True Rental Expense Calculator
Rent is never just the rent. Add up inflation, brokerage, deposits, moving and maintenance to see what your renting years will really cost.
Your rental plan
The rent is only the headline. Brokerage on every move, deposits partly withheld, movers, re-furnishing and yearly escalation quietly add lakhs over a decade. This calculator totals what your renting years will really cost — not just the monthly figure.
How it works
- Enter your rent, how long you plan to rent, and how often you tend to move.
- Every year is simulated with rent escalation; every move adds brokerage, deposit losses, movers and re-furnishing.
- It all rolls up into the true total cost of renting, with the share each hidden cost contributes.
Before you start
- Moving frequency: metro renters move every 2–3 years on average — each move restarts brokerage and deposit risk.
- Rent inflation: most Indian agreements build in 5–10% a year; 8% is a realistic metro default.
- Deposit loss: deductions on vacating are common — even 10% of a large deposit adds up across moves.
You'll get
- The total cost of your renting years, in one number
- A cost build-up chart over time
- How much goes to rent vs brokerage, moves and deposit losses
- A year-by-year breakdown as a CSV
Total cost of renting over years
moves · final rent /month
Rent paid
Moving + furnishing
Broker fees
Deposit losses + maintenance
Cost build-up over time
Year-by-year breakdown
| Year | Monthly rent | Rent | Moves & fees | Maintenance | Year total | Cumulative |
|---|
Renting costs, answered
- What does renting really cost beyond the monthly rent?
- Brokerage on every move (often one month of rent), deposit deductions when you leave, moving and re-furnishing costs, society maintenance, and rent inflation of 5–10% a year. Over a decade these typically add several lakhs to the headline rent.
- How much does moving home cost in India?
- A typical intra-city move costs ₹10,000–₹50,000 for packers and movers, plus brokerage of up to one month of the new rent, and any deposit amount your old landlord withholds. This calculator counts your first move-in as well as every subsequent move.
- How fast does rent increase in India?
- Most Indian rental agreements build in 5–10% annual escalation. At 8% a year, a ₹25,000 rent roughly doubles to about ₹50,000 in nine years — a compounding cost renters often underestimate.
- Is my data stored when I use this calculator?
- No. All calculations run in your browser; nothing you enter is sent to or stored on our servers.
Compare against ownership with theRent vs Buy Calculator, or see the other side inHidden Costs of Home Ownership.