Buy or lease? What does your car really cost?
Compare the total cost over your chosen horizon — including down payment, financing interest, residual value and shared fixed costs. Realistic, transparent, no hidden assumptions.
Car & comparison period
MSRP incl. VAT, no discounts factored in.
How long do you plan to drive the car?
Realistic: 45–55% after 4 years for mid-range models.
Insurance + tax + maintenance. Same for both options.
What would unbound money earn in the market?
Buy (with financing)
Equity. Set to 0 for full financing.
APR from your bank or dealer.
Typical: 36 / 48 / 60 / 72 months.
Computed monthly payment€573
Lease
Initial payment at lease start.
Per lease contract (excluding add-ons).
Optional balloon / residual buyout at end of lease. 0 € for closed-end leases.
Lease term = comparison period (4 y.)48 months
Leasing is cheaper – €2,192 difference over 4 years
On average that means €688 per month for buying and €643 per month for leasing — residual value and fixed costs included.
Cost over time
BuyLease
Y-axis: cumulative cash spent (monotonically increasing — never falling). The two dots on the compare-period marker show the net effective cost after the resale proceeds (Buy) and the lease final payment — matching the headline difference above.
No break-even within the visible range — one option stays cheaper the whole time.
Buying — breakdown
- Down payment€5,000
- Paid installments (48 mo.)€27,506
- of which interest€4,182
- Remaining loan at sale€6,676
- Fixed costs (4 y.)€9,600
- Residual value at sale−€15,750
Net cost€33,032
Leasing — breakdown
- Special payment€3,000
- Lease installments (48 mo.)€18,240
- Fixed costs (4 y.)€9,600
- Residual valueno ownership
Net cost€30,840
Investment return included: If you lease, you pay less per month and can invest the difference at 5% p.a. Over 4 years that becomes roughly €2,421 — this opportunity bonus is already deducted from the net cost above.
Assumptions: Insurance, tax and maintenance are assumed equal for both options. When buying, the residual value is deducted from the total; if the loan term exceeds the comparison period, the remaining balance is treated as a bank payoff at sale. Actual figures may differ depending on manufacturer, model, mileage and contract details — the calculator shows a realistic order of magnitude, not a recommendation.
Want the full picture — not just the car?
A car rarely costs only the car. In the Financial Check you see how it fits into your overall wealth, cashflow and retirement plan.