Apartment cost calculator
Apartment Offer Comparison Tool
Compare apartments by rent, concessions, broker fees, deposits, move-in costs, monthly add-ons, and total lease cost before you sign.
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Detailed ledger
Apartment offers
Apartment AOption 1
Apartment BOption 2
The recommendation
Apartment A has the lowest total lease cost
Based on the numbers entered, Apartment A has the lowest total lease cost. Apartment A needs the least upfront cash, and Apartment A has the lowest real monthly cost.
Lowest total cost
Apartment A
$33,581
Lowest upfront cash
Apartment A
$6,225
Offers compared
2
up to 4 offers
Checks before signing
- - This is a calculator, not legal or financial advice. Verify fees, lease terms, and local rules before signing.
- - Apartment A: the free month lowers net effective rent, but your actual monthly payment may still be the full rent.
- - Apartment A: non-refundable fees are a large part of move-in cash.
- - Apartment B: broker fee adds the equivalent of 276/month over the lease.
- - Apartment B: this offer has high upfront cash compared with monthly rent.
- - Apartment B: non-refundable fees are a large part of move-in cash.
Offer comparison summary
Apartment A
- Net effective
- $2,246
- Real monthly
- $2,484
- Upfront
- $6,225
- Total lease
- $33,581
Apartment B
- Net effective
- $2,300
- Real monthly
- $2,538
- Upfront
- $7,837
- Total lease
- $35,993
| Offer | Net effective | Real monthly | Upfront cash | Total lease | Broker impact | Labels |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apartment A | $2,246 | $2,484 | $6,225 | $33,581 | $0/mo | Lowest total costLowest move-in cashLowest monthly costConcession-heavy offerFee-heavy offer |
| Apartment B | $2,300 | $2,538 | $7,837 | $35,993 | $276/mo | Broker fee heavyGood rent, expensive move-inFee-heavy offerLower rent but higher true cost |
Upfront cash by offer
Net effective rent by offer
Real monthly cost by offer
Total lease cost by offer
Upfront cash breakdown
Apartment A
- Upfront
- $6,225
- Refundable
- $2,450
- Non-refundable
- $3,775
Apartment B
- Upfront
- $7,837
- Refundable
- $1,150
- Non-refundable
- $6,687
| Offer | Upfront | Refundable | Non-refundable |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apartment A | $6,225 | $2,450 | $3,775 |
| Apartment B | $7,837 | $1,150 | $6,687 |
Monthly cost breakdown
Apartment A
- Net rent
- $2,246
- Add-ons
- $238
- Real monthly
- $2,484
Apartment B
- Net rent
- $2,300
- Add-ons
- $238
- Real monthly
- $2,538
| Offer | Net rent | Add-ons | Real monthly |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apartment A | $2,246 | $238 | $2,484 |
| Apartment B | $2,300 | $238 | $2,538 |
One-time fee breakdown
Apartment A
- Broker
- $0
- Fees
- $425
- Moving
- $900
Apartment B
- Broker
- $3,312
- Fees
- $425
- Moving
- $650
| Offer | Broker | Fees | Moving |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apartment A | $0 | $425 | $900 |
| Apartment B | $3,312 | $425 | $650 |
Lease cost breakdown
Apartment A
- Gross rent
- $29,400
- Concession
- $2,450
- Excl. refundable
- $31,131
Apartment B
- Gross rent
- $27,600
- Concession
- $0
- Excl. refundable
- $34,843
| Offer | Gross rent | Concession | Excl. refundable |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apartment A | $29,400 | $2,450 | $31,131 |
| Apartment B | $27,600 | $0 | $34,843 |
Saved comparisons
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Example result
Apartment A vs Apartment B
Apartment A may have the lower total 12-month cost because of the free month, while Apartment B may look cheaper monthly but has a broker fee that changes the full lease cost. Verify how concessions and fees are written in the lease before signing.
| Item | Apartment A | Apartment B |
|---|---|---|
| Monthly rent | $2,450 | $2,300 |
| Lease length | 12 months | 12 months |
| Concession | 1 month free | None |
| Broker fee | $0 | 12% of annual rent |
| Security deposit | $2,450 | $2,300 |
| Admin/move-in fees | $600 | $250 |
| Utilities/internet | $180/month | $160/month |
How the apartment comparison formulas work
The calculator keeps each cost category visible so advertised rent, gross rent, net effective rent, actual monthly payment, upfront cash, refundable deposits, non-refundable fees, and total lease cost do not get mixed together.
