Rent vs buy calculator · England
Rent vs buy in Slough: is it cheaper to rent or buy?
Renting and buying finish within £4,010 of each other after 7 years: too close to call. Owning a 2-bed terraced house costs about £2,596 a month, against £1,604 to rent the same size home.
- After 7 years
- Close +£4,010
- Difference in net wealth
- Monthly cost to own
- £2,596
- Mortgage £2,063, of which £623 is capital
- Monthly cost to rent
- £1,604
- Rent £1,425 plus council tax
- Median price
- £400,000
- terraced house
- Cash needed to buy
- £45,000
- £40,000 deposit + £5,000 SDLT
- Price-to-rent ratio
- 23.4
- Price divided by a year of rent
Renting vs buying in Slough by home size
| Bedrooms | Price | Rent / mo | Owning vs renting / mo | After 7 yrs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 bed | £230,000 | £1,142 | +£257 | Buy £41,688 |
| 2 bed | £400,000 | £1,425 | +£992 | Close £4,010 |
| 3 bed | £475,000 | £1,712 | +£1,154 | Close £3,705 |
| 4+ bed | £617,500 | £2,436 | +£1,284 | Buy £16,027 |
Average rent and house prices in Slough
The ONS average private rent in Slough is £1,565 a month (Aug 2026, provisional), up 2.2% on a year earlier. The median price paid is £390,000 (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 £2,146 a year (Band C) and is paid whether you rent or buy, so it does not change the verdict.
Renting or buying in Slough: FAQs
Is it cheaper to rent or buy in Slough?
For a 2-bed home in Slough, owning costs about £2,596 a month and renting about £1,604, both including council tax. Renting and buying finish within £4,010 of each other after 7 years: too close to call. 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 Slough?
The ONS average private rent in Slough is £1,565 a month across all home sizes (Aug 2026, provisional), with £1,142 for 1 bed, £1,425 for 2 bed, £1,712 for 3 bed, £2,436 for 4 or more bed. Rents rose 2.2% over the past year.
What is the average house price in Slough?
The median price paid in Slough is £390,000 (ONS median price paid, year ending Mar 2026). The calculator uses £400,000 for a terraced house, the property type typical for a 2-bed home.
How much is stamp duty on an average home in Slough?
A first-time buyer paying £400,000 would pay £5,000 in SDLT. With a 10% deposit of £40,000, the cash needed on day one is about £45,000.
What is the price-to-rent ratio in Slough?
About 23.4: the 2-bed price is 23.4 times a year of rent. Higher ratios favour renting; lower ratios favour buying.
Which home size is best value to buy in Slough?
On the default assumptions, a 1-bed home gives buying its strongest position: buying ahead by £41,688 after 7 years.
How many years until buying pays off in Slough?
The lead first changes hands in year 6 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.