In Scotland, monthly home-owning costs have risen 93%, compared to 74% for renting, over the last decade with Scotland being one of only three UK nations or regions where owning a first home is cheaper than renting.

The monthly cost of owning a home in Scotland for first-time buyers is now £953, saving owners £424 annually, compared to those renting an equivalent home, according to the latest Bank of Scotland Owning vs Renting Review.

The latest analysis, based on the housing costs associated with a mortgage on a three-bed home compared to the average monthly rent of the same property type, found that monthly rental costs in 2023 grew by 8% to £988, while homeowning costs grew by 29% to £953.

Since 2013, the monthly home-owning costs have risen 93% with the comparable renting costs up 74%.

Graham Blair, Mortgages Director, Bank of Scotland, said: “First-time homeowners in Scotland are savings hundreds of pounds every year - £424 to be precise - compared to those renting in the country."

“Getting on the property ladder is a major life goal for so many people and it's a big priority for us to help them get there. However, there are quite a few barriers to making the long-term investment in a property, including higher borrowing costs, alongside less homes available to buy. We're big supporters and participants in the Scottish Government’s affordable home ownership schemes, including shared ownership and the mortgage guarantee scheme, as we want as many first-time buyers as possible to secure a place to call their own.”

First-Time Buyer Costs

In 2023, the average costs of a home for Scottish first-time buyers was £196,998, with average deposits around 19% of the purchase price, one of the lowest of all UK nations or regions.