Borrowing comparison calculator
Compare two amortising loans on monthly repayment, total interest and total cost.
What the result means
The cheaper monthly repayment is not always the cheaper loan. A shorter term costs more each month and usually less interest overall.
How it is calculated
Compare PMT and PMT × n for each loan using the standard amortising formula
- n: Number of monthly payments in each term.
Each loan is priced independently. The headline names whichever has the lower total repaid.
Assumptions
- Estimates only — not tax, legal, credit or financial advice. Check the official source or your contract before relying on a figure.
- Same principal, fixed rates, no fees.
Worked example
30 years at 5.8% versus 25 years at 5.5%
Same $680,000 principal.
- Look at monthly
- The shorter term usually costs more per month
- Look at total
- The shorter, cheaper-rate loan often wins on total interest
Pick the metric you can actually pay: cashflow versus lifetime interest.
Features still matter
Offset, redraw, package fees and fixed-rate break costs can outweigh a 0.1% rate gap. This comparison is interest and principal only.
Questions
Should I include LMI?
Not here. Lenders mortgage insurance is a separate upfront or capitalised cost. Use the LVR calculator first.
Related calculators
- MortgageEstimate loan repayments, total interest and the principal/interest split for an Australian home loan.
- Extra repaymentsSee how extra monthly repayments cut home-loan interest and years remaining.
- Loan repaymentEstimate repayments and total interest for a personal, car or other amortising loan.
Sources
Moneysmart (ASIC)
Last reviewed 2026-08-19
Moneysmart (ASIC)
Last reviewed 2026-08-19
Home · Last reviewed 2026-08-19
Estimates only. Not tax, legal or financial advice. Check official sources before relying on a figure.
Printed from OzCalc (ozcalc.com). Last reviewed 2026-08-19. Estimates only — not tax, legal or financial advice.