---
title: "Home Affordability, Rent vs Buy and Car Cost: Python Script"
description: "A Python script that estimates the home price you can afford, compares renting with buying over time, and totals the true cost of owning a car."
url: "https://mcc-solutionsnj.com/bookkeeping/home-and-car-cost-python-script"
---

Paid script

# Home and car cost tools (Python script)

Three big-purchase questions in one file: what can I afford, is renting or buying better over my time horizon, and what will this car really cost.

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Paid script

## Home and Car Cost Python script

Buy this script on its own for $19, one time. No membership needed. It runs on your own computer and nothing you enter leaves it. Read how it works and the questions below first.

The [Personal Finance Suite](/bookkeeping/personal-finance-suite) includes this and 3 more tools for $29. Members get this included. [See the membership](/membership) or [sign in](/membership/login). Already bought it? Email me my access link.

How it works

## How it works

**Afford** finds the largest home price that keeps housing under 28% and total debt under 36% of gross income, counting taxes, insurance and mortgage insurance. **Rent versus buy** compares your net worth as an owner (after selling costs) with a renter who invests the down payment and the monthly difference, and shows the year buying overtakes renting. **Car** adds the loan, insurance, fuel and maintenance and subtracts resale value to give the true cost per month and per mile. Every assumption can be changed with a flag.

FAQ

## About this calculator

**Is the affordability number a mortgage approval?**

No. It uses common rules of thumb. Lenders also look at credit, savings and other factors, and local taxes and insurance vary.

**Why does rent versus buy depend so much on assumptions?**

Appreciation, rent growth, investment return, upkeep and how long you stay move the answer a lot. The script prints its assumptions and lets you change each one.

**Is this financial or real-estate advice?**

No. It is a planning tool for general information.

**Is anything saved?**

No. The math runs in your browser and nothing you enter is sent to us.

**Is this tax or financial advice?**

No. It is a calculator for general information. Check the numbers against your own records, and ask an accountant before you act on them.

Related: [simple interest calculator](/bookkeeping/simple-interest-calculator), [compound interest calculator](/bookkeeping/compound-interest-calculator). See [all free tools](/free-tools). More free tools: [DuPont analysis calculator](/bookkeeping/dupont-analysis-calculator), [Net profit margin calculator](/bookkeeping/net-profit-margin-calculator), [Late payment fee calculator](/bookkeeping/late-payment-fee-calculator), or [see all free tools](/free-tools).

Free

### Month-End Close Checklist (PDF)

The five-day close, one page to print. Enter your email and we send a link to confirm it is yours, then the download. We may email you about new toolkits, and every email has an unsubscribe link.

General information, not tax or legal advice. [How we write and check our tools](/editorial-standards).

## Want your books and numbers handled?

[Free health check](/bookkeeping/health-check)[Call (908) 444-6373](tel:+19084446373)