Rent vs Buy Calculator Poland 2026

It depends on personal circumstances: down payment size, mortgage rate, rent level and expected property value growth. At current interest rates (7–8%) and property prices, mortgage instalments often exceed rental costs, but after repayment you own an asset of growing value.

The calculator assumes 5% of the property price as a lump-sum for transaction costs: PCC tax (2% on secondary market), notary fee, court fees and any agent commission. For new-build (VAT) purchases PCC does not apply.

Benefit difference = property value after N years (with growth) minus total purchase cost plus total rental cost for the same period. A positive value means buying is financially better; negative means renting was cheaper over that horizon.

A higher down payment (e.g. 30% vs 10%) reduces the loan amount and monthly instalment, lowers total interest paid and makes buying more advantageous. Polish banks typically require a minimum 10–20% down payment.

Each percentage point higher means significantly more interest paid. On a PLN 400,000 loan over 25 years, the difference between 5% and 8% is about PLN 700/month in the instalment — over PLN 200,000 more in total cost.

The calculator does not account for inflation directly, but the annual property value growth parameter allows you to model long-term price appreciation, which typically correlates with inflation. Polish property prices rose 5–10%/year in recent years, though future growth is not guaranteed.

No. Renting provides flexibility, no maintenance costs and the option to invest the instalment–rent difference elsewhere. If property prices stagnate or fall, renting can be financially better over a given horizon.

A down payment is the portion of the purchase price paid from the buyer's own funds, without a loan. KNF (Polish Financial Supervision Authority) requires banks to demand at least 20% (or 10% with low-equity insurance). A higher down payment means lower risk and better creditworthiness.

Most Polish mortgages are variable-rate (WIBOR + bank margin). An NBP rate cut automatically lowers the instalment (after WIBOR updates), a hike raises it. Fixed-rate mortgages (5–7 years) protect against instalment increases but usually carry a higher starting rate.

No. The calculator does not include running costs: service charges, repair fund, property tax, insurance or repair costs. In practice owners pay these (typically PLN 500–1,500/month for a standard flat), which should be added to the calculation.