The Renter's Ledger
Compare the entered dollar terms at the same expected occupancy without assigning a dollar value to flexibility.
Enter both offers and compare them across your expected occupancy.
One planning horizon
The worksheet compares month-to-month and fixed-lease costs at each whole month through the fixed term. A known month-to-month rent change is applied chronologically to occupied and entered notice-tail months.
Two fixed-lease paths
Completed-term concessions apply only at the full fixed term. Before completion, the scenario excludes those concessions and includes only the early-exit obligations you enter.
Cash is not always cost
The starting-cash estimate includes the first scheduled rent payment, entered upfront nonrefundable charges, and refundable deposit. Deposits are not treated as projected losses, and option-specific moving costs may occur separately.
Formula
Modeled difference = month-to-month scenario cost - fixed-lease scenario cost.
Deliberate limits
$2,500 month-to-month rent totals $30,000 over 12 months. A $2,300 fixed lease totals $27,600 when the term is completed and no other charges apply.
A lower fixed rent can become more expensive when an entered termination fee, reletting fee, concession repayment, or remaining-rent exposure applies.
A scheduled replacement rent is applied from its effective month through occupied months and any entered notice-tail months.
One free month on a completed 12-month fixed lease subtracts one fixed monthly rent from the completed-term scenario.
The worksheet separately adds the first scheduled rent payment, entered nonrefundable move-in charges, and refundable deposit for each option.
The timeline identifies exact ties, tie intervals, and changes between adjacent months rather than claiming one option is always better.
No. It often has a higher monthly price, but a fixed lease can cost more for a short stay when entered early-exit obligations apply.
No. It models a month-to-month rent change only when you enable the feature and enter both the known replacement rent and effective month.
A fixed-lease free-month or rent-credit concession is included only when the modeled occupancy completes the fixed term.
Refundable deposits are excluded from modeled nonrefundable cost. They appear only in the separate starting-cash estimate.
It is the number of entered future fixed-rent months included in an early-exit scenario, capped at the months remaining in the fixed term.
No. The result compares entered dollar terms only and does not value flexibility, housing quality, renewal risk, or personal preferences.
Last reviewed August 11, 2026 - This calculator provides an informational estimate and is not legal, financial, tax, or housing advice.
