Rent vs Mortgage Calculator — Rent or Buy a Flat
The rent vs mortgage calculator lets you compare the monthly cost of renting a flat with the cost of a mortgage payment. Enter your current rent, the property price, down payment, interest rate and loan term — the calculator shows the monthly payment, the difference and the total costs of both options over the full period.
Na tej stronie
How the calculator compares renting and buying
Loan amount = property price × (1 − down payment / 100) r = annual interest rate / 100 / 12 n = term in years × 12 Payment = loan × r × (1+r)^n / [(1+r)^n − 1] Monthly diff = payment − rent Total rent cost = rent × 12 × years Total mortgage cost = payment × 12 × years
Example: flat at 600,000 PLN, 20% down, 25 years, 7.5% rate
Property price 600,000 PLN, 20% down payment = 120,000 PLN → loan amount 480,000 PLN. At 7.5% over 25 years the monthly payment is about 3,394 PLN. Rent 2,500 PLN → mortgage is about 894 PLN/month more expensive. Total rental cost over 25 years: 750,000 PLN, total mortgage cost: 1,018,200 PLN.
Frequently asked questions
What does the rent vs mortgage calculator do?
The calculator compares the monthly cost of renting a flat with the cost of a mortgage payment. It lets you see which option is cheaper each month and what the total costs are over the full period.
How is the mortgage payment calculated?
The annuity payment is calculated as: P = L × [r × (1+r)^n] / [(1+r)^n − 1], where L is the loan amount, r is the monthly interest rate and n is the number of monthly payments.
How much down payment should I have?
Banks typically require a minimum of 10–20% down payment. A larger down payment (e.g. 30–40%) means a lower monthly payment and a smaller loan. A minimum of 20% is recommended to avoid low-equity insurance costs.
Is renting always cheaper than a mortgage?
Not always. In smaller cities the mortgage payment may be comparable to rent. In large cities (Warsaw, Krakow, Wroclaw) the mortgage often exceeds rent. The calculator shows the exact difference for your figures.
What does the total cost comparison include?
The calculator computes: total rent = monthly rent × 12 × years and total mortgage = monthly payment × 12 × years. It does not account for rising rents, property value appreciation or home maintenance costs.
What additional costs should I consider?
When buying: bank fees, valuation, insurance, civil law transaction tax (2%), notary fees, renovation. When renting: security deposit (1–3 months), utility charges, risk of rent increases.
Is the mortgage rate fixed or variable?
Most Polish mortgages have a variable rate (WIBOR + margin). Fixed-rate mortgages for 5–10 years are becoming more popular. The calculator treats the entered rate as fixed for the whole term.
How long should the loan term be?
A longer term gives a lower monthly payment but higher total interest. A shorter term means a higher payment but less interest paid. The payment should ideally not exceed about 30–35% of monthly net income.
Does the calculator account for inflation?
No. The calculator uses nominal values. In practice, inflation makes loan repayment easier over time — the real value of payments falls while rents tend to rise. For a full analysis, consider expected inflation.
Are the results financial advice?
No. Results are indicative and intended for initial comparison only. The decision to buy or rent is a complex financial and personal matter. We recommend consulting a financial or mortgage adviser before deciding.
Results are indicative and do not constitute financial or credit advice. The calculator does not account for interest rate changes, rising rents, property maintenance costs or individual financial circumstances. Consult a financial adviser before making a purchase or rental decision.
Related articles
- Buying Property in Poland as a Foreigner 2026Complete guide to buying an apartment or house in Poland as a foreigner 2026: legal restrictions, costs, taxes and financing.
- Buying vs Renting an Apartment in Poland — What Makes More Sense in 2026Should you buy or rent in Poland? We compare the full cost of a mortgage purchase with renting in 2026, including worked examples for Warsaw, Kraków and smaller cities.
- Property Buying Costs in Poland 2026 — PCC, Notary, Agent FeesComplete breakdown of property purchase costs in Poland 2026: PCC tax, notary fees, agent commission, land register fees, and total budget needed.