Finance & Money
Car Lease vs Buy Calculator
Use this lease vs buy calculator to make the trade-off visible over the same number of months.
Lower-cost option
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- Lease cost
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- Buy net cost
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Student quick launch
Grade planning, algebra checks, and formulas students reach for most.
Study path
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What the car lease vs buy calculator solves
Use this lease vs buy calculator to make the trade-off visible over the same number of months.
Formula
How to use it
- Enter lease terms.
- Enter buy payment and down payment.
- Estimate end-of-term resale value.
How to read the answer
The lower net cost is not always the better lifestyle choice, but it gives the financial baseline.
Common mistakes and edge cases
- Leases can have mileage and wear fees.
- Buying leaves you with an asset, modeled here as resale value.
- Insurance and maintenance can differ.
Worked examples
Three-year comparison
Lower-cost option
Buy is lower by $10,380.00
High resale estimate
Lower-cost option
Buy is lower by $16,600.00
Frequently asked questions
Is leasing always cheaper monthly?+
Often, but lower monthly payment does not always mean lower total cost.
Why subtract resale value for buying?+
Because you may still own a vehicle that can be sold or traded at the end.
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Last updated: May 8, 2026