Rent vs buy calculator · Wales
Rent vs buy in Torfaen: is it cheaper to rent or buy?
Buying leaves you £17,427 better off after 7 years. Owning a 2-bed terraced house costs about £1,193 a month, against £926 to rent the same size home.
- After 7 years
- Buy +£17,427
- Difference in net wealth
- Monthly cost to own
- £1,193
- Mortgage £872, of which £263 is capital
- Monthly cost to rent
- £926
- Rent £766 plus council tax
- Median price
- £169,000
- terraced house
- Cash needed to buy
- £16,900
- £16,900 deposit + £0 LTT
- Price-to-rent ratio
- 18.4
- Price divided by a year of rent
Renting vs buying in Torfaen by home size
| Bedrooms | Price | Rent / mo | Owning vs renting / mo | After 7 yrs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 bed | £120,000 | £616 | +£124 | Buy £19,999 |
| 2 bed | £169,000 | £766 | +£267 | Buy £17,427 |
| 3 bed | £217,500 | £897 | +£427 | Buy £13,085 |
| 4+ bed | £342,500 | £1,377 | +£696 | Buy £8,729 |
Average rent and house prices in Torfaen
The ONS average private rent in Torfaen is £862 a month (Aug 2026, provisional), up 1.7% on a year earlier. The median price paid is £200,000 (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 £1,916 a year (Band C) and is paid whether you rent or buy, so it does not change the verdict.
Renting or buying in Torfaen: FAQs
Is it cheaper to rent or buy in Torfaen?
For a 2-bed home in Torfaen, owning costs about £1,193 a month and renting about £926, both including council tax. Buying leaves you £17,427 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 Torfaen?
The ONS average private rent in Torfaen is £862 a month across all home sizes (Aug 2026, provisional), with £616 for 1 bed, £766 for 2 bed, £897 for 3 bed, £1,377 for 4 or more bed. Rents rose 1.7% over the past year.
What is the average house price in Torfaen?
The median price paid in Torfaen is £200,000 (ONS median price paid, year ending Mar 2026). The calculator uses £169,000 for a terraced house, the property type typical for a 2-bed home.
How much is stamp duty on an average home in Torfaen?
A first-time buyer paying £169,000 would pay £0 in LTT. With a 10% deposit of £16,900, the cash needed on day one is about £16,900.
What is the price-to-rent ratio in Torfaen?
About 18.4: the 2-bed price is 18.4 times a year of rent. Higher ratios favour renting; lower ratios favour buying.
Which home size is best value to buy in Torfaen?
On the default assumptions, a 1-bed home gives buying its strongest position: buying ahead by £19,999 after 7 years.
How many years until buying pays off in Torfaen?
The lead first changes hands in year 2 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 Wales average or browse every local authority.