Lease Renewal Comparator
Short answer
Staying costs renewal rent × months. Moving costs new rent × months + moving costs + fees. Moving breaks even after one-time costs ÷ monthly saving, once the lower rent has covered the cost of moving. Example over 12 months: staying at $2,200 = $26,400; moving to $1,900 with $1,200 of one-time costs = $24,000, breaking even after 4.0 months.
Last verified: 2026-10-25. This is general information, not legal advice. City ordinances may be stricter and may override state rules. Check the official source for your city and state before acting.
Worked example
| Option | Calculation | Total over 12 months |
|---|---|---|
| Staying (renewal) | $2,200 × 12 | $26,400.00 |
| Moving | $1,900 × 12 + $1,000 moving + $200 fees | $24,000.00 |
| Break-even | $1,200 one-time costs ÷ $300 monthly saving | 4.0 months |
Should you renew or move? Compare the total cost of staying at the renewal rent against moving to a new place — including moving costs and fees — over the period you choose.
This is general information, not legal advice. City ordinances may be stricter and may override state rules. Check the official source for your city and state before acting.
Compare staying vs. moving
Formulas
- Total cost of staying = renewal rent × months.
- Total cost of moving = new-place rent × months + moving costs + fees.
- Monthly difference = renewal rent − new-place rent. A positive figure means staying costs more per month before one-time costs.
- Break-even months = (moving costs + fees) ÷ (renewal rent − new-place rent), when the renewal rent is higher than the new-place rent. After that many months, the rent saving from moving has covered the one-time costs.
Worked example
Current rent $1,800, renewal rent $1,950, new place $1,850, moving costs $800, fees $100, compared over 12 months.
- Staying: $1,950 × 12 = $23,400.
- Moving: $1,850 × 12 + $800 + $100 = $23,100 — $300 cheaper over 12 months.
- Monthly difference: $1,950 − $1,850 = $100 per month.
- Break-even: ($800 + $100) ÷ $100 = 9 months.
Limitations
- This is a rent-and-one-time-cost comparison only. It does not include deposits (often refundable), utilities, commuting, or quality-of-life differences between the two places.
- It assumes both rents stay flat over the comparison period. Real leases may include increases, concessions, or fee changes.
- It makes no claim about whether a renewal increase is lawful — that depends on your lease and on state and city rules. Check the official source for your city and state, and the Rent Cap calculator where a verified cap exists.
Sources
- All figures come from the inputs you enter; no rent rule or cap is assumed by this calculator.
- For verified state rent-cap rules, see the Guides and check the official source for your city and state.
Last verified: 2026-10-25.
Frequently asked questions
How is the staying total calculated?
Renewal rent multiplied by the number of months compared.
How is the moving total calculated?
New rent multiplied by the number of months, plus one-time moving costs and fees.
What is the break-even point?
The number of months after which the lower monthly rent has covered the one-time moving costs: one-time costs divided by the monthly saving.