How to read the result
Use the total nonrefundable lease cost to compare the economic burden of an offer. Use move-in cash to plan how much money may be required at signing or before occupancy. Neither view replaces the other.
The security deposit appears separately. Calling it refundable does not guarantee a full return: deductions, timing, property condition, lease language, and applicable rules can affect what happens later.
What the estimate includes
- Concession-adjusted base rent and recurring required fees over the lease.
- Application, administration, move-in, pet, and other nonrefundable upfront charges.
- Rent and recurring charges actually due at move-in.
- A separately displayed refundable security deposit and upfront credit.
What it does not include
- A prediction of deposit deductions or the date a deposit may be returned.
- Moving, furniture, insurance, utility setup, or optional amenity costs.
- Late fees, damage charges, early-termination costs, or lease renewal pricing.
- Legal conclusions about whether a particular fee is permitted.
Formula v1.0.0
Formula and methodology
Inputs keep their full precision during calculation. Rounding is applied only when a number is formatted for display.
Read the site-wide methodologyShow the full formula
- Total nonrefundable cost = concession-adjusted net rent + recurring fees over the lease + nonrefundable upfront charges.
- Effective monthly total = total nonrefundable cost ÷ lease months.
- Cash before credit = rent due now + recurring charges due now + nonrefundable upfront charges + deposit.
- Estimated move-in cash = the greater of zero or cash before credit minus the entered upfront credit.
Worked example · not a default rate
Economic cost and timing can tell different stories
Inputs
- $2,000 rent for 12 months, one free month, and a $500 rent credit
- $350 in recurring monthly fees and $800 in nonrefundable charges
- $2,000 deposit, $2,000 rent due now, and $350 recurring charges due now
- $500 upfront credit applied at move-in
Calculation
- Net rent is $21,500. Recurring charges add $4,200 and nonrefundable upfront charges add $800.
- Total nonrefundable lease cost is $26,500, or about $2,208.33 per month. Cash before the upfront credit is $5,150.
Estimated move-in cash is $4,650, including the $2,000 deposit shown separately. The move-in rent is not added again to the $26,500 lease cost.
Common mistakes
Check the assumptions before the cents.
- Adding first month’s rent to total lease rent a second time.
- Subtracting the same concession twice as both a rent credit and an upfront timing credit.
- Treating every deposit as either permanently lost or guaranteed to be returned.
- Comparing move-in cash alone when two leases have different monthly obligations.
Practical guidance
Use the estimate as a comparison tool.
Enter the offer as the lease actually schedules it. If a concession is paid later, keep its economic value in the rent-credit field and use the move-in timing fields to reflect what is due now.
When comparing apartments, look at available cash, total nonrefundable cost, and monthly cash flow together. A lower total cost can still require more cash upfront.