Car Lease vs Buy Calculator
Compare the net cost of leasing a car against financing and buying it, including resale value at the end of the lease period.
Your numbers
- Net lease cost
- $18,700
- Net buy cost
- $21,078
- Loan payment
- $653
- Lease
- Buy
How the car lease vs buy calculator works
Lease cost = due at signing + monthly payments × term. Buy cost = down payment + loan payments over the same period − resale value − remaining loan balance (net equity).
Example
Using the default inputs (Vehicle price: $38,000; Lease payment / month: $450; Lease due at signing: $2,500; Lease term (months): 36; Buy down payment: $5,000; …), the calculator returns leasing costs less by of $2,378. Change any field above to see your own result and charts update instantly.
Good for these goals
Frequently asked questions
Is leasing cheaper?
Monthly payments are lower, but you build no equity. Over many years buying usually costs less per year of use.
What about mileage limits?
Leases cap annual miles; overages are charged per mile. Factor that in if you drive a lot.
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Estimates are for educational purposes only and are not financial, tax or legal advice. Results depend on your inputs and simplified assumptions; tax figures reflect 2026 federal rules and may differ from your situation. See our disclaimer. © 2026 FinanzCalc.