Is Buying a House Cheaper Than Renting?
Author: Zillow
Published: 2017/05/01 - Updated: 2025/03/25
Publication Type: Instructive / Helpful
Peer-Reviewed: Yes
Topic: Disability Housing - Publications List
Page Content: Synopsis - Introduction - Main - Insights, Updates
Synopsis: Information including facts and figures on purchasing a house versus renting a property with example statistics in various U.S. cities.
Why it matters: This report analyzes the financial dynamics between renting and buying homes across various U.S. cities, revealing that in many regions, purchasing a home can be more cost-effective than renting. For instance, in Cleveland, renters paying the median rent can afford to buy a home valued at $174,194 without increasing their monthly housing expenses, encompassing over 80% of available properties. Conversely, in high-cost markets like San Francisco, the median rent falls short of covering the expenses associated with owning a median-valued home, highlighting the significant regional disparities in housing affordability - Disabled World (DW).
Introduction
Median rent is more expensive than the mortgage payment on a median valued home in the U.S., but many renters struggle to come up with a down payment. Rent is so high that a typical renter in the U.S. can purchase a home nearly 50 percent more expensive than the median valued home and keep the same monthly housing budget, according to a new Zillow analysis. The median rent in the U.S. is $1,416 per month, which is enough to cover the monthly expenses associated with owning a $289,505 home. The median U.S. home value is $196,500.
Main Item
Affordability is a growing concern across the country, and rent requires almost half of the median income in some of the nation's most expensive markets. A mortgage payment is cheaper than a rental payment on a monthly basis, but saving enough money for the down payment is holding back many renters from crossing over into homeownership.
Zillow analyzed the median rent payment in cities across the country to determine how much home a prospective buyer could afford without spending more on a mortgage than they were currently spending on rent.
Zillow factored in all monthly homeownership costs, such as property taxes, maintenance and insurance (i). In 37 of the 50 cities Zillow analyzed, renters could buy a home worth more than the median valued home in their city without spending more on monthly housing costs.
Renters paying the median rent in Cleveland and Milwaukee can afford to buy a home more than twice as expensive as the local median home value.
In Cleveland, prospective buyers can buy a home valued at $174,194 while keeping all monthly housing costs the same - this represents more than 80 percent of homes currently on the market.
San Francisco is one of the only cities in the country where a monthly rental payment would not cover the costs of owning the median valued home. Renters in San Francisco who want to keep monthly expenses the same would have to buy a home valued at $865,857, representing just 23 percent of homes currently on the market. The median home value in the city of San Francisco is over $1 million.
"Renters hesitant to enter the home buying market for fear of not being able to find an affordable home should be encouraged to discover they may have more options than they thought," said Zillow Chief Economist Dr. Svenja Gudell.
"However, it's worth noting that many of the more affordable homes for sale may be older, smaller and/or located in less-desirable neighborhoods than they might like. The decision between buying and renting is a financial trade-off between saving more each month on a mortgage payment versus spending more on rent but taking advantage of the location and lifestyle amenities urban renting often offers. Recent slowdowns in rent growth may take some of the edge off for renters saving to become homeowners. This is good news, since saving a down payment, qualifying for a loan and finding a home available at a manageable price remain hurdles for millions of aspiring buyers."
Nearly half of all buyers are entering the market for the first-time, according to the 2016 Zillow Group Report on Consumer Housing Trends. The majority of all buyers stay within the same city when they move.
