Lease vs Buy Calculator (Simplified)

Runs locally in your browser. Educational estimator. U.S.-focused; rules and pricing vary by state and by country.

This calculator compares a lease to buying by modeling total cost over the same time horizon. It’s simplified, but useful for avoiding “payment-only” thinking.

Lease inputs

Lease payment (monthly) Lease term (months) Due at signing (total) Extra insurance vs owning (monthly)

Buy inputs

Purchase price Down payment APR (%) Loan term (months) Taxes/fees (total) Insurance (monthly) Maintenance (monthly estimate) Estimated resale value at horizon

Enter values above to compare.

Notes

These are simplified models intended for planning and comparison.
Safety comes first. If the vehicle is unsafe, fix or stop driving.
For mileage, the calculator shows miles with km in brackets (1 mile ≈ 1.609 km).