Rent vs buy calculator · England
Rent vs buy in South West: is it cheaper to rent or buy?
Buying leaves you £45,841 better off after 7 years. Owning a 2-bed terraced house costs about £1,767 a month, against £1,254 to rent the same size home.
- After 7 years
- Buy +£45,841
- Difference in net wealth
- Monthly cost to own
- £1,767
- Mortgage £1,341, of which £405 is capital
- Monthly cost to rent
- £1,254
- Rent £1,065 plus council tax
- Median price
- £260,000
- terraced house
- Cash needed to buy
- £26,000
- £26,000 deposit + £0 SDLT
- Price-to-rent ratio
- 20.3
- Price divided by a year of rent
Renting vs buying in South West by home size
| Bedrooms | Price | Rent / mo | Owning vs renting / mo | After 7 yrs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 bed | £182,500 | £830 | +£284 | Buy £40,884 |
| 2 bed | £260,000 | £1,065 | +£513 | Buy £45,841 |
| 3 bed | £305,000 | £1,297 | +£551 | Buy £60,031 |
| 4+ bed | £450,000 | £1,872 | +£844 | Buy £75,100 |
Average rent and house prices in South West
The ONS average private rent in South West is £1,245 a month (Aug 2026, provisional), up 4.4% on a year earlier. The median price paid is £307,500 (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 £2,267 a year (Band C) and is paid whether you rent or buy, so it does not change the verdict.
Renting or buying in South West: FAQs
Is it cheaper to rent or buy in South West?
For a 2-bed home in South West, owning costs about £1,767 a month and renting about £1,254, both including council tax. Buying leaves you £45,841 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 West?
The ONS average private rent in South West is £1,245 a month across all home sizes (Aug 2026, provisional), with £830 for 1 bed, £1,065 for 2 bed, £1,297 for 3 bed, £1,872 for 4 or more bed. Rents rose 4.4% over the past year.
What is the average house price in South West?
The median price paid in South West is £307,500 (ONS median price paid, year ending Mar 2026). The calculator uses £260,000 for a terraced house, the property type typical for a 2-bed home.
How much is stamp duty on an average home in South West?
A first-time buyer paying £260,000 would pay £0 in SDLT. With a 10% deposit of £26,000, the cash needed on day one is about £26,000.
What is the price-to-rent ratio in South West?
About 20.3: the 2-bed price is 20.3 times a year of rent. Higher ratios favour renting; lower ratios favour buying.
Which home size is best value to buy in South West?
On the default assumptions, a 4+-bed home gives buying its strongest position: buying ahead by £75,100 after 7 years.
Areas with a similar price-to-rent ratio
Browse every local authority.