Rent vs buy calculator · Wales
Rent vs buy in Swansea: is it cheaper to rent or buy?
Buying leaves you £58,367 better off after 7 years. Owning a 2-bed terraced house costs about £1,121 a month, against £963 to rent the same size home.
- After 7 years
- Buy +£58,367
- Difference in net wealth
- Monthly cost to own
- £1,121
- Mortgage £804, of which £243 is capital
- Monthly cost to rent
- £963
- Rent £797 plus council tax
- Median price
- £156,000
- terraced house
- Cash needed to buy
- £15,600
- £15,600 deposit + £0 LTT
- Price-to-rent ratio
- 16.3
- Price divided by a year of rent
Renting vs buying in Swansea by home size
| Bedrooms | Price | Rent / mo | Owning vs renting / mo | After 7 yrs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 bed | £126,000 | £688 | +£88 | Buy £52,238 |
| 2 bed | £156,000 | £797 | +£158 | Buy £58,367 |
| 3 bed | £210,000 | £897 | +£382 | Buy £57,399 |
| 4+ bed | £343,500 | £1,275 | +£804 | Buy £62,411 |
Average rent and house prices in Swansea
The ONS average private rent in Swansea is £852 a month (Aug 2026, provisional), up 6.2% on a year earlier. The median price paid is £205,000 (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 £1,990 a year (Band C) and is paid whether you rent or buy, so it does not change the verdict.
Renting or buying in Swansea: FAQs
Is it cheaper to rent or buy in Swansea?
For a 2-bed home in Swansea, owning costs about £1,121 a month and renting about £963, both including council tax. Buying leaves you £58,367 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 Swansea?
The ONS average private rent in Swansea is £852 a month across all home sizes (Aug 2026, provisional), with £688 for 1 bed, £797 for 2 bed, £897 for 3 bed, £1,275 for 4 or more bed. Rents rose 6.2% over the past year.
What is the average house price in Swansea?
The median price paid in Swansea is £205,000 (ONS median price paid, year ending Mar 2026). The calculator uses £156,000 for a terraced house, the property type typical for a 2-bed home.
How much is stamp duty on an average home in Swansea?
A first-time buyer paying £156,000 would pay £0 in LTT. With a 10% deposit of £15,600, the cash needed on day one is about £15,600.
What is the price-to-rent ratio in Swansea?
About 16.3: the 2-bed price is 16.3 times a year of rent. Higher ratios favour renting; lower ratios favour buying.
Which home size is best value to buy in Swansea?
On the default assumptions, a 4+-bed home gives buying its strongest position: buying ahead by £62,411 after 7 years.
Areas with a similar price-to-rent ratio
Compare with the Wales average or browse every local authority.