Rent vs buy calculator · Scotland
Rent vs buy in South Ayrshire: is it cheaper to rent or buy?
Buying leaves you £6,585 better off after 7 years. Owning a 2-bed terraced house costs about £1,061 a month, against £721 to rent the same size home.
- After 7 years
- Buy +£6,585
- Difference in net wealth
- Monthly cost to own
- £1,061
- Mortgage £787, of which £238 is capital
- Monthly cost to rent
- £721
- Rent £595 plus council tax
- Median price
- £152,656
- terraced house
- Cash needed to buy
- £15,266
- £15,266 deposit + £0 LBTT
- Price-to-rent ratio
- 21.4
- Price divided by a year of rent
Renting vs buying in South Ayrshire by home size
| Bedrooms | Price | Rent / mo | Owning vs renting / mo | After 7 yrs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 bed | £100,297 | £460 | +£162 | Buy £11,529 |
| 2 bed | £152,656 | £595 | +£340 | Buy £6,585 |
| 3 bed | £201,592 | £778 | +£450 | Buy £7,807 |
| 4+ bed | £317,426 | £1,285 | +£637 | Buy £16,004 |
Average rent and house prices in South Ayrshire
The ONS average private rent in South Ayrshire is £643 a month (Aug 2026, provisional), up 2.0% on a year earlier. The median price paid is £171,905 (UK HPI local authority average, Jul 2026). Rents here are published for the Ayrshires BRMA Broad Rental Market Area.
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 £1,507 a year (Band C) and is paid whether you rent or buy, so it does not change the verdict.
Renting or buying in South Ayrshire: FAQs
Is it cheaper to rent or buy in South Ayrshire?
For a 2-bed home in South Ayrshire, owning costs about £1,061 a month and renting about £721, both including council tax. Buying leaves you £6,585 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 South Ayrshire?
The ONS average private rent in South Ayrshire is £643 a month across all home sizes (Aug 2026, provisional), with £460 for 1 bed, £595 for 2 bed, £778 for 3 bed, £1,285 for 4 or more bed. Rents rose 2.0% over the past year.
What is the average house price in South Ayrshire?
The median price paid in South Ayrshire is £171,905 (UK HPI local authority average, Jul 2026). The calculator uses £152,656 for a terraced house, the property type typical for a 2-bed home.
How much is stamp duty on an average home in South Ayrshire?
A first-time buyer paying £152,656 would pay £0 in LBTT. With a 10% deposit of £15,266, the cash needed on day one is about £15,266.
What is the price-to-rent ratio in South Ayrshire?
About 21.4: the 2-bed price is 21.4 times a year of rent. Higher ratios favour renting; lower ratios favour buying.
Which home size is best value to buy in South Ayrshire?
On the default assumptions, a 4+-bed home gives buying its strongest position: buying ahead by £16,004 after 7 years.
How many years until buying pays off in South Ayrshire?
The lead first changes hands in year 3 on the default settings. Staying longer spreads stamp duty and selling costs over more years.
Areas with a similar price-to-rent ratio
Compare with the Scotland average or browse every local authority.