Cash-on-Cash Return Calculator — United States 2026
The cash a rental property actually returns on the cash you put into it — rent less expenses less the loan, before and after what the tax system does with the result, and against what the same deposit would have earned sitting still.
Cash-on-cash return is one division: the net cash the property throws off in a year over the cash you had to find to buy it.
| Effective rent | $23,040.00 |
|---|---|
| Expenses | -$11,143.20 |
| Loan repayments | -$26,400.00 |
| Net cash flow | — |
| Cash-on-Cash | -12.09 |
|---|---|
| CD 5% | 5 |
| After-tax CoC | -9.43 |
How the cash-on-cash return works
Cash-on-cash return is one division: the net cash the property throws off in a year over the cash you had to find to buy it. It is not yield and it is not total return. Yield ignores the loan, which is usually the largest number on the page; total return counts capital growth, which is a forecast rather than a fact. Cash-on-cash is the one figure that answers what the deposit is doing this year, which is the question that decides whether you can hold the property. The inputs that move it most are vacancy and the loan type: a 4% vacancy allowance is two weeks of the year, and switching from interest-only to principal-and-interest raises the repayment sharply while turning part of it into equity rather than cost — the calculator counts the whole repayment as an outflow, because that is what leaves your account. The comparison line is the deposit at a term-deposit or CD rate, which is the honest opportunity cost: a property returning less in cash than a savings account is being held for growth, and that should be a decision rather than a surprize.
Formula: net cash flow = rent × (1 − vacancy) − expenses − loan repayments · cash-on-cash = net cash flow ÷ cash invested
United States Rental Cash Return Notes
US cash-on-cash return is driven by down payment, closing costs, amortizing versus interest-only debt, vacancy allowance, property tax, insurance, maintenance, and management fees.
This version uses US rental-property language and passive-loss context rather than Australian estimated tax, stamp-duty, or negative-gearing assumptions.
US setup: this cash on cash return is tuned for dollar-denominated scenarios, American payroll and tax references, state-by-state cost differences, and the finance terms people see in lender, employer, or IRS-facing documents.
The page keeps US language in place where it is relevant, including IRS, federal withholding, FICA, 401(k), sales tax, miles, APR, down payment, paycheck, state tax, and USD totals.
Treat the answer as a United States estimate; before acting, compare it with provider disclosures, state rules, federal guidance, lender underwriting, payroll settings, or advice from a qualified professional.
Indicative estimates. Tax implications depend on full income profile. Always consult a licensed financial adviser and accountant before investing.
More CoC scenarios All calculations run 100% in your browser. The calculator code does not submit your figures to GlobalCalc to obtain a result. FormulaThe Cash-on-Cash return formula explained
A simple but strict definition
Cash-on-Cash return (CoC) measures the annual pre-tax cash return on the actual cash you sunk into an investment. The formula is annual pre-tax cash flow ÷ total cash invested. 'Cash invested' means your deposit, Transfer tax, legal and inspection fees, and any initial capex — not the borrowed portion. 'Cash flow' is net rent received minus loan repayments, council rates, strata, insurance, management, maintenance and vacancy allowance.
Worked example on an Austin condo
Buy a $600,000 Austin condo. Cash in: $120,000 deposit + $8,000 transfer tax + $2,500 legals and pest/building = $145,570. Loan of $480,000 at 6.25% P&I costs $35,462/year. Rent at $550/wk = $28,600. Strata $4,500, rates $1,400, insurance $700, management 7% of rent ($2,002), maintenance 1% of value ($6,000), vacancy 2 weeks ($1,100). Total expenses before loan: $15,702. Net cash after loan: $28,600 − $15,702 − $35,462 = −$22,564, i.e. net rental loss. CoC is −15.5% pre-tax — expected in year 1 of a high-growth US metro strategy.
| Line | Amount |
|---|---|
| Annual rent | $28,600 |
| Holding costs | −$15,702 |
| Loan repayments | −$35,462 |
| Pre-tax cash flow | −$22,564 |
| Cash invested | $145,570 |
| CoC | −15.5% |
CoC is a pre-tax, pre-capital-growth measure — it ignores depreciation, tax refunds and capital appreciation. Use it to compare the immediate cashflow efficiency of different deals, not their lifetime return.
