Lease vs Buy Calculator
Compare the true cost of leasing against buying the same car.
Enter your values
Enter the vehicle price in $.
Enter the comparison period in months.
Enter the monthly lease payment in $.
Enter the lease due at signing in $.
Enter the loan rate if buying in %.
Enter the down payment if buying in $.
Enter the resale value at end in $.
Results update instantly as you type — no submit needed. Your values are remembered on this device, and the shareable link reopens the calculator with exactly these numbers.
- Cheaper option
- Leasing
- Cost to lease
- $19,200.00
- Net cost to buy
- $19,653.15
- Difference
- $453.15
Quick answer
Buying usually wins over long horizons because you keep the resale value; leasing wins when you change cars every two to three years.
At a glance
| What it does | Compare the true cost of leasing against buying the same car. |
|---|---|
| Category | Auto |
| Inputs needed | Vehicle price, Comparison period, Monthly lease payment, Lease due at signing, Loan rate if buying, Down payment if buying, Resale value at end |
| Main output | Cheaper option |
| Cost | Free — no sign-up, no download |
How to use the Lease vs Buy Calculator
- 1Enter the vehicle price and how long you will keep it.
- 2Add the lease terms and the loan terms.
- 3Estimate resale value and compare net cost.
Inputs explained
- Vehicle price($)
- Enter the vehicle price in $.
- Comparison period(months)
- Enter the comparison period in months.
- Monthly lease payment($)
- Enter the monthly lease payment in $.
- Lease due at signing($)
- Enter the lease due at signing in $.
- Loan rate if buying(%)
- Enter the loan rate if buying in %.
- Down payment if buying($)
- Enter the down payment if buying in $.
- Resale value at end($)
- Enter the resale value at end in $.
Worked example
Using the values the calculator loads with:
Inputs
- Vehicle price35000 $
- Comparison period36 months
- Monthly lease payment450 $
- Lease due at signing3000 $
- Loan rate if buying7 %
- Down payment if buying5000 $
- Resale value at end20000 $
Results
- Cheaper optionLeasing
- Cost to lease$19,200.00
- Net cost to buy$19,653.15
- Difference$453.15
Frequently asked questions
Why does resale value matter?
When you buy, the car is an asset you can sell; that resale value offsets the payments you made, which a lease never does.
What about mileage limits?
Leases charge roughly 15–25 cents per mile over the cap, which can add thousands and is not included here.
What do I need to enter into the Lease vs Buy Calculator?
Just 7 values: vehicle price, comparison period, monthly lease payment, lease due at signing, loan rate if buying, down payment if buying, resale value at end. Every field starts with a realistic example, so you can change one number at a time and watch the result update instantly.
How does the Lease vs Buy Calculator work out the answer?
Buying usually wins over long horizons because you keep the resale value; leasing wins when you change cars every two to three years. The working is shown step by step so you can verify the result by hand.
Is the Lease vs Buy Calculator free, and do I need an account?
It is completely free with no sign-up, no download and no usage limit. Everything is calculated in your browser, so the numbers you type never leave your device.
Results are estimates for general information. For medical, legal, structural or financial decisions, confirm with a qualified professional.