Renting vs Buying in 2026: What Actually Makes Sense?

The eternal question. Our framework:

If the property price is more than 20x its annual rent, renting is usually cheaper. Mumbai (30-35x) says rent; Kolkata (16-18x) says buy.

Planning to stay 7+ years in the same city? Ownership almost always wins after tax benefits.

A ₹40L down payment invested at 12% returns beats property appreciation in most micro-markets — unless you count the rent saved.

Run your own numbers with our advisors before deciding — the answer is different for every family.