Buy or rent / Cambridge
Buy or rent in Cambridge?
A typical home in Cambridge costs around £495,000, and renting one costs around £1,800 a month. That's 22.9 years of rent to buy outright. A first-time buyer with a 15% deposit would need £86,150 in cash, including £9,750 of Stamp Duty. Over 10 years, with the calculator's starting assumptions, renting comes out £15,203 ahead.
These local figures are rough starting points, last updated 16 October 2026. Change them to match the homes you're actually looking at.
£
%
£74,250
£/month
After 10 years
Renting leaves you £15,203 better off
Buying doesn't get ahead within 10 years. Renting here assumes you invest whatever buying would have cost you extra.
- Cash needed to buy
- £86,150Deposit £74,250, Stamp Duty £9,750, fees £2,150
- First month's costs
- £3,483 vs £2,000Buying (mortgage £2,711 plus running costs) vs renting
| Scenario | Better off after 10 yrs | Buying ahead from |
|---|---|---|
| Your assumptions | Renting by £15,203 | Not within the period |
| Mortgage rates 1.5 points higher | Renting by £94,978 | Not within the period |
| House prices don't grow | Renting by £203,863 | Not within the period |
| Rent rises 2.5 points faster | Buying by £22,748 | Year 7 |
| Investments return 2 points less | Buying by £33,080 | Year 5 |