Dubai real estate calculators for buyers, investors and agents.
Rent vs Buy Calculator Dubai
5-year total cost comparison to help you decide what makes sense financially.
How the rent vs buy comparison works
Enter the price of the home, your down payment, the mortgage interest rate and the yearly rent for a similar home. The calculator then compares the two paths over the number of years you choose.
Buying: it adds your down payment, the buying costs (DLD transfer fee of 4% plus the admin fee, trustee fee and 2% agency commission) and the mortgage payments on a 25-year loan, then subtracts the equity you would own at the end — the estimated home value minus the loan still owed.
Renting: it adds up the rent you would pay each year, increasing by the yearly rent rise you enter.
Read the result as a scenario, not a forecast
Home price growth and rent increases are your own assumptions — change them to see how sensitive the answer is. Buying usually needs a longer stay to cover the one-time costs; renting keeps your cash free and lets you move easily.
Rent vs Buy — questions people ask
What is the minimum down payment to buy in Dubai?
For a first home under AED 5 million, UAE Central Bank rules require at least 20% down for expatriates and 15% for UAE nationals. Higher-priced and second homes need more.
What buying costs does the calculator include?
The DLD transfer fee (4% of the price plus admin fee), the trustee office fee and a 2% agency commission, as well as the mortgage payments.
Is it cheaper to rent or buy in Dubai?
It depends on the price, rent, interest rate and how long you stay. The calculator shows the net cost of each path for your own numbers.
Are the price growth and rent increase figures predictions?
No. They are assumptions you can change. Try a few values to see a range of results.