Rent vs buy calculator · England
Rent vs buy in West Midlands: is it cheaper to rent or buy?
Buying leaves you £45,510 better off after 7 years. Owning a 2-bed terraced house costs about £1,426 a month, against £1,062 to rent the same size home.
- After 7 years
- Buy +£45,510
- Difference in net wealth
- Monthly cost to own
- £1,426
- Mortgage £1,057, of which £319 is capital
- Monthly cost to rent
- £1,062
- Rent £885 plus council tax
- Median price
- £205,000
- terraced house
- Cash needed to buy
- £20,500
- £20,500 deposit + £0 SDLT
- Price-to-rent ratio
- 19.3
- Price divided by a year of rent
Renting vs buying in West Midlands by home size
| Bedrooms | Price | Rent / mo | Owning vs renting / mo | After 7 yrs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 bed | £140,000 | £711 | +£148 | Buy £43,396 |
| 2 bed | £205,000 | £885 | +£364 | Buy £45,510 |
| 3 bed | £250,000 | £1,051 | +£467 | Buy £53,220 |
| 4+ bed | £395,000 | £1,484 | +£903 | Buy £58,403 |
Average rent and house prices in West Midlands
The ONS average private rent in West Midlands is £982 a month (Aug 2026, provisional), up 4.9% on a year earlier. The median price paid is £250,000 (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 £2,127 a year (Band C) and is paid whether you rent or buy, so it does not change the verdict.
Renting or buying in West Midlands: FAQs
Is it cheaper to rent or buy in West Midlands?
For a 2-bed home in West Midlands, owning costs about £1,426 a month and renting about £1,062, both including council tax. Buying leaves you £45,510 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 Midlands?
The ONS average private rent in West Midlands is £982 a month across all home sizes (Aug 2026, provisional), with £711 for 1 bed, £885 for 2 bed, £1,051 for 3 bed, £1,484 for 4 or more bed. Rents rose 4.9% over the past year.
What is the average house price in West Midlands?
The median price paid in West Midlands is £250,000 (ONS median price paid, year ending Mar 2026). The calculator uses £205,000 for a terraced house, the property type typical for a 2-bed home.
How much is stamp duty on an average home in West Midlands?
A first-time buyer paying £205,000 would pay £0 in SDLT. With a 10% deposit of £20,500, the cash needed on day one is about £20,500.
What is the price-to-rent ratio in West Midlands?
About 19.3: the 2-bed price is 19.3 times a year of rent. Higher ratios favour renting; lower ratios favour buying.
Which home size is best value to buy in West Midlands?
On the default assumptions, a 4+-bed home gives buying its strongest position: buying ahead by £58,403 after 7 years.
Areas with a similar price-to-rent ratio
Browse every local authority.