# Apartment Offer Comparison Tool

Canonical human URL: /tools/apartment-offer-comparison/

## Short description

Compare 2 to 4 apartment offers by rent, concessions, broker fees, deposits, move-in costs, recurring add-ons, upfront cash, and total lease cost.

## Who it is for

Renters comparing apartment offers before signing a lease.

## When to use it

Use it when two apartments have different rent, free-month concessions, broker fees, deposits, utilities, or move-in charges.

## Inputs

Monthly rent, lease length, free months, concession type, deposits, rent due upfront, broker fee type and value, application/admin/amenity/move-in/building fees, pet deposit, monthly add-ons, moving cost, storage, other fees, roommate count, and user share percentage.

## Outputs

Gross lease rent, concession value, net effective rent, recurring monthly add-ons, real monthly cost, upfront cash, refundable upfront, non-refundable upfront, total lease cost, broker fee monthly impact, and comparison labels.

## Formulas used

See /formulas/apartment-offer-comparison.md.

## Example input

Apartment A: $2,450/month, 12 months, 1 month free, no broker fee, $2,450 deposit, $600 admin/move-in fees, $180 monthly utilities/internet.

Apartment B: $2,300/month, 12 months, no free month, 12% broker fee, $2,300 deposit, $250 admin fee, $160 monthly utilities/internet.

## Example output

Apartment A may have lower total 12-month cost because of the free month. Apartment B may look cheaper monthly but the broker fee changes full lease cost and upfront cash.

## Limitations

The tool uses simplified math and user-provided assumptions. It does not verify local rules, lease legality, fee legality, deposit refundability, or affordability.

## Related guides

- /guides/how-to-compare-apartment-offers-before-signing/
- /guides/net-effective-rent-explained/
- /guides/broker-fee-vs-free-month/
- /guides/move-in-cost-calculator/

## Related formula docs

- /formulas/apartment-offer-comparison.md
- /formulas/move-in-cost.md
- /formulas/net-effective-rent.md
- /formulas/broker-fee.md

## Disclaimer

Informational only. Not legal, financial, tax, housing-rights, real estate, or platform-policy advice.