The rent vs buy decision isn't just about comparing your monthly rent to a mortgage repayment. Buying involves stamp duty, council rates, insurance, maintenance, and opportunity cost on your deposit. Renting means your rent increases each year and you don't build equity — but you also don't bear maintenance costs or stamp duty.

This calculator models both scenarios over time, accounting for property growth, rent increases, investment returns on savings (if you rent and invest the difference), and all the hidden costs of ownership.

The "right" answer depends on your timeline, local property growth, and personal circumstances. Generally, buying tends to win over longer periods (10+ years), while renting can be smarter for shorter stays.