It depends on the costs of buying and selling, the rent, and how the home changes in value. Short stays often favor renting, because the upfront costs take time to recover.

No. Selling costs such as agent fees and transfer charges are not included, and they usually make buying look worse for short periods.

If the value drops, the equity falls too, and the buy result gets worse. Try a lower value change to see how much it matters.

Yes, because the cash is gone from your savings. The calculator does not show what that cash could have earned elsewhere.

Owners pay for repairs and upkeep that renters do not. The calculator does not include them, so think about a yearly allowance for repairs and add it to your own comparison if you expect significant work.