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Upfront Housing Cost Calculator
Add up the deposit, agency fee and first month's rent to see the total cash you need to sign a lease.
What counts as upfront cash
This totals the cash you need on hand to actually sign a lease — the security deposit, any agency or broker fee, and first month's rent if it's due at signing — separate from the rent you'll pay each month afterward. It's the number to have ready before you go apartment-hunting.
Local norms vary widely
Deposit sizes and whether tenants pay an agency fee differ a great deal by country and even by city — treat the defaults as a starting point and confirm the actual terms with a local agent or landlord before budgeting around them.
Frequently asked questions
Why is the security deposit expressed in months of rent?
Rental markets commonly set the security deposit as a multiple of one month's rent — often one to three months depending on the country and local market conditions — rather than a fixed dollar amount, so entering it that way makes the calculator work for most destinations.
What's a typical agency or broker fee?
This varies enormously by country and city — in some markets there's no broker fee at all, while in others it's commonly close to one month's rent or a percentage of the annual rent. Check local norms for your specific destination and adjust the months figure accordingly.
Why is first month's rent listed separately from the ongoing rent?
Many leases require first month's rent to be paid in cash at signing, on top of the security deposit and any agency fee — so it's real upfront cash you need on hand, even though it's also part of your regular monthly budget going forward.
Does this include utility connection deposits or furniture costs?
No — this covers the core cash needed to secure the lease itself (deposit, agency fee, and first month's rent). Utility hookup deposits, furniture, and moving-in costs are common additional expenses worth budgeting for separately.