Rent vs buy calculator · England
Rent vs buy in Southampton: is it cheaper to rent or buy?
Buying leaves you £40,133 better off after 7 years. Owning a 2-bed terraced house costs about £1,755 a month, against £1,290 to rent the same size home.
- After 7 years
- Buy +£40,133
- Difference in net wealth
- Monthly cost to own
- £1,755
- Mortgage £1,341, of which £405 is capital
- Monthly cost to rent
- £1,290
- Rent £1,114 plus council tax
- Median price
- £260,000
- terraced house
- Cash needed to buy
- £26,000
- £26,000 deposit + £0 SDLT
- Price-to-rent ratio
- 19.4
- Price divided by a year of rent
Renting vs buying in Southampton by home size
| Bedrooms | Price | Rent / mo | Owning vs renting / mo | After 7 yrs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 bed | £160,000 | £881 | +£98 | Buy £46,581 |
| 2 bed | £260,000 | £1,114 | +£464 | Buy £40,133 |
| 3 bed | £300,000 | £1,357 | +£461 | Buy £55,558 |
| 4+ bed | £385,000 | £1,890 | +£437 | Buy £83,750 |
Average rent and house prices in Southampton
The ONS average private rent in Southampton is £1,257 a month (Aug 2026, provisional), up 3.4% on a year earlier. The median price paid is £260,000 (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 £2,117 a year (Band C) and is paid whether you rent or buy, so it does not change the verdict.
Renting or buying in Southampton: FAQs
Is it cheaper to rent or buy in Southampton?
For a 2-bed home in Southampton, owning costs about £1,755 a month and renting about £1,290, both including council tax. Buying leaves you £40,133 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 Southampton?
The ONS average private rent in Southampton is £1,257 a month across all home sizes (Aug 2026, provisional), with £881 for 1 bed, £1,114 for 2 bed, £1,357 for 3 bed, £1,890 for 4 or more bed. Rents rose 3.4% over the past year.
What is the average house price in Southampton?
The median price paid in Southampton is £260,000 (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 Southampton?
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 Southampton?
About 19.4: the 2-bed price is 19.4 times a year of rent. Higher ratios favour renting; lower ratios favour buying.
Which home size is best value to buy in Southampton?
On the default assumptions, a 4+-bed home gives buying its strongest position: buying ahead by £83,750 after 7 years.
Areas with a similar price-to-rent ratio
Browse every local authority.