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Military PCS Rent vs. Buy Calculator
Compare the estimated economic cost of renting and buying across your expected time at a duty station.
Move and housing assumptions
Renting
Buying
| Dwell time | Rent cost | Buy cost | Rent minus buy |
|---|---|---|---|
| 12 months | $27,061 | $68,758 | -$41,697 |
| 24 months | $54,925 | $96,274 | -$41,349 |
| 36 months | $83,616 | $123,115 | -$39,500 |
| 48 months | $113,158 | $149,251 | -$36,092 |
| 60 months | $143,578 | $174,645 | -$31,067 |
How the comparison works
The model runs month by month. Renting includes rent growth, insurance, fees, and nonrefundable upfront costs. Buying includes buyer cash, mortgage payments, taxes, insurance, HOA, maintenance, and selling costs, then subtracts estimated net sale proceeds. This treats principal as a cash outflow that returns through sale equity once, avoiding double counting.
BAH is not included in the economic difference because a member generally receives the same allowance whether renting or buying. Use BAH as cash-flow context, not as a purchase subsidy.
Planning assumptions
Appreciation, rent growth, maintenance, closing costs, and selling costs are editable assumptions—not forecasts. The default exit is a sale at PCS. Opportunity cost, taxes on investment gains, tax deductions, and keep-as-rental underwriting are deferred.
Important limitation
This independent educational estimate does not recommend renting or buying, predict home values, determine VA eligibility, or provide a lender quote. Actual ownership and rental costs vary.