| Location | Zillow RentIndex(ii) (ZRI) 3/17 | Zillow HomeValue Index(iii) (ZHVI), 3/17 | Value of Home Affordable without Increasing Mthly Housing Costs | Share of Available Inventory |
| United States | $1,416 | $196,500 | $289,505 | 56.8% |
| New York, NY | $2,372 | $650,000 | $484,962 | 28.7% |
| Los Angeles, CA | $2,863 | $622,900 | $585,348 | 27.6% |
| Chicago, IL | $1,650 | $220,900 | $337,347 | 57.1% |
| Philadelphia, PA | $1,218 | $136,100 | $249,023 | 71.9% |
| Phoenix, AZ | $1,256 | $208,600 | $256,793 | 40.6% |
| Las Vegas, NV | $1,245 | $212,500 | $254,544 | 47.5% |
| San Diego, CA | $2,503 | $558,600 | $511,745 | 31.3% |
| Dallas, TX | $1,393 | $163,200 | $284,803 | 24.7% |
| San Jose, CA | $3,310 | $862,800 | $676,739 | 28.3% |
| Jacksonville, FL | $1,171 | $148,400 | $239,414 | 59.1% |
| San Francisco, CA | $4,235 | $1,167,200 | $865,857 | 22.8% |
| Austin, TX | $1,848 | $316,800 | $377,829 | 33.2% |
| Detroit, MI | $751 | $ 39,100 | $153,544 | 92.2% |
| Columbus, OH | $1,150 | $127,400 | $235,121 | 71.2% |
| Memphis, TN | $851 | $ 80,200 | $173,989 | 73.5% |
| Charlotte, NC | $1,309 | $181,200 | $267,629 | 37.9% |
| El Paso, TX | $998 | $113,800 | $204,044 | 64.5% |
| Boston, MA | $2,634 | $542,100 | $538,529 | 23.4% |
| Seattle, WA | $2,540 | $638,100 | $519,310 | 26.5% |
| Baltimore, MD | $1,301 | $124,100 | $265,993 | 79.2% |
| Denver, CO | $2,000 | $377,500 | $408,906 | 31.2% |
| Washington, DC | $2,635 | $559,200 | $538,733 | 45.3% |
| Nashville, TN | $1,550 | $223,800 | $316,902 | 38.8% |
| Milwaukee, WI | $1,138 | $105,700 | $232,667 | 86.0% |
| Tucson, AZ | $1,080 | $162,000 | $220,809 | 48.1% |
| Portland, OR | $1,895 | $414,800 | $387,438 | 31.3% |
| Omaha, NE | $1,308 | $151,700 | $267,424 | 49.4% |
| Albuquerque, NM | $1,205 | $187,500 | $246,366 | 56.8% |
| Fresno, CA | $1,256 | $209,600 | $256,793 | 55.6% |
| Sacramento, CA | $1,543 | $293,600 | $315,471 | 60.5% |
| Mesa, AZ | $1,289 | $219,100 | $263,540 | 47.2% |
| Long Beach, CA | $2,459 | $548,400 | $502,749 | 46.7% |
| Kansas City, MO | $1,042 | $119,400 | $213,040 | 53.6% |
| Virginia Beach, VA | $1,562 | $255,900 | $319,355 | 57.2% |
| Colorado Springs, CO | $1,425 | $246,800 | $291,345 | 32.2% |
| Atlanta, GA | $1,510 | $206,800 | $308,724 | 46.6% |
| Miami, FL | $2,093 | $299,900 | $427,920 | 45.4% |
| Oakland, CA | $2,973 | $676,900 | $607,838 | 52.8% |
| Cleveland, OH | $852 | $ 56,300 | $174,194 | 81.9% |
| Honolulu, HI | $2,438 | $671,800 | $498,456 | 36.5% |
| Minneapolis, MN | $1,617 | $231,200 | $330,600 | 50.3% |
| Baton Rouge, LA | $1,342 | $155,800 | $274,376 | 60.3% |
| New Orleans, LA | $1,377 | $173,800 | $281,531 | 47.0% |
| Arlington, TX | $1,465 | $176,000 | $299,523 | 57.0% |
| Raleigh, NC | $1,400 | $221,000 | $286,234 | 28.0% |
| Wichita, KS | $947 | $121,000 | $193,617 | 57.7% |
| Tampa, FL | $1,347 | $182,700 | $275,398 | 46.3% |
| Anaheim, CA | $2,642 | $560,200 | $540,164 | 31.7% |
| Santa Ana, CA | $2,490 | $493,900 | $509,087 | 42.0% |
| Aurora, CO | $1,783 | $281,000 | $364,539 | 56.0% |
(i) This analysis assumes a 20% down payment, and property taxes of 1% of the home value annually, maintenance costs of 1% of the home value annually, and homeowners' insurance of 0.5% each year.
(ii) The Zillow Rent Index (ZRI) is the median Rent Zestimate® (estimated monthly rental price) for a given geographic area on a given day, and includes the value of all single-family residences, condominiums, cooperatives and apartments in Zillow's database, regardless of whether they are currently listed for rent. It is expressed in dollars.
(iii) The Zillow Home Value Index (ZHVI) is the median estimated home value for a given geographic area on a given day and includes the value of all single-family residences, condominiums and cooperatives, regardless of whether they sold within a given period. It is expressed in dollars, and seasonally adjusted.
Insights, Analysis, and Developments
Editorial Note: The insights from this report underscore the importance of evaluating local housing markets when considering a transition from renting to homeownership. While buying may offer financial advantages in certain areas, prospective homeowners must also consider factors such as down payment requirements, property maintenance, and personal circumstances to make informed decisions - Disabled World (DW).Attribution/Source(s): This peer reviewed publication was selected for publishing by the editors of Disabled World (DW) due to its relevance to the disability community. Originally authored by Zillow and published on 2017/05/01, this content may have been edited for style, clarity, or brevity. For further details or clarifications, Zillow can be contacted at zillow.com NOTE: Disabled World does not provide any warranties or endorsements related to this article.