Rent vs buy calculator · England
Rent vs buy in Stevenage: is it cheaper to rent or buy?
Buying leaves you £51,413 better off after 7 years. Owning a 2-bed terraced house costs about £2,205 a month, against £1,498 to rent the same size home.
- After 7 years
- Buy +£51,413
- Difference in net wealth
- Monthly cost to own
- £2,205
- Mortgage £1,728, of which £522 is capital
- Monthly cost to rent
- £1,498
- Rent £1,321 plus council tax
- Median price
- £335,000
- terraced house
- Cash needed to buy
- £35,250
- £33,500 deposit + £1,750 SDLT
- Price-to-rent ratio
- 21.1
- Price divided by a year of rent
Renting vs buying in Stevenage by home size
| Bedrooms | Price | Rent / mo | Owning vs renting / mo | After 7 yrs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 bed | £190,000 | £1,028 | +£131 | Buy £62,358 |
| 2 bed | £335,000 | £1,321 | +£707 | Buy £51,413 |
| 3 bed | £390,000 | £1,551 | +£806 | Buy £58,503 |
| 4+ bed | £555,000 | £2,126 | +£1,219 | Buy £58,264 |
Average rent and house prices in Stevenage
The ONS average private rent in Stevenage is £1,440 a month (Aug 2026, provisional), up 4.4% on a year earlier. The median price paid is £342,250 (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 £2,126 a year (Band C) and is paid whether you rent or buy, so it does not change the verdict.
Renting or buying in Stevenage: FAQs
Is it cheaper to rent or buy in Stevenage?
For a 2-bed home in Stevenage, owning costs about £2,205 a month and renting about £1,498, both including council tax. Buying leaves you £51,413 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 Stevenage?
The ONS average private rent in Stevenage is £1,440 a month across all home sizes (Aug 2026, provisional), with £1,028 for 1 bed, £1,321 for 2 bed, £1,551 for 3 bed, £2,126 for 4 or more bed. Rents rose 4.4% over the past year.
What is the average house price in Stevenage?
The median price paid in Stevenage is £342,250 (ONS median price paid, year ending Mar 2026). The calculator uses £335,000 for a terraced house, the property type typical for a 2-bed home.
How much is stamp duty on an average home in Stevenage?
A first-time buyer paying £335,000 would pay £1,750 in SDLT. With a 10% deposit of £33,500, the cash needed on day one is about £35,250.
What is the price-to-rent ratio in Stevenage?
About 21.1: the 2-bed price is 21.1 times a year of rent. Higher ratios favour renting; lower ratios favour buying.
Which home size is best value to buy in Stevenage?
On the default assumptions, a 1-bed home gives buying its strongest position: buying ahead by £62,358 after 7 years.
Areas with a similar price-to-rent ratio
Browse every local authority.