That is the crux for so many people. I have a professional friend who is looking to buy and acknowledges that his "costs" will increase by $150 pw if he does buy. However he has not been saving $150pw at all, in fact has never saved and is a financial dunce. If he had saved this in the last 20 odd years and grown his investment he might have something. But because he prefers to spend on frivilous things he is not saddled with debt and struggling to get by week on week. Sad but reality for so many renters in this country. But they make their own bed.