Lease vs. Buy Calculator
Estimate loan and lease payments at their own end dates. Compare costs only for equal terms, with estimated resale shown separately.
Model assumptions
Loan and lease payments stop at their respective terms. Extra upfront lease cash is nonrefundable and excludes every regular payment and refundable deposit; regular payments are counted separately at month-end. The chart shows gross cash paid without resale. Buying cost subtracts estimated resale at loan-end; comparison requires equal terms. No replacement lease or shared-date remaining debt is estimated. Costs beyond entered amounts, lender rounding and early repayment are excluded. Annual rates are nominal, divided by 12. Amounts are USD.
Why is there no winner for different terms?
Each total covers its own contract period. A longer loan and a shorter lease do not supply the same period of vehicle use. This model does not invent a replacement lease or a shared-date sale. Set equal terms for a modeled cost comparison.
Why does the chart differ from net buying cost?
The chart tracks upfront cash plus scheduled monthly payments, capped at each actual term. Estimated resale is subtracted only from the buying endpoint cost; it is not a payment or a guaranteed vehicle value.