Rent vs buy in Boulder, CO
In Boulder, Colorado, typical rent is $2,435 /mo and a typical home costs $937,901 (Colorado).
Over 7 years, renting comes out ahead by $147k.
It assumes Boulder's typical rent and home value, puts 20% down and applies today's mortgage rate. The break-even point falls in year 21.
An opinion, clearly labelled, with the math shown. What you see here are estimates, not quotes. Change any number and the stamp shifts.
- Renting leads by
- $147k after 7 years
- Break-even point
- Year 21 when owning catches up
- Real cost of owning
- $7,775 per month year 1, against $2,435 rent
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The stamp works from Boulder's usual rent and home value figures. Your rent, price and years can flip the result.
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In Boulder, is it cheaper to rent or to buy?
Renting is $147,059 cheaper over 7 years, counting what you get back when you sell. For the first 20 years, renting costs less. In year 21, owning catches up.
Rent. Own. Net cost by year so far.
In Boulder: average rent compared with the mortgage payment
Rent and the mortgage alone don't cover everything. Here are all the monthly costs at Boulder's typical price, for year 1.
| Each month, year 1 | Amount | What it is |
|---|---|---|
| Rent | $2,435 | All of it, every month |
| Mortgage payment | $5,113 | $4,507 of it is interest in year 1 |
| Property tax | $399 | 0.51% of the value a year |
| Insurance | $172 | Census median for the city |
| Upkeep | $782 | 1% of the value a year |
| Owning, cash out | $6,466 | $606 of it builds equity |
| Lost return on the down payment | $1,524 | Earnings on that cash at 8.3% a year |
| Buying costs, spread out | $391 | 3.5% of the price over 7 years |
| True cost of owning | $7,775 | Cash out, minus what builds equity, plus the two lines above |
The Boulder verdict, in numbers
- Typical home valueZillow ZHVI, September 2026
- $937,901
- Typical rentZillow ZORI, September 2026
- $2,435 /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, Colorado, 1995 to 2025
- 5.2% 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, Boulder
- 0.51% of value
- Home insuranceCensus ACS 2020-2024, Boulder
- $172 /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 Boulder, what would flip it?
Every line marks where Boulder's 7-year verdict flips, and everything else stays as it is.
Renting wins if
- Home prices rise by less than 6.9% each year, based on our 5.2% figure, which is Colorado's rate over the long run.
- The mortgage rate remains above 4.43%.
- Monthly rent for a similar home comes in under $4,010 (the local typical is $2,435).
- You move before you reach year 21.
Buying wins if
- Home prices grow at a pace above 6.9% a year.
- You lock in a mortgage rate under 4.43% (today's is 7.24%).
- The same home would cost over $4,010 a month to rent.
- You stay put for 21 years or longer.
How Boulder compares with the other 812 cities
| Measure | Boulder | Median city |
|---|---|---|
| Typical home value | $937,901 | $422,451 |
| Typical rent | $2,435 /mo | $1,837 /mo |
| Price-to-rent ratio | 32.1 (#48 of 813) | 18.5 |
| Home prices, last 10 years | 4% a year | 6.2% a year |
| Rents, last 5 years | 3.6% a year | 4% a year |
| Property tax | 0.51% | 0.87% |
| Households that rent | 53% | 42% |
Sources: Zillow ZHVI and ZORI, Census ACS 2020-2024.
More cities in Colorado
- Rent. Renting comes out ahead by $37k in Denver, CO.
- Rent. Colorado Springs, CO. The difference favors renting by $17k.
- Rent. Aurora, CO. Renting is ahead by $22k.
- Rent. Arvada, CO. Renting holds an advantage of $47k.
- Buy. Pueblo, CO. Buying is ahead by $5k.