Home Buying Cost Calculator (2026/27)Home Buying Cost Calculator
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Calculator checked against GOV.UK, Revenue Scotland and Welsh Revenue Authority rules on (how we check).
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Advanced fee assumptions
Customise legal, survey and mortgage fees.
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Band-by-band tax breakdown ▼
| Band | Taxable slice | Rate | Tax |
|---|---|---|---|
| Up to £125,000 | £125,000 | 0.0% | £0 |
| £125,001 to £250,000 | £125,000 | 2.0% | £2,500 |
| £250,001 to £925,000 | £65,000 | 5.0% | £3,250 |
| Total | £315,000 | — | £5,750 |
Estimates only. Confirm with your conveyancer and official calculators. Sources.
Selling a property too? All 7 tax packs, CGT included, are £9.99. See the pack library
Selling a property too? All 7 tax packs, CGT included, are £9.99. See the pack library
Not sure what comes next at your stage? Get my free home-buying check →
Cash you need — and when it's due
Deposit + costsThe all-in figure above is your tax and buying fees. But the real cash you need from savings also includes your deposit — and it's not all due on the same day. Set your deposit below to see the true total and the payment timeline.
Assumes a 10% exchange deposit (or your full deposit if smaller). Your lender, not this tool, sets the minimum deposit it will accept. Excludes mortgage interest, moving and ongoing costs. Estimates only — confirm exact figures with your conveyancer.
Local snapshot
Nation and tax regime
England (SDLT)
Typical budget band
Worked example at £315,000
Local fees
Compare My Move's average conveyancing quote in the South West, which covers Cornwall, is £2,049, the 2nd highest of its 10 UK regions, against £1,200 in the calculator's default. It does not say whether VAT or searches are included, so use it to sense-check a quote.
Main towns
Truro, Newquay, St Austell, Penzance, Falmouth
Common budgets in Cornwall
Cornwall house prices in August 2026
Prices in Cornwall have eased over the past year: the average is 2.9% lower than twelve months earlier (England: +0.4%), about £8,200 off the typical home.
Five years earlier, in August 2021, the average in Cornwall was £256,808, so it has changed by +6.9% (£17,762). That is slower than England as a whole (+13.2%).
The spread between property types in Cornwall runs from £144,637 for a typical flat to £419,340 for a detached house, so the tax depends heavily on the kind of home you buy.
The overall average sits closest to the typical semi-detached house (£275,595).
The HPI splits buyers too: in Cornwall the average first-time buyer paid £226,508, while former owner-occupiers paid £321,563.
Cash buyers paid more than mortgage buyers here (£284,554 against £266,768).
| Property type | Average price | Stamp duty: home mover | Stamp duty: first-time buyer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Flat or maisonette | £144,637 | £393 | £0 |
| Terraced house | £227,474 | £2,049 | £0 |
| Semi-detached house | £275,595 | £3,780 | £0 |
| Detached house | £419,340 | £10,967 | £5,967 |
Averages: HM Land Registry UK House Price Index, August 2026 (provisional). Stamp duty at each average price on 2026/27 rates, from this site's calculator.
Source: HM Land Registry: UK House Price Index data downloads, August 2026
Stamp Duty Land Tax at Cornwall prices
At the Cornwall average of £274,570, a home mover pays £3,728 stamp duty. The price reaches the 5% band, which starts at £250,000, so every extra £10,000 adds £500.
First-time buyers are in the strongest position: the average first-time buyer price in Cornwall, £226,508, is £73,492 under the £300,000 relief threshold, so they pay no stamp duty at that price, saving the £2,030 a home mover would pay.
By property type: the average flat, terrace and semi are under £300,000, where a first-time buyer pays nothing; the average detached house falls in the 5% relief band.
A second home or buy-to-let at the Cornwall average pays £17,457, because the 5% surcharge applies to the whole £274,570.
Going £10,000 over the Cornwall average adds £500 of stamp duty for a home mover.
Deposit and cash for a Cornwall purchase
Take a purchase at £226,508, the first-time buyer average in Cornwall: a 10% deposit is £22,651, and with £0 of stamp duty and the calculator's default £2,699 of legal, survey and lender fees, the cash needed is about £25,350.
The England first-time buyer average is £246,042, so a 10% deposit in Cornwall is £1,953 less than the national figure.
| Deposit | Deposit amount | Mortgage | Cash needed (deposit, tax, fees) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5% | £11,325 | £215,183 | £14,024 |
| 10% | £22,651 | £203,857 | £25,350 |
| 15% | £33,976 | £192,532 | £36,675 |
| 25% | £56,627 | £169,881 | £59,326 |
At £226,508 with £0 stamp duty (first-time buyer) and £2,699 default fees. Your lender sets the minimum deposit it will accept.
How Cornwall compares with its neighbours
| Area | Average price | Change in a year | Tax for a home mover at that price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Plymouth | £223,229 | +3.2% | £1,965 SDLT |
| West Devon | £286,921 | -1.5% | £4,346 SDLT |
| Torridge | £267,174 | +0.3% | £3,359 SDLT |
| England | £293,525 | +0.4% | £4,676 SDLT |
HM Land Registry UK House Price Index, August 2026 (provisional). Tax is the area's own nation's tax (SDLT, LBTT or LTT) at the average price, 2026/27 rates.
Source: HM Land Registry: UK House Price Index data downloads, August 2026
Fees and local admin in Cornwall
Registering a £315,000 purchase with HM Land Registry costs £150 online; your conveyancer pays it and passes it on.
FAQ
What is the average house price in Cornwall?
£274,570 in August 2026, according to HM Land Registry's UK House Price Index, -2.9% on a year earlier.
How much stamp duty is due on an average home in Cornwall?
£3,728 for a home mover at £274,570, £0 for a first-time buyer and £17,457 for a second home or buy-to-let, on 2026/27 rates.
Which part of Cornwall is cheapest?
Of the areas compared on this page, Plymouth has the lowest average, £223,229 in August 2026.
What does a buy-to-let at the Cornwall average pay?
£17,457 at £274,570, including the 5% surcharge on the whole price.
How much does a flat cost in Cornwall?
The average flat or maisonette in Cornwall was £144,637 in August 2026, which means £393 of stamp duty for a home mover and £0 for a first-time buyer.
How much more is a detached house than a semi in Cornwall?
£143,745 on average (£419,340 against £275,595), and £7,187 more stamp duty for a home mover.
Sources & references
OfficialThe figures and rules on this page are drawn from the official UK government sources below. Rates are the confirmed 2026/27 amounts. Each link opens the relevant official page in a new tab.
- GOV.UK: Stamp Duty Land Tax www.gov.uk/stamp-duty-land-tax Primary SDLT rules and process for England and Northern Ireland.
- GOV.UK: SDLT residential property rates www.gov.uk/stamp-duty-land-tax/residential-property-rates Current residential SDLT bands, including first-time buyer relief.
- HM Land Registry: registration services fees www.gov.uk/guidance/hm-land-registry-registration-services-fees Official fee scale for registering a property purchase.
- GOV.UK: Buying or selling your home www.gov.uk/buy-sell-your-home Government overview of the home-buying process and costs.
- HM Land Registry: UK House Price Index data downloads, August 2026 www.gov.uk/government/statistical-data-sets/uk-house-price-index-data-downloads-august-2026 Average prices by local authority, property type and buyer type. Published 21 October 2026; the latest months are provisional and can be revised.
Verified against published UK government guidance. See also Methodology and Editorial standards.