Rent vs buy calculator
Compare a monthly mortgage against rent for your next duty station, built around the VA loan.
Enter a home price and your rent, and this compares the monthly cost of buying with a VA loan (zero down, no PMI by default) against renting. It also shows whether your housing allowance would cover the mortgage.
Estimate only. Excludes HOA fees and the one-time VA funding fee. Not financial advice.
How to read it
If buying costs about the same as or less than renting and you will be at the base for several years, buying with a VA loan often wins because you build equity. If buying costs much more, or your tour is short, renting is usually safer. Check real local prices and rents on our base guides, look up your allowance with the BAH calculator, and read the rent vs buy guide.
Rent vs buy FAQ
Should I rent or buy when I PCS?
It depends on your tour length, local prices versus rent, and whether BAH covers a mortgage. In low-cost markets with a multi-year tour, buying with a VA loan often builds equity. In expensive or short-tour locations, renting is usually the safer move. This calculator compares the monthly cost of each.
Does the VA loan require a down payment or PMI?
No. The VA home loan requires no down payment for most eligible buyers and no private mortgage insurance, which lowers both your upfront cash and your monthly payment compared with a conventional loan. Set the down payment to 0% in this calculator to model a typical VA-loan purchase.
How is the monthly mortgage payment calculated?
The payment combines principal and interest on the loan amount, plus estimated monthly property tax and home insurance. Principal and interest use the standard amortization formula based on your interest rate and loan term. It does not include HOA fees or the one-time VA funding fee.
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