How apartment living and house living compare
This page compares apartment living and house living as monthly costs — two different homes, with different sizes, different commutes and different bills. It is distinct from the rent vs buy pages, which compare renting vs buying the same property: for the buy-or-rent decision on one property, see rent vs buy calculator. The apartment total is the rent plus utilities, renter’s insurance and commute. The house total is the monthly mortgage plus property tax, homeowner’s insurance, maintenance, utilities and commute. The mortgage is the standard amortization on a 30-year fixed loan: the loan is the price minus the down payment, the monthly rate is the yearly rate divided by 12, and the payment is the loan times the monthly rate divided by one minus one plus the monthly rate to the power of minus 360. The property tax is 1.1% of the price a year divided by 12, and the maintenance is the maintenance percent of the price a year divided by 12. The first month’s interest is the loan times the monthly rate, and the first month’s principal is the mortgage minus the interest — principal is equity, not a cost, so the net house cost is the house total minus the first month’s principal.
At the defaults — an apartment renting for $1,800 a month with $150 of utilities, $25 of renter’s insurance, a $100 commute and 850 sq ft, against a $450,000 house with 20% down, a 6.5% rate on a 30-year fixed loan, $200 of homeowner’s insurance, 1% maintenance a year, $250 of utilities, a $150 commute and 1,800 sq ft — the mortgage is $360,000 × 0.5417% ÷ (1 − 1.005417−360) = $2,275.44 (exact 2275.4449), the property tax is $450,000 × 1.1% ÷ 12 = $412.50, and the maintenance is $450,000 × 1% ÷ 12 = $375.00. The apartment total is $1,800 + $150 + $25 + $100 = $2,075.00, and the house total is $2,275.44 + $412.50 + $200 + $375.00 + $250 + $150 = $3,662.94. The house costs $1,587.94 a month more, which is $19,055.34 a year from the unrounded monthly gap. The first month’s interest is $360,000 × 6.5% ÷ 12 = $1,950.00, and the principal is $2,275.44 − $1,950.00 = $325.44, so the house costs $3,337.50 a month after equity, a net gap of $1,262.50 a month. Per square foot the apartment is $2,075.00 ÷ 850 = $2.44 and the house is $3,662.94 ÷ 1,800 = $2.03 — the house is cheaper per square foot, because it is more than twice the size.
| Case | Apartment /mo | House /mo | Gap /mo | Net gap /mo |
|---|
| Default ($1,800 rent, $450,000 house) | $2,075.00 | $3,662.94 | $1,587.94 | $1,262.50 |
| Rent $1,500 | $1,775.00 | $3,662.94 | $1,887.94 | $1,562.50 |
| Rent $2,500 | $2,775.00 | $3,662.94 | $887.94 | $562.50 |
| Rent $3,000 | $3,275.00 | $3,662.94 | $387.94 | $62.50 |
| House price $350,000 | $2,075.00 | $2,982.29 | $907.29 | $654.17 |
| House price $600,000 | $2,075.00 | $4,683.93 | $2,608.93 | $2,175.00 |
| Rate 5% | $2,075.00 | $3,320.06 | $1,245.06 | $812.50 |
| Rate 8% | $2,075.00 | $4,029.05 | $1,954.05 | $1,712.50 |
| House commute $0 | $2,075.00 | $3,512.94 | $1,437.94 | $1,112.50 |
| Apartment commute $300 | $2,275.00 | $3,662.94 | $1,387.94 | $1,062.50 |
| Maintenance 0.5% | $2,075.00 | $3,475.44 | $1,400.44 | $1,075.00 |
| Maintenance 2% | $2,075.00 | $4,037.94 | $1,962.94 | $1,637.50 |
| Paid-off house (mortgage $0) | $2,075.00 | $1,387.50 | -$687.50 | -$687.50 |
| Apartment 600 sq ft | $2,075.00 | $3,662.94 | $1,587.94 | $1,262.50 |
The worked example, line by line
Setup: apartment rent $1,800, utilities $150, insurance $25, commute $100, size 850 sq ft; house price $450,000, down 20%, rate 6.5%, 30-year fixed, insurance $200, maintenance 1%, utilities $250, commute $150, size 1,800 sq ft.
Line 1 — the mortgage. The loan is $450,000 × 80% = $360,000. The monthly rate is 6.5% ÷ 12 = 0.5417%. The payment is $360,000 × 0.005417 ÷ (1 − 1.005417−360) = $2,275.44 (exact 2275.4449).
