⚠️ Disclaimer: This calculator provides an estimate from assumptions you enter. It is not financial, legal, tax or investment advice and cannot predict property prices, rent, interest rates or investment returns. Verify all costs and consult a qualified adviser before making a decision.
Dubai Buy vs Rent Calculator
Compare long-term net costs and equity using your own purchase, financing and rent assumptions. Optional off-plan mode, shareable URLs and browser-only saved comparisons are included.
Evaluating rental income instead? Use the independent Dubai ROI vs Rental Yield Calculator.
🏠 Buying assumptions
Editable financing assumption.
Other ownership costs
Your combined one-time purchase-cost assumption.
Your annual percentage of property value.
🔑 Renting assumptions
Return assumed for capital kept invested while renting.
Comparison horizon
Assumptions & Disclaimer
- All property, rent, rate and return values are manual inputs or editable assumptions.
- The renter model invests the modeled upfront capital and positive annual cash-flow difference.
- The buyer model includes entered entry costs, mortgage payments, service charges, maintenance and equity.
- Standard financed-purchase mode also retains a non-editable mortgage-registration assumption of 0.25% of the loan plus AED 290; both modes assume selling costs of 2% of final property value.
- Off-plan mode models rent and installments during construction, then financing after handover; the annual comparison rounds handover up to its model year.
- Insurance, utilities, furnishing, moving, tax and other costs not listed above are excluded.
- Results are estimates, not financial or investment advice.
Frequently Asked Questions
How does the Dubai Buy vs Rent Calculator work?
It compares cumulative rent and invested capital with the cash costs and equity of buying over your selected horizon. Every property, rent, rate and return value is entered or adjusted by you.
What buying costs are included?
The model includes your down payment, editable entry-cost percentage, mortgage payments, annual service charges and maintenance. To preserve the existing comparison model, standard financed-purchase mode also uses a non-editable mortgage-registration assumption of 0.25% of the loan plus AED 290, and both modes use 2% of the final property value for selling costs.
How is the renting alternative modeled?
The renter pays rent with your annual increase assumption and invests the modeled upfront capital. When annual ownership costs exceed rent, the positive difference is also added to the renter investment model.
Can I compare an off-plan purchase?
Yes. Off-plan mode models installments and rent during construction, followed by the selected down payment and mortgage after handover. The comparison horizon must extend beyond handover.
Does the calculator look up projects or use DLD property data?
No. It has no project, building, community or area lookup and makes no property-data request. The URL contains only documented manual calculator parameters.
Can I save or share a comparison?
Yes. Copy Link shares the current manual assumptions in the URL. Save Comparison stores up to ten entries locally in your browser; it does not send them to an account or server.