Rent vs Buy Calculator
Is it cheaper to rent or buy in Dubai?
Compare the total cost of buying a property against renting the equivalent home over the years you plan to stay in Dubai.
Rent vs Buy Calculator
Enter your numbers to see which option costs less over time.
AED
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AED
What you would pay to rent the same home today.
years
How long before you might sell or move.
This is an estimate based on the assumptions below. Actual costs depend on market conditions, property value changes, and your specific financing terms.
Enter a property price and the equivalent monthly rent to compare both options.
Good to know
How this comparison works
Buying costs include the down payment, a 6% one-time purchase cost (4% DLD transfer fee + 2% agency commission) plus a 0.25% mortgage registration fee, mortgage payments, and annual service charges assumed at 2% of the property value.
Property appreciation is assumed at 0% to keep the comparison conservative and avoid relying on a speculative forecast — if your property is likely to appreciate, buying becomes relatively more attractive.
Rent is assumed to increase by 5% a year, a typical rate for renewed contracts in Dubai, and is compared against the net cost of owning after crediting back the equity you build through mortgage principal payments.
Selling costs (typically a 2% agency commission) if you sell the property at the end of the period are not included — factor these in if you expect to sell rather than keep the property.