Line 2 — the tax and the maintenance. The property tax is $450,000 × 1.1% ÷ 12 = $412.50 a month. The maintenance is $450,000 × 1% ÷ 12 = $375.00 a month.
Line 3 — the two totals. The apartment is $1,800 + $150 + $25 + $100 = $2,075.00. The house is $2,275.44 + $412.50 + $200 + $375.00 + $250 + $150 = $3,662.94.
Line 4 — the gap. $3,662.94 − $2,075.00 = $1,587.94 a month, which is $19,055.34 a year from the unrounded monthly gap.
Line 5 — the equity. The first month’s interest is $360,000 × 6.5% ÷ 12 = $1,950.00, and the principal is $2,275.44 − $1,950.00 = $325.44. The house costs $3,662.94 − $325.44 = $3,337.50 a month after equity, a net gap of $1,262.50 a month.
Line 6 — per square foot. The apartment is $2,075.00 ÷ 850 = $2.44 a square foot, and the house is $3,662.94 ÷ 1,800 = $2.03 a square foot. The house costs more in total and less per square foot.
Reverse: the break-even rent is $3,387.94 a month (at that rent both sides tie at $3,662.94 a month); the break-even mortgage payment is $687.50 a month; the break-even house price is $216,703.21 (forward: mortgage $1,095.77, tax $198.64, maintenance $180.59, other house costs $600.00, total $2,075.00); there is no break-even maintenance — even $0 maintenance leaves the house $1,212.94 a month dearer (house $3,287.94); and there is no break-even commute — the apartment commute would need to rise to $1,687.94 a month.
Every branch, checked
Rent $1,500: the apartment is $1,775.00 a month and the house is $3,662.94, so the gap is $1,887.94 a month. A cheaper rent widens the gap by the same dollars.
Rent $2,500: the apartment is $2,775.00 a month and the house is $3,662.94, so the gap is $887.94 a month. The dearer rent closes most of the gap.
Rent $3,000: the apartment is $3,275.00 a month and the house is $3,662.94, so the gap is $387.94 a month. At $3,000 the apartment is still cheaper, but only just.
House price $350,000: the mortgage is $1,769.79, the tax is $320.83 and the maintenance is $291.67, so the house is $2,982.29 a month and the gap is $907.29 a month. A $100,000 cheaper house cuts the gap by $680.65 a month.
House price $600,000: the mortgage is $3,033.93, the tax is $550.00 and the maintenance is $500.00, so the house is $4,683.93 a month and the gap is $2,608.93 a month. A $150,000 dearer house adds $1,020.99 a month to the gap.
Rate 5%: the mortgage is $1,932.56, so the house is $3,320.06 a month and the gap is $1,245.06 a month. A point and a half off the rate saves $342.88 a month.
Rate 8%: the mortgage is $2,641.55, so the house is $4,029.05 a month and the gap is $1,954.05 a month. A point and a half on the rate costs $366.11 a month more.
House commute $0: the house is $3,512.94 a month and the gap is $1,437.94 a month. A free commute from the house saves $150 a month, and the house is still dearer.
Apartment commute $300: the apartment is $2,275.00 a month and the house is $3,662.94, so the gap is $1,387.94 a month. A dearer commute from the apartment costs $200 a month more, and the apartment is still cheaper.
Maintenance 0.5%: the maintenance is $187.50 a month, so the house is $3,475.44 a month and the gap is $1,400.44 a month. Halving the maintenance saves $187.50 a month.
Maintenance 2%: the maintenance is $750.00 a month, so the house is $4,037.94 a month and the gap is $1,962.94 a month. Doubling the maintenance costs $375.00 a month more.
Paid-off house (mortgage $0): the house is $1,387.50 a month — $412.50 of tax, $200 of insurance, $375 of maintenance, $250 of utilities and $150 of commute — and the apartment costs $687.50 a month more. The comparison flips, because the mortgage was $2,275.44 of the house’s $3,662.94.
Apartment 600 sq ft: the apartment is $2,075.00 a month and the house is $3,662.94, so the gap is $1,587.94 a month — but the apartment is $3.46 a square foot, dearer per foot than the house at $2.03. The totals do not move with the size; only the per-square-foot figure does.
Reverse — the other way round: the break-even rent is $3,387.94 a month; the break-even mortgage payment is $687.50 a month; the break-even house price is $216,703.21; there is no break-even maintenance — even $0 maintenance leaves the house $1,212.94 a month dearer; and there is no break-even commute — the apartment commute would need to rise to $1,687.94 a month.
