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Buy vs Rent Abroad Calculator: Should You Buy or Rent in Another Country?
Should you buy or rent in your target country? This calculator compares total costs over your planned stay — factoring in closing costs, property taxes, mortgage payments, appreciation, selling costs, and the opportunity cost of your capital. All country data pre-populated from our verified 2026 dataset.
Quick answer
Key facts
- 20 countries pre-populated closing costs · property tax · mortgage rates · appreciation · selling costs — verified 2026.
- Break-even varies wildly ~3y in TH/ID · 5–7y in PT/ES · 7–10y in FR/IT · longer in SG (ABSD) — country choice drives the answer.
- Capital opportunity cost what you'd earn investing the down payment elsewhere — typical buy-vs-rent calcs ignore this.
- Mortgage amortisation modelled principal + interest split year-by-year · non-resident LTV/rate constraints respected per country.
- Sources OECD Housing Prices · Eurostat House Price Index · World Bank ICP · local mortgage-market averages.
Your Scenario
Auto-populated for Portugal:
Closing costs: 10–12%
Property tax: 0.3–0.45%/yr
Mortgage: 60–75% LTV, 3.3–4.5%
🏠 Buying saves you $19,430 over 7 years
Buying becomes cheaper than renting after year 6.
Total Cost of Renting
$137,924
7 years with 3%/yr increases
Total Cost of Buying
$118,494
Net of equity at sale
1st Year Cash — Buy
$147,318
Down + closing + mortgage + tax
1st Year Cash — Rent
$18,000
12 months rent
Year-by-Year Comparison
| Year | Cumulative Rent | Cumulative Buy | Property Value | Your Equity | Buy Advantage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | $18,000 | $58,035 | $309,000 | $95,932 | $-40,035 |
| 2 | $36,540 | $68,073 | $318,270 | $109,814 | $-31,533 |
| 3 | $55,636 | $78,119 | $327,818 | $124,162 | $-22,482 |
| 4 | $75,305 | $88,178 | $337,653 | $138,991 | $-12,873 |
| 5 | $95,564 | $98,256 | $347,782 | $154,319 | $-2,692 |
| 6 | $116,431 | $108,359 | $358,216 | $170,162 | +$8,072 |
| 7 | $137,924 | $118,494 | $368,962 | $186,537 | +$19,431 |
Assumptions Used
Closing costs: 11.0%
Annual property tax: 0.38%
Annual maintenance: 1%
Exit costs (agent + transfer): 5.0%
Rent increase: 3%/yr
Appreciation: 3%/yr
Mortgage LTV: 68%
Mortgage rate: 3.9%
Opportunity cost: 5%/yr
Exit costs cover agent commission + transfer/registration on resale. Capital-gains tax is not modelled — it depends on your cost basis, holding period, and residency (Portugal: Since 2023 non-residents follow the resident rule: 50% of the gain is added to income at progressive IRS rates (up to 48%), so at most ~24% effective before the solidarity surtax of 2.5–5% on very high incomes (Lei 24-D/2022; CIRS art. 68-A).). Treat any gain tax separately and confirm with a local advisor.
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The information on this page is for general informational purposes only and does not constitute legal, tax, financial, or real estate advice. Property laws, tax rules, and market conditions change frequently. Always consult qualified local professionals before making property decisions.