For tenants and buyers Indication
Rent or buy in Germany: 30-year comparison
Buying ties up equity and costs purchase fees, interest and maintenance; tenants can invest the equity and any monthly saving. The calculator compares the wealth of both routes using your assumptions.
Result
| After | Wealth buying | Wealth renting |
|---|
Explanation
Interest, value growth, maintenance, rent increases and returns are your assumptions, not official values; only the transfer tax and the notary and land registry fees are official. The tenant invests the equity; if the buyer pays more each month than the rent, the tenant invests the difference, otherwise the buyer does.
Note: an indication, not legal or tax advice
This calculation is based on the general statutory rules and the values published for 2026. It is not legal, tax or payroll advice. Collective agreements, employment contracts and works agreements may provide more favourable rules.
Sources and values used
| Item | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Purchase costs | as in the purchase cost calculator | Deutsches Notarinstitut – Aktuelle Grunderwerbsteuersätze (Stand 28.01.2026) (in German) |
| Loan | price + costs − equity, annuity | calculation method |
| Comparison | whoever pays less each month invests the difference | calculation method |
| Wealth when buying | value − remaining debt + investments | calculation method |
| Further source | GNotKG, § 34 (Wertgebühren, Tabelle B) (in German) | |
Sources checked on 15 October 2026.