Skip to content
New Zealand estimate

Lease vs Buy Calculator

Compare the total cost of leasing versus buying a car or asset. Enter lease terms, purchase price and finance rate to find the most cost-effective option.

Lease vs Buy Calculator · NZProperty

Results update when you select Calculate.

Example result based on the prefilled values.

Result

12,600.00

Continue your plan

Useful next calculations

Related to this calculation

When to use this calculator

  • Before buying, renting, refinancing, or reviewing a property investment.
  • When you want to compare cash flow, yield, growth, and ownership costs side by side.
  • When you need a fast estimate before speaking to an agent, lender, or adviser.
  • When you are assessing whether a rental property still makes financial sense after a mortgage rate change.
  • When you want to compare the total cost of renting against owning over a five- or ten-year horizon.

A realistic New Zealand planning example

Use these sample inputs as a quick scenario test, then change one variable at a time to compare outcomes.

Vehicle Price (£)

NZ$0.30

Monthly Lease Payment (£)

6

Lease Term (Years)

25 years

Loan Interest Rate (%)

NZ$600,000

After entering these figures, focus on result first and then rerun the tool with a more cautious assumption to understand the realistic range of outcomes rather than relying on a single estimate.

How to read your results

Result

Use this metric to compare scenarios side by side and understand how changes in the key inputs drive the final outcome. If the figure surprises you, isolate one variable at a time and rerun the calculation to identify which assumption is responsible.

Method & assumptionsAuthoritative sources

This calculator compares the total financial cost of leasing (renting) a property against purchasing it on a leasehold or freehold basis over a chosen time horizon. For leasehold purchases, the model includes estimated service charges and ground rent alongside mortgage costs. For freehold, it includes maintenance reserves. The leasing scenario assumes rent increasing annually at your specified rate. The calculator does not predict property value changes or lease extension costs, both of which are highly property-specific. It is intended to provide a structured framework for comparing the two routes rather than a precise financial forecast. Before purchasing any leasehold property, obtain a full set of service charge accounts and take independent legal advice on the lease terms.

Common mistakes

  • !Using an assumption that is not supported by a current local quote, bill, statement or official source.
  • !Treating a generic estimate as a lender, provider, payroll or tax authority decision.
  • !Mixing monthly and annual inputs without converting them consistently.
  • !Forgetting location-specific taxes, fees, eligibility rules or payroll deductions where they apply.
  • !Testing only one scenario instead of checking how a cautious assumption changes the result.

What to do next

  • Run a second scenario with a cautious assumption so you can see the downside clearly.
  • Compare the result with the related calculators below before making a decision.
  • Check current local rules, eligibility and provider terms before applying or committing money.
  • Keep a record of the assumptions so you can update the estimate when a quote, bill or pay figure changes.
  • Use the result to prepare better questions for a lender, provider, adviser or employer rather than treating it as a final answer.

Frequently asked

Leasing suits those who want a new car every few years with lower monthly payments and no depreciation risk. Buying is better if you plan to keep the vehicle long-term, as you build equity and eventually own it outright.

Use arrow keys to navigate items, Enter or Space to expand/collapse.