Leasing vs Buying a Car: The Real Cost Comparison

Leasing vs buying a car in the U.S. comes down to real cost over time—lease payments and fees vs. loan payments, depreciation, and eventual resale. Here's the real cost comparison so you see which option costs more.

TL;DR Real cost = total out-of-pocket over the same period. Lease: due at signing + payments × term + fees; no equity at end. Buy: down + payments × term − resale/trade value. Compare with autopremo.com lease vs buy calculator. Use autopremo.com so you decide with data.

What Real Cost Means

Real cost = what you actually pay over 3 or 5 years. Lease: all payments and fees; you return the car. Buy: down payment, payments, interest; you own the car and can sell or trade. Use autopremo.com lease vs buy calculator to compare. Get your numbers at autopremo.com.

Lease Real Cost

Due at signing + monthly payment × term + disposition fee (if you don't buy). No equity at end. Use autopremo.com lease calculator to see lease cost. See lease at autopremo.com.

Buy Real Cost

Down payment + monthly payments × term (principal + interest). At end: subtract resale or trade value for net cost. Use autopremo.com payment calculator and depreciation calculator. Check buy cost at autopremo.com.

Compare Side by Side

Same car, same period (e.g., 3 years). Run lease vs buy with autopremo.com lease vs buy calculator. Compare at autopremo.com.

Bottom Line

Leasing vs buying = real cost comparison over the same period. Use autopremo.com lease vs buy calculator so you see which option costs more and decide with data.