Renting vs Buying Your First Home: An Honest Comparison

The Real Cost of Buying

EMI is only part of the picture. Add registration (5–7 %), maintenance, property tax, and opportunity cost of the down payment. In high-value metros, renting the same flat costs 40–60 % less per month than an EMI.

When Buying Wins

If you plan to stay in one city for 7+ years, property appreciation and loan principal repayment build equity that rent never will. Tax benefits under Section 24 and 80C sweeten the deal further.

Run the numbers for your specific city and salary before deciding—there is no universal right answer.