Rent vs buy calculator · Scotland
Rent vs buy in South Lanarkshire: is it cheaper to rent or buy?
Buying leaves you £13,699 better off after 7 years. Owning a 2-bed terraced house costs about £1,114 a month, against £850 to rent the same size home.
- After 7 years
- Buy +£13,699
- Difference in net wealth
- Monthly cost to own
- £1,114
- Mortgage £848, of which £256 is capital
- Monthly cost to rent
- £850
- Rent £741 plus council tax
- Median price
- £164,407
- terraced house
- Cash needed to buy
- £16,441
- £16,441 deposit + £0 LBTT
- Price-to-rent ratio
- 18.5
- Price divided by a year of rent
Renting vs buying in South Lanarkshire by home size
| Bedrooms | Price | Rent / mo | Owning vs renting / mo | After 7 yrs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 bed | £104,617 | £554 | +£94 | Buy £17,293 |
| 2 bed | £164,407 | £741 | +£265 | Buy £13,699 |
| 3 bed | £224,101 | £976 | +£387 | Buy £14,377 |
| 4+ bed | £380,724 | £1,704 | +£597 | Buy £19,213 |
Average rent and house prices in South Lanarkshire
The ONS average private rent in South Lanarkshire is £893 a month (Aug 2026, provisional), up 1.3% on a year earlier. The median price paid is £185,267 (UK HPI local authority average, Jul 2026). Rents here are published for the South Lanarkshire 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 £1,305 a year (Band C) and is paid whether you rent or buy, so it does not change the verdict.
Renting or buying in South Lanarkshire: FAQs
Is it cheaper to rent or buy in South Lanarkshire?
For a 2-bed home in South Lanarkshire, owning costs about £1,114 a month and renting about £850, both including council tax. Buying leaves you £13,699 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 Lanarkshire?
The ONS average private rent in South Lanarkshire is £893 a month across all home sizes (Aug 2026, provisional), with £554 for 1 bed, £741 for 2 bed, £976 for 3 bed, £1,704 for 4 or more bed. Rents rose 1.3% over the past year.
What is the average house price in South Lanarkshire?
The median price paid in South Lanarkshire is £185,267 (UK HPI local authority average, Jul 2026). The calculator uses £164,407 for a terraced house, the property type typical for a 2-bed home.
How much is stamp duty on an average home in South Lanarkshire?
A first-time buyer paying £164,407 would pay £0 in LBTT. With a 10% deposit of £16,441, the cash needed on day one is about £16,441.
What is the price-to-rent ratio in South Lanarkshire?
About 18.5: the 2-bed price is 18.5 times a year of rent. Higher ratios favour renting; lower ratios favour buying.
Which home size is best value to buy in South Lanarkshire?
On the default assumptions, a 4+-bed home gives buying its strongest position: buying ahead by £19,213 after 7 years.
How many years until buying pays off in South Lanarkshire?
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.