What the defaults assume
The model assumes the numbers you enter: the apartment’s rent, utilities, insurance, commute and size, and the house’s price, down payment, rate, insurance, maintenance, utilities, commute and size. It assumes a 30-year fixed mortgage, property tax of 1.1% of the price a year, and maintenance as a percent of the price a year — check both, because tax rates vary by county and a new house needs less maintenance than an old one. It assumes the first month’s principal is equity and counts it out of the net cost, but the principal grows over the life of the loan, so the net gap shrinks over time. It assumes no rent rises, no home price rises, no closing costs, and no tax deduction for mortgage interest. It leaves out the down payment itself, which is cash tied up in the house rather than a monthly cost. Rounding convention: money is rounded to cents, percents to two decimals, the mortgage and the break-even price to two decimals with the exact value to four, and all figures are computed from unrounded values, rounded only for display — so the yearly gap of $19,055.34 is the unrounded monthly gap times 12, not the rounded $1,587.94 times 12.
Output · formula · meaning
| Output | Formula | What it means |
|---|
| Loan amount | house price × (1 − down %) | $360,000.00. |
| Monthly mortgage | loan × rate ÷ (1 − (1 + rate)−360) | $2,275.44 (exact 2275.4449). |
| Property tax | house price × 1.1% ÷ 12 | $412.50. |
| Maintenance | house price × maintenance % ÷ 12 | $375.00. |
| Homeowner's insurance | homeowner's insurance each month | $200.00. |
| Apartment total | rent + utilities + insurance + commute | $2,075.00. |
| House total | mortgage + tax + insurance + maintenance + utilities + commute | $3,662.94. |
| House costs more (monthly) | house total − apartment total | $1,587.94. |
| House costs more (yearly) | monthly gap × 12 (from unrounded values) | $19,055.34. |
| First-month interest | loan × rate ÷ 12 | $1,950.00. |
| First-month principal (equity) | mortgage − interest | $325.44. |
| House net cost after equity | house total − first-month principal | $3,337.50. |
| Net gap after equity | net house cost − apartment total | $1,262.50. |
| Cost per sq ft, apartment | apartment total ÷ apartment size | $2.44. |
| Cost per sq ft, house | house total ÷ house size | $2.03. |
| Break-even rent | house total − apartment utilities, insurance & commute | $3,387.94. |
| Break-even mortgage payment | apartment total − tax, insurance, maintenance, utilities & commute | $687.50. |
| Break-even house price | price where the house total equals the apartment total | $216,703.21 (exact 216703.2137). |
| Forward check at break-even price | mortgage + tax + maintenance + other house costs | Mortgage $1,095.77, tax $198.64, maintenance $180.59, total $2,075.00. |
| No break-even maintenance | house total with maintenance 0% | House $3,287.94, still $1,212.94 dearer. |
| No break-even commute | apartment commute needed to tie the house | $1,687.94 a month. |
| Rent $1,500 | same model, rent $1,500 | Apartment $1,775.00, house $3,662.94, gap $1,887.94. |
| Rent $2,500 | same model, rent $2,500 | Apartment $2,775.00, house $3,662.94, gap $887.94. |
| Rent $3,000 | same model, rent $3,000 | Apartment $3,275.00, house $3,662.94, gap $387.94. |
| House price $350,000 | same model, $350,000 house | Mortgage $1,769.79, tax $320.83, maintenance $291.67, house $2,982.29, gap $907.29. |
| House price $600,000 | same model, $600,000 house | Mortgage $3,033.93, tax $550.00, maintenance $500.00, house $4,683.93, gap $2,608.93. |
| Rate 5% | same model, 5% rate | Mortgage $1,932.56, house $3,320.06, gap $1,245.06. |
| Rate 8% | same model, 8% rate | Mortgage $2,641.55, house $4,029.05, gap $1,954.05. |
| House commute $0 | same model, house commute $0 | House $3,512.94, gap $1,437.94. |
| Apartment commute $300 | same model, apartment commute $300 | Apartment $2,275.00, house $3,662.94, gap $1,387.94. |
| Maintenance 0.5% | same model, maintenance 0.5% | Maintenance $187.50, house $3,475.44, gap $1,400.44. |
| Maintenance 2% | same model, maintenance 2% | Maintenance $750.00, house $4,037.94, gap $1,962.94. |
| Paid-off house (mortgage $0) | same model, 100% down | Mortgage $0.00, house $1,387.50, gap -$687.50. |
| Apartment 600 sq ft | same model, 600 sq ft apartment | Apartment $2,075.00, house $3,662.94, gap $1,587.94. |
Who uses this
- The renter weighing a $450,000 house: they learn the house costs $1,587.94 a month more than their $1,800 apartment — so they know the house is $19,055.34 a year dearer, and they check the $1,262.50 net gap after equity before deciding whether the space is worth it.
