Rent vs buy calculator · Wales
Rent vs buy in Wales: is it cheaper to rent or buy?
Buying leaves you £39,867 better off after 7 years. Owning a 2-bed terraced house costs about £1,178 a month, against £948 to rent the same size home.
- After 7 years
- Buy +£39,867
- Difference in net wealth
- Monthly cost to own
- £1,178
- Mortgage £851, of which £257 is capital
- Monthly cost to rent
- £948
- Rent £779 plus council tax
- Median price
- £165,000
- terraced house
- Cash needed to buy
- £16,500
- £16,500 deposit + £0 LTT
- Price-to-rent ratio
- 17.7
- Price divided by a year of rent
Renting vs buying in Wales by home size
| Bedrooms | Price | Rent / mo | Owning vs renting / mo | After 7 yrs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 bed | £145,000 | £636 | +£253 | Buy £28,852 |
| 2 bed | £165,000 | £779 | +£230 | Buy £39,867 |
| 3 bed | £215,000 | £890 | +£419 | Buy £37,686 |
| 4+ bed | £330,000 | £1,247 | +£751 | Buy £36,678 |
Average rent and house prices in Wales
The ONS average private rent in Wales is £846 a month (Aug 2026, provisional), up 4.3% on a year earlier. The median price paid is £218,000 (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 £2,029 a year (Band C) and is paid whether you rent or buy, so it does not change the verdict.
Renting or buying in Wales: FAQs
Is it cheaper to rent or buy in Wales?
For a 2-bed home in Wales, owning costs about £1,178 a month and renting about £948, both including council tax. Buying leaves you £39,867 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 Wales?
The ONS average private rent in Wales is £846 a month across all home sizes (Aug 2026, provisional), with £636 for 1 bed, £779 for 2 bed, £890 for 3 bed, £1,247 for 4 or more bed. Rents rose 4.3% over the past year.
What is the average house price in Wales?
The median price paid in Wales is £218,000 (ONS median price paid, year ending Mar 2026). The calculator uses £165,000 for a terraced house, the property type typical for a 2-bed home.
How much is stamp duty on an average home in Wales?
A first-time buyer paying £165,000 would pay £0 in LTT. With a 10% deposit of £16,500, the cash needed on day one is about £16,500.
What is the price-to-rent ratio in Wales?
About 17.7: the 2-bed price is 17.7 times a year of rent. Higher ratios favour renting; lower ratios favour buying.
Which home size is best value to buy in Wales?
On the default assumptions, a 2-bed home gives buying its strongest position: buying ahead by £39,867 after 7 years.
Areas with a similar price-to-rent ratio
Browse every local authority.