Rent vs buy verdict
For 14 Wattlebird Rise, Castlemaine
Verdict
Renting costs less
$73k over 5 years
Renting costs $73k less over 5 years under these assumptions.
Average gap: $1,210/mo
How we got this
Arvocado cost model | as of 2026-07-06 | Price growth, tax, sale costs, and moving costs are not modelled.
5-year horizon.
Arvocado cost model | Engine output.
Arvocado cost model | Engine output.
Break-even curve
Closest gap year 1
Buying
$139k
Net cost over the horizon
Average: $2,315/mo
Renting
$66k
Net cost over the horizon
Average: $1,105/mo
Buying cash paid
How this is worked out
Adds the monthly ownership costs across the selected horizon.
$162k
Loan principal paid down
How this is worked out
Counts the loan principal paid down during the selected horizon.
-$23k
Buying cost after principal
How this is worked out
Subtracts principal paid down from the buying cash paid.
$139k
Rent paid
How this is worked out
Adds weekly rent across the horizon with the selected rent growth.
$83k
Deposit earnings if renting
How this is worked out
Compounds the deposit while renting at the selected return.
-$17k
Renting cost after deposit earnings
How this is worked out
Subtracts deposit earnings from rent paid.
$66k
Assumptions
Not legal, planning, or financial advice.
Purchase price
How this is worked out
Uses the price entered here or passed in from a linked property.
$440k
Deposit
How this is worked out
Uses the deposit entered here to set the starting loan size.
$88k
LVR
How this is worked out
Compares the loan amount with the purchase price.
80%
Equivalent weekly rent
How this is worked out
Uses the weekly rent entered for a comparable home.
$296/wk
Horizon
How this is worked out
Sets how many years of buying and renting costs are counted.
5 years
Rent growth
How this is worked out
Raises the rent each year by the selected growth assumption.
3%
Deposit return
How this is worked out
Compounds the unused deposit while renting at the selected return.
3.5%
Loan setting
How this is worked out
Uses the selected loan rate with the standard loan term.
6.25% p.a., 30 years
Property price growth, tax, sale costs, and moving costs
How this is worked out
These items stay outside the comparison until the switch is turned on.
Share preview
Renting costs less
$73k over 5 years
14 Wattlebird Rise, Castlemaine
Not legal, planning, or financial advice.