Gross lease rent
monthlyRent * leaseLengthMonths
Concession value
monthlyRent * freeMonths
Net effective rent
(grossLeaseRent - concessionValue) / leaseLengthMonths
Recurring monthly add-ons
pet rent + parking + utilities + internet + insurance + storage + other monthly fees
Real monthly cost
netEffectiveRent + recurringMonthlyAddOns
Upfront cash needed
deposits + rent due + broker fee + one-time fees + moving estimate
Refundable vs non-refundable
security and pet deposits are tracked separately from fees
Total lease cost
net lease rent + fees + deposits + monthly add-ons over the lease
Broker fee monthly impact
brokerFee / leaseLengthMonths
Common mistakes
- Comparing advertised rent instead of total lease cost
- Ignoring broker fee impact
- Assuming net effective rent is the monthly payment
- Forgetting utilities, internet, parking, pet rent, or storage
- Not separating refundable deposits from non-refundable fees
- Ignoring upfront cash needed before move-in
- Not verifying concession terms in the lease
What to verify before signing
- Actual monthly rent due
- How free months are applied
- Whether broker fee is flat, percentage, or months of rent
- Refundable vs non-refundable fees
- Required deposits
- Utility responsibility
- Pet, parking, building, amenity, and move-in fees
- Roommate payment responsibility
- Local rules and lease-specific terms
FAQ
What is an apartment offer comparison tool?
It is a calculator that compares apartment offers using rent, concessions, broker fees, deposits, recurring add-ons, upfront cash, and total lease cost.
Is net effective rent the same as monthly rent?
No. Net effective rent averages concessions across the lease. Your actual monthly rent due may still be the full gross rent.
How do you compare a broker fee against a free month?
Calculate the concession value, calculate the broker fee, then compare total lease cost and upfront cash side by side.
What is upfront cash?
Upfront cash is the money needed before or near move-in, including rent due, deposits, broker fees, one-time fees, and moving costs.
Should refundable deposits count in total cost?
Track refundable deposits because they affect cash timing, but separate them from non-refundable fees when judging permanent cost.
How do roommate splits change the comparison?
A roommate split can estimate your personal share, but the lease may still define payment responsibility differently.
Can this calculator tell me whether a lease is legal?
No. Local rules and lease terms vary. This calculator is informational and does not provide legal or housing-rights advice.
Does this replace reading the lease?
No. Use it to organize the math, then verify every fee, concession, payment date, and lease term before signing.
Related guides
How to Compare Apartment Offers Before You Sign
Compare apartments by total lease cost, move-in cash, concessions, deposits, and monthly add-ons before committing.
Net Effective Rent Explained: What 1 Month Free Really Means
Understand net effective rent, free-month concessions, and why the monthly payment may still be higher than the advertised deal.
Broker Fee vs Free Month: Which Apartment Deal Is Better?
Compare a broker-fee apartment against a free-month concession using total lease cost and move-in cash.
Move-In Cost Calculator: What to Budget Before Signing a Lease
List deposits, fees, broker costs, moving expenses, and first-month cash before signing a lease.
How Much Cash Do You Need Before Moving Into an Apartment?
Estimate the cash you may need before moving, including deposits, rent due, fees, broker costs, and moving expenses.
Apartment Fees to Ask About Before Signing
A practical list of apartment fees, deposits, and monthly add-ons to ask about before signing.
Gross Rent vs Net Effective Rent
Learn the difference between gross rent, net effective rent, actual monthly payment, and total lease cost.
How to Compare Two Apartments With Different Fees
Compare two apartments when one has lower rent, the other has concessions, and both have different upfront fees.
This calculator is informational and uses simplified examples. It is not legal, financial, tax, housing-rights, real estate, or platform-policy advice. Lease terms, fees, renter protections, and local rules vary. Always verify details with the lease, local rules, and qualified professionals when needed.