Rent vs buy calculator · Scotland
Rent vs buy in West Dunbartonshire: is it cheaper to rent or buy?
Buying leaves you £38,905 better off after 7 years. Owning a 2-bed terraced house costs about £1,020 a month, against £887 to rent the same size home.
- After 7 years
- Buy +£38,905
- Difference in net wealth
- Monthly cost to own
- £1,020
- Mortgage £753, of which £227 is capital
- Monthly cost to rent
- £887
- Rent £762 plus council tax
- Median price
- £146,029
- terraced house
- Cash needed to buy
- £14,603
- £14,603 deposit + £0 LBTT
- Price-to-rent ratio
- 16.0
- Price divided by a year of rent
Renting vs buying in West Dunbartonshire by home size
| Bedrooms | Price | Rent / mo | Owning vs renting / mo | After 7 yrs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 bed | £94,082 | £572 | +£12 | Buy £33,912 |
| 2 bed | £146,029 | £762 | +£134 | Buy £38,905 |
| 3 bed | £190,144 | £958 | +£202 | Buy £46,788 |
| 4+ bed | £308,876 | £1,395 | +£476 | Buy £53,554 |
Average rent and house prices in West Dunbartonshire
The ONS average private rent in West Dunbartonshire is £940 a month (Aug 2026, provisional), up 3.6% on a year earlier. The median price paid is £127,521 (UK HPI local authority average, Jul 2026). Rents here are published for the West Dunbartonshire 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 £1,495 a year (Band C) and is paid whether you rent or buy, so it does not change the verdict.
Renting or buying in West Dunbartonshire: FAQs
Is it cheaper to rent or buy in West Dunbartonshire?
For a 2-bed home in West Dunbartonshire, owning costs about £1,020 a month and renting about £887, both including council tax. Buying leaves you £38,905 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 West Dunbartonshire?
The ONS average private rent in West Dunbartonshire is £940 a month across all home sizes (Aug 2026, provisional), with £572 for 1 bed, £762 for 2 bed, £958 for 3 bed, £1,395 for 4 or more bed. Rents rose 3.6% over the past year.
What is the average house price in West Dunbartonshire?
The median price paid in West Dunbartonshire is £127,521 (UK HPI local authority average, Jul 2026). The calculator uses £146,029 for a terraced house, the property type typical for a 2-bed home.
How much is stamp duty on an average home in West Dunbartonshire?
A first-time buyer paying £146,029 would pay £0 in LBTT. With a 10% deposit of £14,603, the cash needed on day one is about £14,603.
What is the price-to-rent ratio in West Dunbartonshire?
About 16.0: the 2-bed price is 16.0 times a year of rent. Higher ratios favour renting; lower ratios favour buying.
Which home size is best value to buy in West Dunbartonshire?
On the default assumptions, a 4+-bed home gives buying its strongest position: buying ahead by £53,554 after 7 years.
Areas with a similar price-to-rent ratio
Compare with the Scotland average or browse every local authority.