US benchmarksTypical US property CoC return ranges
CoC varies wildly by strategy and location
US residential markets are among the lowest-yielding in the OECD — capital growth has historically done the heavy lifting. The ranges below are indicative pre-tax CoC in year 1, assuming 80% LTV, current metro rates and typical holding costs. Data sources: CoreLogic median yields, SQM Research vacancy reports, and Residex rental surveys.
| Strategy | Typical CoC year 1 | Capital growth bias |
|---|---|---|
| New York / San Francisco downtown condo | 0.5% to 1.5% | High |
| Austin / Phoenix suburban house | 1% to 3% | High |
| Regional Midwest house | 4% to 6% | Medium |
| Granny flat / dual-occupancy | 5% to 8% | Medium |
| NDIS / SDA housing | 7% to 12% | Low |
| Small commercial (office/retail) | 7% to 12% | Low–Medium |
Why metros still attract capital
Despite poor CoC, Coastal-metro dwellings have averaged 5–7% p.a. capital growth over 20 years (the BLS Residential Property Price Indexes). Investors willingly accept negative CoC for capital growth. For income-focused retirees or self-directed retirement plans in pension phase, the yield-chasing end of the table is more relevant — at the cost of thinner growth and higher vacancy risk.
CoC vs yieldCash-on-Cash vs gross rental yield vs IRR
Three different lenses on the same deal
These three metrics are routinely confused in US property marketing:
Gross rental yield = annual rent ÷ property price. Ignores expenses and leverage. Used for high-level screening. A 4% gross yield on a $600k place means $24k rent. Published by CoreLogic monthly.
Net yield = (annual rent − expenses) ÷ property price. Better than gross. Still ignores financing. A $4k/year expense block drops a 4% gross yield to about 3.3% net.
Cash-on-Cash = (annual rent − expenses − loan repayments) ÷ cash in. Adds leverage into the picture. Usually much lower than net yield for residential, or even negative on highly-geared CBD units.
Internal rate of return (IRR) = the discount rate that makes net present value of all cashflows (including sale proceeds) zero. The only metric that properly incorporates capital growth and exit timing. Better for 10-year holding comparisons.
When to use which
Use gross yield to shortlist suburbs, net yield to compare holding costs between comparable properties, CoC to compare deals with different deposits or loan structures, and IRR to decide when to sell. The CFPB investor guidance specifically warns that gross yield alone is misleading — it's a marketing number, not a return.
Improving CoCLevers to improve CoC on US property
Levers that actually move the needle
Larger deposit. Taking LTV from 90% to 70% saves PMI (typically $10k+) and drops monthly interest. The CoC denominator rises, but annual cashflow can improve by $5k–$8k on a $500k loan — often net-positive once PMI is avoided.
Dual-income configurations. A granny flat (typical build $120k–$170k) can add $350–$500/week rent on the same land, lifting gross yield 1.5–2.5 percentage points without buying a second property. Check local council granny flat rules — local zoning code is the most permissive.
Interest-only vs P&I. IO lifts year-1 cashflow but doesn't build equity; Federal Reserve's 2017–19 clampdown reduced IO availability for investors. Currently ~50% of new investor loans are IO (Federal Reserve statistics). Use strategically, not permanently.
Depreciation schedule. Order a quantity-surveyor depreciation report (tax-deductible) to claim capital works (2.5%/year, post-1987 buildings) and plant-and-equipment depreciation on new fixtures. Typical year-1 deduction on a 5-year-old house: $8,000–$14,000.
passive-loss and withholding planning. Applying to The IRS for a estimated-tax planning brings your rental-property tax adjustment forward through the year rather than waiting until tax time — helps CoC cashflow significantly.
