Lease vs Buy Calculator (Car)
This lease vs buy calculator compares the real net cost of leasing a car against financing and keeping it — accounting for the resale equity you'd have if you bought, not just the monthly payment difference. Enter your terms to see which comes out ahead.
The negotiated price, used for both the lease and purchase comparison.
How long you'd lease, or the loan term if buying — kept the same for a fair comparison.
What the car is worth at the end of the term, as a percentage of its price — used for both the lease residual and the buy-side resale assumption.
Multiply by 2,400 for the equivalent APR.
Applied the same way to both the lease and the purchase for a fair comparison.
The interest rate if you finance the purchase.
Applied to the lease payment, and to the purchase price if buying.
Buying advantage over leasing
सेव करने के लिए लॉग इन करें$101
Positive means buying and keeping the car works out cheaper over the term; negative means leasing does.
Frequently asked questions
Does this account for mileage limits on the lease?+
No — leases typically cap annual mileage (commonly 10,000-15,000 km) with per-km penalties for going over. If you drive significantly more than that, factor in the excess-mileage cost separately, since it can meaningfully favor buying.
Why would buying ever cost more than leasing here?+
If your loan rate is high relative to the lease's money factor, or if the vehicle depreciates faster than the assumed resale percentage, the numbers can favor leasing — this is exactly why the calculator compares both rather than assuming one is always better.
Does this account for maintenance costs?+
No — maintenance isn't included on either side. A new lease is often within the manufacturer's warranty for its full term, while an owned car held past its warranty period may need more out-of-pocket repairs, which would favor leasing if that's a real concern for you.