- The renter whose landlord raises the rent to $3,000: they learn the gap shrinks to $387.94 a month — so they know the house is nearly in reach, and they check the $3,387.94 break-even rent before signing another lease.
- The buyer choosing between a $350,000 and a $600,000 house: they learn the cheaper house costs $907.29 a month more than the apartment and the dearer one $2,608.93 a month more — so they know the $250,000 of price is $1,701.64 a month, and they check the $216,703.21 break-even price before stretching.
- The homeowner who paid off the mortgage: they learn the house costs $1,387.50 a month with no mortgage, and the apartment costs $687.50 a month more — so they know the paid-off house wins, and they check the $2.03 a square foot before downsizing to an apartment.
Accuracy & limitations
The math is exact for the numbers you enter: the mortgage is the standard amortization, the tax is 1.1% of the price a year, the maintenance is the percent of the price a year, and the totals are the sums of the parts. What the model cannot do is know your tax rate or your roof: check the property tax, because 1.1% is a national average and your county may be higher or lower, and check the maintenance, because a new house needs less than 1% and an old one needs more. It assumes a 30-year fixed loan and the first month’s principal only — the principal grows over the life of the loan, so the net gap shrinks over time. It leaves out rent rises, home price rises, closing costs, the down payment itself, and any tax deduction for mortgage interest. For the buy-or-rent decision on one property, see rent vs buy calculator; for how much house your income allows, see mortgage affordability calculator.
Cite this calculatorBright Side Kit. “Apartment vs House Calculator: Monthly Costs Compared 2026.” brightoolbox.com, 2026. Method: apartment total = rent + utilities + renter’s insurance + commute; house total = mortgage + property tax + homeowner’s insurance + maintenance + utilities + commute; mortgage = standard 30-year amortization, loan = price × (1 − down %); property tax = 1.1% of price a year ÷ 12; maintenance = maintenance % of price a year ÷ 12; first-month interest = loan × rate ÷ 12; first-month principal = mortgage − interest; net house cost = house total − first-month principal; cost per sq ft = total ÷ size. Defaults: rent $1,800, utilities $150, insurance $25, commute $100, 850 sq ft; house $450,000, 20% down, 6.5%, 30-year fixed, insurance $200, maintenance 1%, utilities $250, commute $150, 1,800 sq ft → mortgage $2,275.44 (exact 2275.4449), tax $412.50, maintenance $375.00, interest $1,950.00, principal $325.44; apartment $2,075.00, house $3,662.94, gap $1,587.94/mo, $19,055.34/yr (from unrounded values); net house $3,337.50, net gap $1,262.50/mo; per sq ft apartment $2.44, house $2.03. Branches: rent $1,500 → apt $1,775.00, gap $1,887.94; rent $2,500 → apt $2,775.00, gap $887.94; rent $3,000 → apt $3,275.00, gap $387.94; price $350,000 → mort $1,769.79, tax $320.83, maint $291.67, house $2,982.29, gap $907.29; price $600,000 → mort $3,033.93, tax $550.00, maint $500.00, house $4,683.93, gap $2,608.93; rate 5% → mort $1,932.56, house $3,320.06, gap $1,245.06; rate 8% → mort $2,641.55, house $4,029.05, gap $1,954.05; house commute $0 → house $3,512.94, gap $1,437.94; apartment commute $300 → apt $2,275.00, gap $1,387.94; maintenance 0.5% → $187.50, house $3,475.44, gap $1,400.44; maintenance 2% → $750.00, house $4,037.94, gap $1,962.94. Reverses: break-even rent $3,387.94; break-even mortgage $687.50; break-even house price $216,703.21 (forward: mortgage $1,095.77, tax $198.64, maintenance $180.59, total $2,075.00); no break-even maintenance (house $3,287.94 at 0% maintenance, $1,212.94 dearer); no break-even commute (apartment commute would need to be $1,687.94/mo). Edges: rent $0 → apt $275.00; mortgage $0 (paid-off house) → house $1,387.50, apartment $687.50 more; apartment 600 sq ft → $3.46/sq ft. Bright Side Kit. "Apartment vs House Calculator: Monthly Costs Compared 2026." https://brightoolbox.com/apartment-vs-house/ Accessed October 25, 2026.
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