Move or Stay Calculator
Compare your current housing, insurance, commute, utility, tax, and one-time moving costs against a new address before deciding whether to move.
Buying or renting a new home can be emotional. This tool helps add clarity before you sign, waive conditions, or commit to a new address.
Compare Your Current Costs vs. New Address Costs
Enter monthly costs for your current address and the new address. Use annual amounts for auto and home insurance, because insurance quotes are often shown annually.
New address monthly cost minus current monthly cost.
Recurring cost difference over 12 months.
Annual home and auto insurance change.
Estimated time to recover one-time moving costs.
Your move summary
Enter your numbers and calculate to see your estimated move impact.
Insurance hot tips
Quote the new address for home and auto insurance before deciding whether the move is worth it.
A comprehensive home insurance quote can reveal important risk signals before you buy.
Buying a home can be emotional. This worksheet is designed to slow the decision down and show the cost difference, coverage difference, and risk difference before you commit.
Important disclaimer: This tool is for general educational purposes only and is not financial, legal, mortgage, real estate, or insurance advice. It does not guarantee insurance eligibility, pricing, or coverage. Your actual costs may vary. Always confirm property tax, condo fees, mortgage payment, closing costs, commute costs, and insurance quotes with the appropriate professional before making a decision.
Hot tips before you move or buy
A lower purchase price or monthly payment does not always mean the move is cheaper. Insurance can reveal risk and cost differences that may not show up in the listing.
Quote insurance before buying
Getting a comprehensive home insurance quote before buying can reveal issues with water coverage, replacement cost, roof age, electrical, plumbing, oil tanks, prior losses, and insurer eligibility.
Water coverage can be a warning sign
If most companies offer only limited water coverage, higher deductibles, capped limits, or no overland water option, that may be a risk signal. It could suggest the property is in an area with higher flood or water-loss exposure.
Auto insurance changes by address
A new postal code can change auto insurance pricing. Always quote the new address before assuming the move saves money.
If insurance companies are limiting water coverage, that is not just an inconvenience. It may be useful data telling you to investigate the property, flood exposure, drainage, grading, sewer history, sump pump, and basement risk more carefully.
How to use this worksheet
Use this page before signing a lease, making an offer, waiving conditions, or deciding that a move is affordable.
Step 1: Enter your current costs
Add your current rent or mortgage, property tax, utilities, commute, parking, home insurance, and auto insurance.
Step 2: Quote the new address
Get actual home and auto insurance quotes for the new address. Do not rely on your current address premium.
Step 3: Print the worksheet
Use the print button to save the worksheet as a PDF or print it for your real estate, mortgage, or family decision-making file.
The goal is clarity. Moving is not just a rent or mortgage decision — it is a total cost and risk decision.
Continue learning before you move
Home Insurance Learning Hub
Learn about water coverage, replacement cost, exclusions, deductibles, and questions to ask before buying a home.
Auto Insurance Learning Hub
Learn why address, coverage, vehicle, driver history, and policy choices can affect auto insurance costs.
Cancellation Fee Calculator
Thinking about switching insurance mid-term? Estimate whether the savings outweigh the cancellation cost.
