Rent vs buy in Bend, OR
Typical rent is $2,284 /mo in Bend, Oregon, and a typical home runs $721,430.
Over 7 years, renting saves you $93k
Today's mortgage rate applies along with 20% down, based on Bend's typical rent and home value. The break-even point is year 18.
Our clearly labeled opinion includes the math. These are estimates, not quotes. Adjust any number, and the stamp will change.
- Renting leads by
- $93k after 7 years
- Break-even point
- year 18 when owning catches up
- Actual cost of owning
- $5,973 /mo year 1, against $2,284 rent
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Is renting or buying cheaper in Bend?
Across 7 years, renting costs $93,034 less, including the money returned to you when you sell. For the first 17 years, renting costs less. In year 18, owning catches up.
Renting. Owning. Net cost to date for each year.
Average rent compared with mortgage payment in Bend
Rent and mortgage payments aren't the whole story. Here are all monthly costs for year 1 at Bend's typical price.
| Each month, year 1 | Amount | What it is |
|---|---|---|
| Rent | $2,284 | All of it, every month |
| Mortgage payment | $3,933 | $3,467 of it is interest in year 1 |
| Property tax | $349 | 0.58% of the value a year |
| Insurance | $83 | Census median for the city |
| Upkeep | $601 | 1% of the value a year |
| Owning, cash out | $4,966 | $466 of it builds equity |
| Lost return on the down payment | $1,173 | Annual earnings on the cash at 8.3% |
| Buying costs, spread out | $301 | 3.5% of the price over 7 years |
| True cost of owning | $5,973 | Add the two lines above to cash out after subtracting the equity part. |
Numbers supporting the Bend result
- Value of a typical homeZillow ZHVI, September 2026
- $721,430
- Typical rent source: Zillow ZORI, September 2026
- $2,284 /mo
- A 20% down payment avoids private mortgage insurance, but the engine doesn't model it.
- 20%
- Mortgage rate: Freddie Mac Primary Mortgage Market Survey (FRED MORTGAGE30US)
- 7.24%
- House price growth, based on the FHFA index, Oregon, 1995 to 2025
- 4.9% yearly
- Rent growthAnnual growth in the CPI for primary residence rent, 2006 to 2026
- 3.5% yearly
- Savings return: 60% S&P 500 with dividends, plus 40% 10-year Treasuries, rebalanced each year, 1928 to 2025
- 8.3% yearly
- Tax on propertyCensus ACS 2020-2024, Bend
- 0.58% of the value
- Insurance for the homeCensus ACS 2020-2024, Bend
- $83 each month
- Upkeep, per Fannie Mae, low end of 1% to 4%
- Each year, 1% of value.
- Costs to buyFreddie Mac, midpoint of 2% to 5%
- 3.5% of the home's price
- Costs of sellingAgent commission plus closing costs
- 6% of the price
Which changes could reverse the result in Bend?
The 7-year verdict in Bend changes at each listed point, with everything else remaining as it is.
Renting wins in these cases
- Home prices grow by less than 6.4% each year, using 4.9%, Oregon's long-term pace.
- The mortgage rate remains above 4.94%.
- A similar home rents for under $3,280 a month, compared with the typical $2,284 here.
- You move out before year 18.
Buying wins in these cases
- Home prices increase at more than 6.4% a year.
- You secure a mortgage rate under 4.94%, compared with today's 7.24%.
- The same home would cost over $3,280 a month to rent.
- You remain for at least 18 years.
Bend compared with the other 812 cities
| Measure | Bend | Median city |
|---|---|---|
| Typical home value | $721,430 | $422,451 |
| Typical rent | $2,284 /mo | $1,837 /mo |
| Price-to-rent ratio | 26.3 (#113 of 813) | 18.5 |
| Home prices, last 10 years | 6.3% a year | 6.2% a year |
| Rents, last 5 years | 1.4% a year | 4% a year |
| Property tax | 0.58% | 0.87% |
| Households that rent | 38% | 42% |
The data comes from Zillow ZHVI and ZORI, Census ACS 2020-2024.
Other Oregon cities
- Rent. Portland, OR. By $82k, renting wins.
- Salem, OR. Renting comes out ahead by $48k.
- Eugene, OR. Renting comes out ahead by $49k.
- Gresham, OR. Renting comes out ahead by $61k.
- Hillsboro, OR. Renting comes out ahead by $44k.
- Beaverton, OR. Renting comes out ahead by $65k.
- Medford, OR. Renting comes out ahead by $19k.
- Corvallis, OR. Renting comes out ahead by $93k.
- Renting wins by $31k in Springfield, OR.
- Renting wins by $102k in Tigard, OR.
- Renting wins by $39k in Albany, OR.