Dubai Rent vs Buy Calculator
Compare renting, buying and renting while investing your money — all in one place.
Calculating…
Compare your outcomes over the selected timeframe.
Which strategy builds more wealth?
End-of-period assets, after selling the home and settling the mortgage. Both paths use the same starting cash and monthly budget. Buyer assets include any investments after the loan is repaid.
Wealth over time
Buying versus renting with the same starting capital and monthly budget.
Monthly affordability
Renting
Annual rent divided by 12. Actual payments depend on your rental cheque schedule.
Buying
For a personalised affordability assessment and to check your mortgage eligibility, contact info@propertyadvice.ae or +971 56 506 6561.
Where the money goes
Renting
Buying
Total repayments during the selected years, including principal, interest and extra repayments. Excludes the down payment and mortgage setup fees.
Discuss your financial plan
Talk through your results and check the latest mortgage rates and offers.
How the comparison works
Both strategies start with the same cash. The renter pays their agent fee and refundable deposit from this cash and invests the balance. Each month the shared budget is the higher of rent or scheduled mortgage payment plus ownership charges. The buyer uses any surplus to reduce the loan; the renter invests their surplus. In mortgage mode, once the loan is cleared, buyer savings are invested at the same return. Contributions are made at month end; annual rent and ownership cost increases apply once a year. In mortgage mode no surplus cash is left unallocated. In cash-purchase mode, buyer monthly savings are excluded and no buyer investments are added; rent strategies retain their existing savings assumptions. This cash view does not equalise monthly spending.
Mortgage interest and investment returns compound monthly at the annual rate ÷ 12. Final buyer wealth is sale proceeds less remaining loan and selling/settlement fees, plus investments. Final renter wealth includes the returned deposit. Plain renting holds savings at 0% return. Mortgage and cash purchase rows require different starting capital and should not be ranked directly.
Reference fees: DLD transfer percentage + AED 580; registration AED 4,200; buying agent percentage + VAT; mortgage registration 0.25% + AED 290; arrangement 1% + VAT; valuation AED 3,000. Rental agent 5% + VAT, minimum AED 5,250. Final mortgage settlement 1% of remaining balance, capped at AED 10,000 + VAT. Recurring overpayment fees are assumed zero; confirm your lender’s limits. Excludes insurance, moving, utilities and investment taxes/fees.