Rent vs buy calculator · England
Rent vs buy in South Cambridgeshire: is it cheaper to rent or buy?
Buying leaves you £33,916 better off after 7 years. Owning a 2-bed terraced house costs about £2,196 a month, against £1,469 to rent the same size home.
- After 7 years
- Buy +£33,916
- Difference in net wealth
- Monthly cost to own
- £2,196
- Mortgage £1,711, of which £517 is capital
- Monthly cost to rent
- £1,469
- Rent £1,281 plus council tax
- Median price
- £331,750
- terraced house
- Cash needed to buy
- £34,763
- £33,175 deposit + £1,588 SDLT
- Price-to-rent ratio
- 21.6
- Price divided by a year of rent
Renting vs buying in South Cambridgeshire by home size
| Bedrooms | Price | Rent / mo | Owning vs renting / mo | After 7 yrs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 bed | £247,500 | £1,010 | +£493 | Buy £32,188 |
| 2 bed | £331,750 | £1,281 | +£727 | Buy £33,916 |
| 3 bed | £385,000 | £1,530 | +£797 | Buy £41,613 |
| 4+ bed | £600,000 | £2,148 | +£1,467 | Buy £19,332 |
Average rent and house prices in South Cambridgeshire
The ONS average private rent in South Cambridgeshire is £1,408 a month (Aug 2026, provisional), up 3.4% on a year earlier. The median price paid is £430,000 (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 £2,254 a year (Band C) and is paid whether you rent or buy, so it does not change the verdict.
Renting or buying in South Cambridgeshire: FAQs
Is it cheaper to rent or buy in South Cambridgeshire?
For a 2-bed home in South Cambridgeshire, owning costs about £2,196 a month and renting about £1,469, both including council tax. Buying leaves you £33,916 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 Cambridgeshire?
The ONS average private rent in South Cambridgeshire is £1,408 a month across all home sizes (Aug 2026, provisional), with £1,010 for 1 bed, £1,281 for 2 bed, £1,530 for 3 bed, £2,148 for 4 or more bed. Rents rose 3.4% over the past year.
What is the average house price in South Cambridgeshire?
The median price paid in South Cambridgeshire is £430,000 (ONS median price paid, year ending Mar 2026). The calculator uses £331,750 for a terraced house, the property type typical for a 2-bed home.
How much is stamp duty on an average home in South Cambridgeshire?
A first-time buyer paying £331,750 would pay £1,588 in SDLT. With a 10% deposit of £33,175, the cash needed on day one is about £34,763.
What is the price-to-rent ratio in South Cambridgeshire?
About 21.6: the 2-bed price is 21.6 times a year of rent. Higher ratios favour renting; lower ratios favour buying.
Which home size is best value to buy in South Cambridgeshire?
On the default assumptions, a 3-bed home gives buying its strongest position: buying ahead by £41,613 after 7 years.
How many years until buying pays off in South Cambridgeshire?
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.