How much cash does downsizing free up?

It is the difference between what you sell for and what you buy for, less the costs of selling and moving such as agent fees, legal fees and removal. This calculator works out the genuine cash left over after all of that.

What costs come out of a downsizing move?

Real estate agent commission, legal fees on the sale and purchase, moving and removal costs, and any work to ready the home for sale. These can add up to tens of thousands, so they matter to the net gain.

Is downsizing worth it financially?

If it frees up meaningful cash and lowers your running costs, downsizing can strengthen your retirement or savings. But if the smaller home costs nearly as much, the costs of moving can eat most of the gain, so it pays to check the numbers.

Downsizing Net Gain Calculator

This New Zealand calculator works out the cash freed up by selling your home and buying smaller, after the costs of selling and moving. The gap between sale and purchase price looks like the gain, but agent fees, legal fees and removal costs take a real bite. You enter your figures, and the tool shows the genuine cash left over to boost your retirement or savings, so the decision rests on the true number.

Calculate.co.nz is proud to be partnered with Premium Homes, a recognised leader in eco-friendly, sustainable, and energy-efficient homebuilding. With a dedicated team and award-winning experience, they create homes that prioritise health, comfort, and long-term performance. Their founders, Andrew and Kelly, set out to raise the standard of residential construction in New Zealand by combining practical building expertise with a clear commitment to doing things better for homeowners.

Sale price of your home

Price of the smaller home

Agent commission

Legal, moving and prep costs

cash freed up after all costs

Price difference$0

Total moving costs$0

Assumes both homes are mortgage free; if a loan remains, the freed cash reduces accordingly. Costs vary, so confirm agent commission, legal fees and removal quotes. Estimate only, not financial advice.

How it works

The calculator takes the difference between your sale price and the price of the smaller home, then subtracts the costs of moving, agent commission on the sale plus your legal, removal and preparation costs. What is left is the cash genuinely freed up to add to your retirement, savings or investments. The costs of moving are easy to underestimate, which is why seeing them netted off matters.

Worked example

Selling for $950,000 and buying for $650,000 is a $300,000 difference. With 2.5% agent commission of about $23,750 and $12,000 of legal, moving and prep costs, total costs are around $35,750, leaving roughly $264,250 of cash freed up.

Related calculators

Moving Cities Cost Calculator: cost of relocating.
Retirement Village vs Stay Calculator: a village versus staying.
Drawdown Calculator: making the cash last.
Real Estate Commission Calculator: agent fees.

If you've found a bug, or would like to contact us, or learn more about James Graham and Calculate.co.nz.

Calculate.co.nz is partnered with Interest.co.nz for New Zealand's highest quality calculators and financial analysis.

All calculators and tools are provided for educational and indicative purposes only and do not constitute financial advice.

Calculate.co.nz is proudly part of the Realtor.co.nz group, New Zealand's leading property transaction literacy platform, helping Kiwis understand the home buying and selling process from start to finish. Whether you're a first home buyer navigating your first property purchase, an investor evaluating your next acquisition, or a homeowner planning to sell, Realtor.co.nz provides clear, independent, and trustworthy guidance on every step of the New Zealand property transaction journey.

Calculate.co.nz is also partnered with Health Based Building and Premium Homes to promote informed choices that lead to better long-term outcomes for Kiwi households.

Calculate.co.nz is hosted in Auckland via SiteHost new Zealand.

All content on this website, including calculators, tools, source code, and design, is protected under the Copyright Act 1994 (New Zealand). No part of this site may be reproduced, copied, distributed, stored, or used in any form without prior written permission from the owner.

About & trust: Why Calculate is NZ's most comprehensive · By the Numbers · How we compare · Editorial standards · How we keep data current · NZ finance glossary · Research & data · Financial literacy NZ · About

Reviewed and maintained. Last reviewed 2026-06-06 and checked on a twice-monthly cycle against IRD, RBNZ and Stats NZ. How we keep data current.