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Is It Worth Renting?
Decision Helper

Should I Renew My Lease?

A $100 rent increase sounds painful, but is moving actually cheaper? Let's do the math.

Lease Details

Option A: Renew

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New Monthly Rent:$2100

Option B: Move

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Moving Costs

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You Should Probably MOVE

Moving will save you $1610 over the next year despite the upfront costs.

1-Year Cost Comparison

Renew Annual$25,200
Move Rent Annual$22,800
Upfront Move Cost$790
Difference$1,610

The Hidden Costs of Moving

When your landlord raises the rent, your instinct might be to leave. But moving is expensive. You need to factor in:

  • Movers ($500 - $2000): Even if you DIY, you pay for trucks, pizza, and beer.
  • Double Rent ($100 - $500): There's almost always a few days of overlap where you pay specific daily rates for two places.
  • Application Fees ($50 - $200): Background checks and admin fees add up.
  • Security Deposit Risk: Will you get 100% of your old deposit back?

The "Hassle Factor"

Beyond money, what is your weekend worth? Packing up an entire apartment takes roughly 20-40 hours of labor. If you value your time at $50/hour, that's a $1,000 hidden cost right there.