Rent vs buy calculator · England
Rent vs buy in Swindon: is it cheaper to rent or buy?
Buying leaves you £42,473 better off after 7 years. Owning a 2-bed terraced house costs about £1,669 a month, against £1,168 to rent the same size home.
- After 7 years
- Buy +£42,473
- Difference in net wealth
- Monthly cost to own
- £1,669
- Mortgage £1,263, of which £381 is capital
- Monthly cost to rent
- £1,168
- Rent £987 plus council tax
- Median price
- £245,000
- terraced house
- Cash needed to buy
- £24,500
- £24,500 deposit + £0 SDLT
- Price-to-rent ratio
- 20.7
- Price divided by a year of rent
Renting vs buying in Swindon by home size
| Bedrooms | Price | Rent / mo | Owning vs renting / mo | After 7 yrs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 bed | £146,000 | £820 | +£75 | Buy £52,179 |
| 2 bed | £245,000 | £987 | +£501 | Buy £42,473 |
| 3 bed | £300,000 | £1,218 | +£600 | Buy £54,329 |
| 4+ bed | £430,000 | £1,656 | +£941 | Buy £59,333 |
Average rent and house prices in Swindon
The ONS average private rent in Swindon is £1,096 a month (Aug 2026, provisional), up 4.5% on a year earlier. The median price paid is £280,000 (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 £2,167 a year (Band C) and is paid whether you rent or buy, so it does not change the verdict.
Renting or buying in Swindon: FAQs
Is it cheaper to rent or buy in Swindon?
For a 2-bed home in Swindon, owning costs about £1,669 a month and renting about £1,168, both including council tax. Buying leaves you £42,473 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 Swindon?
The ONS average private rent in Swindon is £1,096 a month across all home sizes (Aug 2026, provisional), with £820 for 1 bed, £987 for 2 bed, £1,218 for 3 bed, £1,656 for 4 or more bed. Rents rose 4.5% over the past year.
What is the average house price in Swindon?
The median price paid in Swindon is £280,000 (ONS median price paid, year ending Mar 2026). The calculator uses £245,000 for a terraced house, the property type typical for a 2-bed home.
How much is stamp duty on an average home in Swindon?
A first-time buyer paying £245,000 would pay £0 in SDLT. With a 10% deposit of £24,500, the cash needed on day one is about £24,500.
What is the price-to-rent ratio in Swindon?
About 20.7: the 2-bed price is 20.7 times a year of rent. Higher ratios favour renting; lower ratios favour buying.
Which home size is best value to buy in Swindon?
On the default assumptions, a 4+-bed home gives buying its strongest position: buying ahead by £59,333 after 7 years.
Areas with a similar price-to-rent ratio
Browse every local authority.