True Cost of Buying
Calculate the true cost of any purchase including financing, accessories, maintenance, electricity, and opportunity cost.
Enter Your Values
Using shared profile · 3,500/mo · EUR — edit on Dashboard
Results update automatically as you change values.
What-If Scenarios
Results update instantlyCost Breakdown
True Cost Breakdown
Click chart to expand
Scenario Analysis
How the outcome shifts if your assumptions turn out better or worse than expected.
Best-case outcome with favorable assumptions.
Most likely outcome based on your inputs.
Conservative outcome with cautious assumptions.
Compare Scenarios
Pin up to 3 and see them side by sideSet your inputs, then Pin current to save this scenario. Pin a few variations to compare their scores and outcomes here.
What Moves the Needle Most
How much each factor changes your True 5-Year Cost across its full range. Purchase Price has the biggest impact.
Focus your attention on Purchase Price — getting it right matters most. Factors lower down move the result less, so rough estimates there are fine.
Confidence & Assumptions
The outcome is fairly stable across best and worst cases — this is a robust decision.
Sticker Price: €1,500 (worst) → €1,500 (expected) → €1,500 (best)
These are the estimates the result depends on. Adjust them (and the Advanced inputs) to match your real situation — the closer they are to reality, the more reliable your decision.
These estimates are for informational purposes only and do not constitute financial advice. Actual results may vary based on factors not captured in this calculator.
How This Calculator Works
What this calculator does
Go beyond sticker price to calculate the true total cost of ownership for any purchase.
How the calculation works
Adds financing interest, accessories, maintenance, running costs, and opportunity cost, minus resale value.
Formula
True Cost = Price + Finance + Accessories + Maintenance + Running − Resale + Opportunity Cost
Example
A €1,500 laptop's true 5-year cost is ~€1,920 when you include accessories, maintenance, and opportunity cost.
How to Use This Calculator
- 1Enter your numbers
Fill in the inputs for True Cost of Buying. Defaults are realistic starting points — replace them with your actual figures.
- 2Understand the calculation
Adds financing interest, accessories, maintenance, running costs, and opportunity cost, minus resale value.
- 3Review results and scenarios
Check metrics, cost breakdown, comparison tables, and best / expected / worst scenarios. Use sliders to stress-test assumptions.
- 4Decide with the verdict
Read the decision engine recommendation and FAQ. Example: A €1,500 laptop's true 5-year cost is ~€1,920 when you include accessories, maintenance, and opportunity cost.
Factors to Consider
- Works for cars, phones, laptops, appliances, furniture
- Opportunity cost is often the largest hidden factor
- Resale value reduces true cost
Common Mistakes
- Ignoring financing interest
- Forgetting annual running costs
Frequently Asked Questions
What is opportunity cost?+
Money spent on a purchase could have been invested instead. At 7% returns, €1,500 grows to €2,100 in 5 years.
This calculator provides estimates for informational purposes only and does not constitute financial, investment, tax, or legal advice. Always consult a qualified professional before making important financial decisions.
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