Important factors that this calculator doesn't (and can't) account for: Lifestyle: having owned and rented, hands-down renting is far easier. No weekend trips

Important factors that this calculator doesn't (and can't) account for: Lifestyle: having owned and rented, hands-down renting is far easier. No weekend trips to Home Depot, no emergency $500 plumbing bills, zero time or attention devoted to care & feeding of house, etc. Standards: the requirements for the house you're willing to rent are far looser than if you are "betting the ranch" on a house, neighborhood, school district, etc. Flexibility: renting allows for far more flexibility and geographic mobility. If you need/want to move, give notice, arrange mover and you're off. The process of prepping for, selling and moving from an owned home is much harder, more complex and expensive (especially if the market happens to be soft)