Rent vs Buy in NYC 2026: The Real Math (Free Calculator)

On a pure monthly basis, renting in NYC is usually cheaper in the short term, but over five or more years, buying almost always builds far more wealth. The reason most people get this wrong is they compare rent to a mortgage payment and stop there. Here is the full 2026 math for Staten Island and Brooklyn.

Is it cheaper to rent or buy in NYC right now?

Month to month, renting often looks cheaper by around a thousand dollars. But that comparison ignores equity, rent increases, and appreciation. Once you factor those in, the buyer comes out far ahead over a typical hold.

What is the real 10-year difference?

A renter paying $2,500 a month with 5% annual increases spends roughly $377,000 over ten years and builds zero equity. A buyer of a $500,000 home with 10% down spends about $432,000 in total housing costs but ends with roughly $325,000 in equity. That is a net wealth swing of about $270,000 in the buyer’s favor, and it widens every year.

What is the break-even point?

In today’s NYC market, buying beats renting on a total-cost basis after about three to four years. Staying under three years, renting usually wins because closing costs eat the gains. Five years or more, buying wins convincingly.

When does renting actually make more sense?

Renting is smarter when you will move within three years, when buying would drain your emergency fund, when your career requires frequent relocation, or when you hold a rent-stabilized apartment far below market. Not everyone should buy, and that is fine.