Rent vs buy calculator · Scotland
Rent vs buy in Stirling: is it cheaper to rent or buy?
Buying leaves you £9,569 better off after 7 years. Owning a 2-bed terraced house costs about £1,453 a month, against £952 to rent the same size home.
- After 7 years
- Buy +£9,569
- Difference in net wealth
- Monthly cost to own
- £1,453
- Mortgage £1,121, of which £338 is capital
- Monthly cost to rent
- £952
- Rent £822 plus council tax
- Median price
- £217,386
- terraced house
- Cash needed to buy
- £22,586
- £21,739 deposit + £848 LBTT
- Price-to-rent ratio
- 22.0
- Price divided by a year of rent
Renting vs buying in Stirling by home size
| Bedrooms | Price | Rent / mo | Owning vs renting / mo | After 7 yrs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 bed | £145,487 | £603 | +£289 | Buy £12,457 |
| 2 bed | £217,386 | £822 | +£501 | Buy £9,569 |
| 3 bed | £258,645 | £1,076 | +£494 | Buy £22,297 |
| 4+ bed | £451,827 | £1,772 | +£955 | Close £8,022 |
Average rent and house prices in Stirling
The ONS average private rent in Stirling is £892 a month (Aug 2026, provisional), up 2.4% on a year earlier. The median price paid is £239,034 (UK HPI local authority average, Jul 2026). Rents here are published for the Forth Valley 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 £1,558 a year (Band C) and is paid whether you rent or buy, so it does not change the verdict.
Renting or buying in Stirling: FAQs
Is it cheaper to rent or buy in Stirling?
For a 2-bed home in Stirling, owning costs about £1,453 a month and renting about £952, both including council tax. Buying leaves you £9,569 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 Stirling?
The ONS average private rent in Stirling is £892 a month across all home sizes (Aug 2026, provisional), with £603 for 1 bed, £822 for 2 bed, £1,076 for 3 bed, £1,772 for 4 or more bed. Rents rose 2.4% over the past year.
What is the average house price in Stirling?
The median price paid in Stirling is £239,034 (UK HPI local authority average, Jul 2026). The calculator uses £217,386 for a terraced house, the property type typical for a 2-bed home.
How much is stamp duty on an average home in Stirling?
A first-time buyer paying £217,386 would pay £848 in LBTT. With a 10% deposit of £21,739, the cash needed on day one is about £22,586.
What is the price-to-rent ratio in Stirling?
About 22.0: the 2-bed price is 22.0 times a year of rent. Higher ratios favour renting; lower ratios favour buying.
Which home size is best value to buy in Stirling?
On the default assumptions, a 3-bed home gives buying its strongest position: buying ahead by £22,297 after 7 years.
How many years until buying pays off in Stirling?
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.