Methodology
Every recommendation on Rentarctica comes from a fixed set of rules applied to real pricing data. There is no AI model guessing at costs or generating a verdict: the same inputs always produce the same result.
Rental cost
Rental costs come from provider listings checked directly against the provider's own pricing, not estimated. Each decision page shows a freshness indicator (Fresh, Acceptable or Stale) based on how long ago the price was last checked, and the lowest available rental option is used as the comparison benchmark. Deposits, delivery, installation and pickup fees are included where the provider charges them.
Ownership cost
Ownership cost starts from the product's current purchase price, adds an estimated maintenance cost over the ownership period, and subtracts an estimated resale value at the end of that period. A small opportunity-cost adjustment accounts for the fact that money spent on a purchase upfront could otherwise have earned a return elsewhere. Where a decision compares against a solution bundle rather than a single product, the same approach applies to the bundle's combined price.
Break-even point
The break-even point is the duration at which renting and owning cost the same amount. Below it, renting is typically cheaper; above it, ownership typically is. It is shown alongside the recommendation, not as a substitute for it, since the right choice also depends on factors a pure cost comparison can't capture, like storage space or how likely you are to relocate.
Confidence score
Every recommendation carries a confidence label of high, medium or low. Confidence drops when pricing data is stale, when a decision has limited rental or product data behind it, or when the calculated costs are close enough that a small change in assumptions could flip the recommendation. A low-confidence result is a signal to double-check current prices before deciding, not a reason to distrust the underlying math.
What the calculator considers
Duration is the only required input. Optional details (city, budget, available storage, how likely you are to relocate, required quality level and expected future use) refine the recommendation further but are never required to get a result.
Limitations
Recommendations are estimates based on current pricing and the details you provide, not a guarantee. Retailer and rental prices change; always confirm the current figure at the source before making a decision. Rentarctica does not process rentals or purchases and does not act as a party to any transaction it links to.