Rent vs. Buy Calculator
Compare the total cost of renting and buying in St. John’s over time — and see the year owning pays off, with Canadian mortgage math built in.
Total cost over time — renting vs. buying
Your cumulative net cost each way (buying counts the equity you’d get back if you sold). Where the lines cross is your break-even. Hover a year for the details.
Estimate only, for illustration — not financial advice. Buying uses semi-annual compounding (the Canadian standard) with minimum down payment and CMHC insurance rules where they apply; renting assumes your rent rises each year. “Net cost” for buying subtracts what you’d walk away with if you sold (home value, less the remaining mortgage and cost to sell). It does not model investing your down payment elsewhere, and it assumes steady rates, appreciation, and rent growth — real results vary with the market. Use it as a starting point, then let’s talk through your specific situation.
Weighing renting vs. buying in St. John’s?
Every situation is different — let’s talk through the numbers for your goals and timeline. No pressure.