RisksWhy a high CoC may still be a bad investment
High yield usually signals higher risk
A 10% CoC regional mining-town rental looks fantastic on paper — until SQM Research vacancy data shows 8% vacancy (vs 1–2% metro), rents fall 20% with the commodity cycle, and tenant quality drops. Regional US markets show clear boom-bust patterns tied to single employers (Moranbah, Port Hedland, Gladstone). High CoC without diversification is a thinly-disguised bet on a local economy.
Interest-rate sensitivity
AU investor loans are overwhelmingly variable rate (80%+, Federal Reserve statistics). A 2 percentage point rate rise on a $500k investment loan adds about $10,000/year in interest — enough to flip a positive-CoC deal into negative territory. The Federal Reserve's 2022–23 hiking cycle (+4.25%) is a recent real-world stress test.
Maintenance, vacancy, and bad tenants
Budget 1% of property value for annual maintenance (higher on older stock), 2–4 weeks vacancy (longer in cheaper outer suburbs), and cover against 'tenancy disaster' cases. Landlord insurance (Terri Scheer, EBM) costs $300–$600/year and specifically covers rental default and tenant damage — small relative to the 1-in-25 risk of a significant event.
Opportunity cost of capital growth
A 7% CoC regional property growing at 2% p.a. delivers a 10-year compound return of ~9%. A 1% CoC coastal-metro condo growing at 6% delivers ~7% — similar order of magnitude, and the metro tenant pool is deeper. CoC alone cannot rank these. Always model IRR across your realistic holding period.
SourcesWhere these figures come from
Savings and interest figures on this page are drawn from the Federal Reserve (cash rate and published deposit averages), Federal Reserve (the deposit-taker regulator), and The CFPB (consumer guidance).
- Federal Reserve cash rate — Federal Reserve — Cash Rate.
- Deposit interest-rate data — Federal Reserve — Retail Deposit and Investment Rates (F4).
- Financial Claims Scheme (deposit guarantee up to $250k) — Federal Reserve — Financial Claims Scheme.
- Compound interest & savings strategy — the CFPB — Saving.
- Inflation & CPI — the BLS — Consumer Price Index.
Last checked: April 2026. Rates and thresholds are reviewed against the source of record each November, when annual adjustments for the following tax year are published.
Understanding your cash-on-cash returnSelect the question that matches where you are right now.
Your CoC return shows what percentage of your invested cash you get back annually as net cash flow. A positive number means the property is self-funding; negative means you are supplementing it from your salary.
CoC vs gross yieldGross yield (rent ÷ property value) ignores your financing structure and expenses. Two investors buying the same property can have very different CoC returns depending on their deposit size, interest rate, and loan type. CoC is the metric that matters for your specific situation.
The TD benchmarkCompare your CoC to the CD rate (currently ~5%). A higher CoC means property is out-performing a risk-free investment on income alone. A lower CoC means you need capital growth to justify the investment. The comparison is shown in the return comparison chart (Standard mode).
Total return = CoC + capital growthCoC is only the income component. The real power of property is leverage: a 5% capital growth on a $600,000 property (bought with $120,000 cash) = $30,000 growth — a 25% return on your cash investment. Switch to Advanced mode and enter the property value and growth rate to see total equity return.
rental loss deduction is the strategy of accepting a cash flow loss in exchange for tax savings and capital growth. Understanding the true after-tax cost is essential.
The real weekly costA property losing $5,000/yr pre-tax sounds significant — but at 37% marginal rate, you receive a $1,850 tax refund each year. Your actual out-of-pocket cost is $3,150/yr — $61/week. Many investors in capital cities pay $30–$80/week to own a property they expect to grow significantly. Enter your marginal rate in Detailed mode to see your specific after-tax CoC.
