent in Sheffield is £931 a month (Aug 2026, provisional), up 4.3% on a year earlier. The median price paid is £215,000 (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 £2,231 a year (Band C) and is paid whether you rent or buy, so it does not change the verdict.
Renting or buying in Sheffield: FAQs
Is it cheaper to rent or buy in Sheffield?
For a 2-bed home in Sheffield, owning costs about £1,351 a month and renting about £1,026, both including council tax. Buying leaves you £39,028 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 Sheffield?
The ONS average private rent in Sheffield is £931 a month across all home sizes (Aug 2026, provisional), with £690 for 1 bed, £840 for 2 bed, £967 for 3 bed, £1,339 for 4 or more bed. Rents rose 4.3% over the past year.
What is the average house price in Sheffield?
The median price paid in Sheffield is £215,000 (ONS median price paid, year ending Mar 2026). The calculator uses £191,000 for a terraced house, the property type typical for a 2-bed home.
How much is stamp duty on an average home in Sheffield?
A first-time buyer paying £191,000 would pay £0 in SDLT. With a 10% deposit of £19,100, the cash needed on day one is about £19,100.
What is the price-to-rent ratio in Sheffield?
About 18.9: the 2-bed price is 18.9 times a year of rent. Higher ratios favour renting; lower ratios favour buying.
Which home size is best value to buy in Sheffield?
On the default assumptions, a 3-bed home gives buying its strongest position: buying ahead by £45,432 after 7 years.
Areas with a similar price-to-rent ratio
Browse every local authority.