See the real 5-year cost of buying, financing, and leasing side by side, not just the monthly payment a dealer wants you to focus on.
Seeing the true 5-year cost side by side means you're deciding based on total cost, not the monthly payment number a dealer wants you focused on.
Backed by a 30-day money-back guarantee. If it is not useful, we will refund it, no questions asked.
Car dealers sell financing and leasing on monthly payment because a lower payment is easier to say yes to, even when it hides a higher total cost. This spreadsheet puts buying, financing, and leasing side by side so you can see the number that actually matters: what each option costs you over 5 years.
Enter the real monthly cost for each option, plus insurance, maintenance, and any one-time costs like a down payment or lease fees, in the month they hit. The sheet keeps a running cumulative total for all three paths so you can compare them at month 60, and subtract your buy option's estimated resale value for the fairest read.
We built this after watching too many car-buying decisions get made around ‘can I afford this payment’ instead of ‘what does this actually cost me.’ A $50 lower monthly payment can still be the more expensive option once you add up 60 months plus a car you don't own at the end.
— DaveWays
Cumulative totals for buy, finance, and lease side by side show the real cost difference dealers don't volunteer.
Insurance, maintenance, and one-time fees get logged in the month they actually hit, not averaged away.
Subtract your buy option's estimated resale value at month 60 for a fair comparison against leasing.
Does this include interest rate calculations for financing?
Enter your actual quoted monthly payment for the finance option; the sheet compares real payments rather than re-deriving amortization, so it matches what your lender actually quotes.
How do I estimate resale value for the Buy option?
Use a trade-in estimate from a site like Kelley Blue Book or Edmunds for the same mileage and age at month 60, then enter it as a single subtraction from your cumulative buy total.
Can I compare more than one lease or finance offer?
Yes, duplicate the relevant columns for a second offer, or run the sheet once per offer and compare the final cumulative totals side by side.
Car Buying vs Leasing Comparator (Free Preview) — download a condensed version free, no purchase required, to see if it's a fit before you buy.
Car Buying vs Leasing Comparator is $12.99 USD, one-time payment, instant delivery, no subscription. Covered by our 30-day money-back guarantee. See our refund policy and terms.