Depreciation multiplies the tax benefitDepreciation is a non-cash deduction that further increases your paper loss without any additional cash outflow. A new property might have $10,000 in depreciation claims (building + fixtures). At 37% rate, that is an additional $3,700 tax refund — bringing the effective after-tax "income" from the property significantly closer to break-even, even with a negative cash flow.
When rental loss deduction makes senserental loss deduction is worthwhile when: (1) You have other taxable income (salary or business) to offset the loss against; (2) You are in a marginal rate of 24% or higher — making the IRS subsidy meaningful; (3) You are confident in capital growth of at least 5–7%/yr for the property; (4) You have the cash flow capacity to sustain the shortfall for 5–10 years. It does NOT work for: investors with low income (the tax saving is small), in high-risk/low-growth areas where capital growth is uncertain, or investors who cannot sustain the cash shortfall during vacancy or interest rate rises.
The choice between interest-only and P+I significantly affects CoC return. Switch to Standard mode and toggle the loan type to see the exact difference for your scenario.
IO gives better cash flowOn a $480,000 loan at 5.5%, IO costs $26,400/yr; P+I (30yr) costs ~$32,700/yr — a $6,300/yr difference. On $120,000 cash invested, that is 5.25 percentage points of CoC return. Most investors prefer IO for investment properties because the lower repayments improve cash flow and the full interest remains deductible.
P+I builds equity the hard wayP+I reduces your loan balance each month — building equity. After 5 years on P+I at 5.5% on $480,000, you have reduced the loan by approximately $28,000. This equity is real wealth — but illiquid. IO does not build equity through repayments, relying on capital growth instead. If you expect strong capital growth, IO makes sense. If growth is uncertain, P+I provides a forced equity buffer.
Reversion risk — plan aheadBanks typically limit IO to 5 years for investment loans. When the IO period ends, repayments increase significantly — the remaining loan is amortised over the remaining term (25 years if IO for 5 years on a 30-year loan). Budget for this reversion when stress-testing your investment. If rates rise during your IO period, the reversion to P+I becomes even more expensive. Have a clear exit strategy or refinance plan before the IO period expires.
If your CoC is too low or negative, here are the levers you can pull — some at purchase, some over time.
Rent optimisationRegular market rent reviews (at lease renewal) ensure you are not significantly below market. In most states, rent can only be increased once per 12 months for existing tenants. A $50/week rent increase = $2,600/yr extra income — approximately 2 percentage points of CoC on a $120,000 investment. Use sites like Zillow or Realtor.com to compare similar properties in your area.
Reduce vacancyVacancy has a disproportionate impact on CoC — one month vacant equals 8.3% of annual rent lost. Strategies: (1) Price rent at market (not above) to fill quickly; (2) Accept pets (dramatically increases tenant pool); (3) Provide well-maintained property — good tenants want good homes; (4) Give advance notice of lease expiry and start finding tenants 6 weeks early. Each percentage point of vacancy reduction adds directly to CoC return.
Refinance to lower rateEvery 0.5% rate reduction on a $480,000 loan saves $2,400/yr = 2 percentage points of CoC on $120,000 invested. Mortgage rates for investment properties vary significantly between lenders — 0.5–1.5% differences are common for the same LTV and borrower profile. Refinancing every 2–3 years to chase the most competitive rates is standard practice for active property investors. Use a mortgage broker for access to wholesale rates.
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| Inputs | Cash-on-Cash Return | Note |
|---|---|---|
| 520 a week of rent on a 150,000 deposit, interest only | -8.57% | the loan is larger than everything else put together |
| The same property with no loan at all | 2.79% | unleveraged, the cash return is the yield after costs |
| Principal and interest instead of interest only | -12.4% | the repayment rises, though part of it is now yours |
The sources behind this calculator
- Consumer Financial Protection Bureau — the federal guide to buying a home
Last checked: September 2026. Duty scales are the state revenue offices' own; they change at each state budget and are verified against the office when they do.