FINANCE TOOL · UPDATED JULY 2026

Rent vs. Buy Calculator (Köpa eller hyra bostad)

Compare the long-term, inflation-adjusted financial impact of buying a bostadsrätt in Sweden versus renting and investing your capital. Updated with the 2026 10% minimum downpayment limit (bolånetak ceiling) and municipal tax relief parameters.

📖Full guide: Buying vs. Renting a Home in Sweden: A Data-Driven Guide for Expats

1. Property & Rent Costs (Bostads- & hyreskostnader)

SEK
SEK/mo
SEK/mo
%
Min 10% (bolånetak cap)
%
yrs
yrs

2. Long-Term Assumptions (Långsiktiga antaganden)

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%
%
%
%
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How the Calculations Work (Hur kalkylen fungerar)

This tool models the long-term compound growth of your net assets under both scenarios. Fill out the inputs and click Compare Rent vs. Buy (Jämför boende).

  • Renting Scenario (Hyra): Compounds your upfront capital (downpayment + stamp duty) at the stock market return (8.0%), compounds monthly savings differences, and subtracts inflation-adjusted rents.
  • Buying Scenario (Köpa): Compounds property value appreciation (4.0%), subtracts total ownership costs (interest after 30% rebate, amortization, BRF avgif), remaining debt, and nominal upfront capital.

Frequently Asked Questions (Vanliga frågor)

What is the minimum downpayment in Sweden in 2026? (Vad är minsta kontantinsats?)

Following recent mortgage policy adjustments, the mortgage loan-to-value (LTV) ceiling is capped at 90%. Therefore, you must provide a minimum cash downpayment (kontantinsats) of 10%.

How does interest tax relief (ränteavdrag) work? (Hur fungerar ränteavdraget?)

You can deduct 30% of your annual interest costs directly from your municipal tax liability, up to a limit of SEK 100,000 per person. Any interest costs above SEK 100,000 qualify for a 21% deduction.

What is the monthly BRF avgif (månadsavgift)? (Vad är månadsavgiften?)

The avgif is a monthly fee paid to your bostadsrättsförening (housing cooperative) to cover building heating, maintenance, and collective debt. Because it does not build equity, it is considered a pure expense.

How the Calculations Work (Hur kalkylen fungerar)

The calculator compares the total, inflation-adjusted net wealth accumulated at the end of the period under both paths:

  • Renting Scenario (Hyresalternativ): Your initial upfront capital (10% downpayment + 1.5% stamp duty) is invested in the stock market on day one, compounding at the stock return rate (default 8.0%). In addition, if renting is cheaper than buying, the monthly difference is invested monthly. The final portfolio value is then adjusted for inflation, and the total inflation-adjusted rent paid is subtracted to find the net wealth benefit.
  • Buying Scenario (Köpalternativ): The property appreciates annually (default 4.0%). The remaining loan is paid down according to the amortization rate. Total buyer costs (interest after 30% tax relief, amortization, and BRF avgif) are tracked and subtracted from the final appreciated property value (including the unadjusted upfront capital cost) to determine net wealth.

Formula Breakdowns (Formelspecifikationer):

  • Total Rent Cost (Total hyreskostnad):
    Calculated as the sum of all monthly rents paid over the period, inflated annually by the Rent Increase % ($4.0\%$), then adjusted to present-day value using the Inflation Rate ($3.0\%$):
    Rent_t = Rent_0 × (1 + Rent Increase)^(t-1) and adjusted by 1 / (1 + Inflation)^t.
  • Investment Portfolio Value (Investeringsportfölj):
    Calculated as the sum of the upfront capital (downpayment + stamp duty) compounding annually at the Stock Return rate ($8.0\%$), plus the monthly savings (buyer cost minus rent) compounded annually at the Stock Return rate, adjusted for inflation at period end:
    Portfolio_t = Portfolio_(t-1) × (1 + Stock Return) + Savings_t.
  • Total Ownership Costs (Totala ägarkostnader):
    Calculated as the sum of all ownership costs over the period, including mortgage interest (reduced by the 30% Swedish interest rebate), principal amortization, and monthly BRF avgif cooperative fees (inflated at 1% per year), adjusted for inflation, plus the unadjusted nominal upfront capital outlay:
    Costs_t = (Interest × 0.7 + Amortization + Avgift) / (1 + Inflation)^t + Upfront Capital (Nominal).
  • Property Value (Bostadens slutvärde):
    Calculated as the purchase price compounded by the Property Appreciation rate ($4.0\%$) over the period, then adjusted for inflation:
    Property Value = Price × (1 + Appreciation)^Period / (1 + Inflation)^Period.