Car Lease vs Buy Calculator
Compare total cost of leasing versus financing a car purchase over any time period.
100% client-side · no upload
Lease Total Cost
Buy (Finance) Total Cost
Lower Cash Outflow
How to use
- Enter the lease down payment, monthly payment, and term in months.
- Enter the car's purchase price, your down payment, loan interest rate, and loan term.
- Compare total cash outflow — lease cost vs. total financed purchase cost.
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Frequently Asked Questions
- Is this car lease vs buy calculator free?
- Yes, completely free with no signup required. All calculations run in your browser.
- Does my data leave my device?
- No. Your financial details never leave your device.
- Does it work on mobile?
- Yes. The tool is mobile-first and works on iPhone Safari and Android Chrome.
- Does "buy total" include the car's residual value?
- The buy total shows total cash outflow (down payment + all loan payments). At payoff, you own the car free and clear — its remaining value makes the net cost lower than shown. Lease total is a sunk cost with nothing at the end.
- When does leasing make sense?
- Leasing suits drivers who prefer lower monthly payments, want a new car every 3 years, drive fewer than 12,000–15,000 miles/year, and value warranty coverage. Buying wins financially if you keep cars long-term.
Last updated: By jarvisbox