Rent vs buy in Bellevue, WA
In Bellevue, Washington, the typical rent is $2,759 /mo and the typical home value is $1,386,450.
Over 7 years, renting comes out ahead by $294k.
The comparison uses 20% down and today's mortgage rate, along with Bellevue's typical home value and typical rent. No break-even point within the 30 year period.
Clearly labelled opinion, with the math shown. These figures are estimates, not quotes. Adjust any number and the stamp updates.
- Renting leads by
- $294k after 7 years
- Break-even point
- 30 years or more owning never catches up sooner
- Real cost of owning
- $11,573 each month year 1, against $2,759 rent
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Is it cheaper to rent or buy in Bellevue?
Across 7 years, renting comes out $293,924 cheaper, counting the money you get back when you sell. In every year shown, renting's net cost stays under owning's, and owning never catches up within the 30 year period.
Rent. Buy. Net cost to date, by year.
In Bellevue, average rent vs mortgage payment
Rent and mortgage payments don't cover everything, so here are all monthly expenses in year 1 at the typical price in Bellevue's market.
| Each month, year 1 | Amount | What it is |
|---|---|---|
| Rent | $2,759 | All of it, every month |
| Mortgage payment | $7,559 | $6,663 of it is interest in year 1 |
| Property tax | $809 | 0.7% of the value a year |
| Insurance | $115 | Census median for the city |
| Upkeep | $1,155 | 1% of the value a year |
| Owning, cash out | $9,638 | $896 of it builds equity |
| Lost return on the down payment | $2,254 | How much the cash would earn each year at 8.3% |
| Buying costs, spread out | $578 | 3.5% of the price over 7 years |
| True cost of owning | $11,573 | Cash out, minus the equity share, plus both lines above |
The figures behind the Bellevue result
- Typical home valueZillow ZHVI, September 2026
- $1,386,450
- Typical rentZillow ZORI, September 2026
- $2,759 /mo
- Down payment20% avoids private mortgage insurance, which the engine does not model
- 20%
- Mortgage rateFreddie Mac Primary Mortgage Market Survey (FRED MORTGAGE30US)
- 7.24%
- Home price growthFHFA house price index, Washington, 1995 to 2025
- 5.3% a year
- Rent growthCPI rent of primary residence, yearly growth 2006 to 2026
- 3.5% a year
- Return on savings60% S&P 500 with dividends and 40% 10-year Treasuries, rebalanced yearly, 1928 to 2025
- 8.3% a year
- Property taxCensus ACS 2020-2024, Bellevue
- 0.7% of value
- Home insuranceCensus ACS 2020-2024, Bellevue
- $115 /mo
- MaintenanceFannie Mae, low end of 1% to 4%
- 1% of value a year
- Buying costsFreddie Mac, middle of 2% to 5%
- 3.5% of price
- Selling costsAgent commission plus closing costs
- 6% of price
In Bellevue, what would flip it?
Every line marks a point that changes the 7-year verdict for Bellevue, with all other inputs left as they are.
Renting is better when
- Annual home price growth below 7.6% is the condition. We apply 5.3%, Washington's long-run figure.
- The mortgage rate holds above 3.42%.
- A home like this has a monthly rent under $5,910 (typical here: $2,759).
- If you move anytime during the next 30 years, owning never makes up the gap at these numbers.
Buying is better when
- Home prices rise by more than 7.6% a year.
- You secure a mortgage rate under 3.42% (today's is 7.24%).
- If you rented this same home, you'd pay more than $5,910 a month.
How Bellevue compares with the other 812 cities
| Measure | Bellevue | Median city |
|---|---|---|
| Typical home value | $1,386,450 | $422,451 |
| Typical rent | $2,759 /mo | $1,837 /mo |
| Price-to-rent ratio | 41.9 (#7 of 813) | 18.5 |
| Home prices, last 10 years | 7.3% a year | 6.2% a year |
| Rents, last 5 years | 3.1% a year | 4% a year |
| Property tax | 0.70% | 0.87% |
| Households that rent | 48% | 42% |
Sources: Zillow ZHVI and ZORI, Census ACS 2020-2024.
More cities in Washington
- Renting wins by $128k in Seattle, WA.
- Renting wins by $26k in Spokane, WA.
- Renting wins by $41k in Tacoma, WA.
- Renting wins by $39k in Vancouver, WA.
- Renting wins by $83k in Kent, WA.
- Renting wins by $77k in Everett, WA.
- Renting wins by $30k in Spokane Valley, WA.
- Renting wins by $92k in Renton, WA.
- Renting wins by $61k in Federal Way, WA.
- Renting wins by $27k in Yakima, WA.
- Renting wins by $85k in Bellingham, WA.
- Renting wins by $218k in Kirkland, WA.