Does buying make sense if the startup might relocate me to another city?

Relocation risk is one of the strongest reasons a founder should think twice before buying. Startups move for talent, for a co-founder, for an investor, or for a market, and a house is the hardest asset to move with you. Selling a home quickly often means accepting a lower price, and the transaction costs on both ends (stamp duty, registration, brokerage) are real money you rarely get back. Renting keeps you able to follow the company without a fire sale. If you are fairly sure you will stay in one city for many years, the calculus shifts and buying can make more sense. If the honest answer is "I am not sure where I will be in three years," that uncertainty has a value, and renting is how you hold on to it. Confirm any tax on a future sale with a CA, since rules change.