Rent vs buy calculator · England
Rent vs buy in Somerset: is it cheaper to rent or buy?
Buying leaves you £54,729 better off after 7 years. Owning a 2-bed terraced house costs about £1,588 a month, against £1,103 to rent the same size home.
- After 7 years
- Buy +£54,729
- Difference in net wealth
- Monthly cost to own
- £1,588
- Mortgage £1,186, of which £358 is capital
- Monthly cost to rent
- £1,103
- Rent £913 plus council tax
- Median price
- £230,000
- terraced house
- Cash needed to buy
- £23,000
- £23,000 deposit + £0 SDLT
- Price-to-rent ratio
- 21.0
- Price divided by a year of rent
Renting vs buying in Somerset by home size
| Bedrooms | Price | Rent / mo | Owning vs renting / mo | After 7 yrs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 bed | £141,500 | £692 | +£176 | Buy £48,829 |
| 2 bed | £230,000 | £913 | +£486 | Buy £54,729 |
| 3 bed | £275,000 | £1,135 | +£533 | Buy £71,859 |
| 4+ bed | £425,000 | £1,619 | +£948 | Buy £87,525 |
Average rent and house prices in Somerset
The ONS average private rent in Somerset is £1,016 a month (Aug 2026, provisional), up 6.2% on a year earlier. The median price paid is £280,000 (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 £2,276 a year (Band C) and is paid whether you rent or buy, so it does not change the verdict.
Renting or buying in Somerset: FAQs
Is it cheaper to rent or buy in Somerset?
For a 2-bed home in Somerset, owning costs about £1,588 a month and renting about £1,103, both including council tax. Buying leaves you £54,729 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 Somerset?
The ONS average private rent in Somerset is £1,016 a month across all home sizes (Aug 2026, provisional), with £692 for 1 bed, £913 for 2 bed, £1,135 for 3 bed, £1,619 for 4 or more bed. Rents rose 6.2% over the past year.
What is the average house price in Somerset?
The median price paid in Somerset is £280,000 (ONS median price paid, year ending Mar 2026). The calculator uses £230,000 for a terraced house, the property type typical for a 2-bed home.
How much is stamp duty on an average home in Somerset?
A first-time buyer paying £230,000 would pay £0 in SDLT. With a 10% deposit of £23,000, the cash needed on day one is about £23,000.
What is the price-to-rent ratio in Somerset?
About 21.0: the 2-bed price is 21.0 times a year of rent. Higher ratios favour renting; lower ratios favour buying.
Which home size is best value to buy in Somerset?
On the default assumptions, a 4+-bed home gives buying its strongest position: buying ahead by £87,525 after 7 years.
Areas with a similar price-to-rent ratio
Browse every local authority.