Lease vs Buy Calculator
Leasing looks cheaper month to month — but is it? Compare the real cash cost of leasing against buying and selling over the same period.
Free, instant, and currency-agnostic — choose your currency inside the tool.
Buying leaves you with an asset; leasing does not. We compare net cash spent over the same term.
The hidden difference: ownership
A lease and a loan can produce similar monthly payments, so the deciding factor is what you are left with at the end. Buy the car and you own an asset you can sell; lease it and you hand the keys back with nothing to show. That resale value is exactly why buying usually costs less over the long run, even though depreciation feels painful.
To make the comparison honest, enter a realistic resale figure — the car value estimator will give you a defensible number for the car’s expected age and mileage.
Match the choice to how you drive
Heavy mileage, plans to keep the car for years, or wanting to modify it all favour buying. Wanting the newest model every few years, predictable costs and low upfront outlay favour leasing. The calculator turns that instinct into a number you can defend.
Frequently asked questions
How do you compare leasing and buying fairly?
We add up the net cash you spend over the same period. For a lease that is the upfront cost plus every monthly payment. For buying it is your down payment plus loan payments, minus what the car is worth when you sell it at the end.
Why does buying often win?
Because you keep an asset. Even after depreciation, the resale value offsets a large chunk of what you spent, while a lease leaves you with nothing to sell.
When does leasing make more sense?
If you value low monthly payments, always want a newer car, drive modest mileage and do not mind never owning the vehicle, a lease can be the cheaper or more convenient route over a short term.
What resale value should I enter?
Use a realistic figure for the car’s worth at the end of the term — our car value estimator can give you a starting point based on its expected age and mileage.