Rent vs buy in Burien, WA
In Burien, Washington, the typical rent is $1,748 /mo and the typical home is $625,141.
Over 7 years, renting wins by $102k
Today's mortgage rate and a 20% down payment are paired with Burien's typical rent and the typical home value. The break-even year is 22.
Clearly labelled opinion, with the math shown. These are estimates, not quotes. Adjust a number and the stamp changes.
- Renting leads by
- $102k after 7 years
- Break-even point
- In year 22 when owning catches up
- Actual cost of owning
- $5,389 a month year 1, against $1,748 rent
Change my numbers
Burien's typical rent and typical home value are what the stamp uses. Your rent, price and years can flip the result.
Are your numbers different from the city's?
Enter your own rent, price and down payment. That changes the stamp.
In Burien, does renting or buying cost less?
Counting the money you get back when you sell, renting costs $101,684 less over 7 years. For the first 21 years, renting costs less. By year 22, owning catches up.
Rent. Buy. Net cost to date, by year.
In Burien: average rent vs mortgage payment
Rent and mortgage payments don't cover everything. Here are all monthly costs for year 1 using the typical price in Burien's market.
| Each month, year 1 | Amount | What it is |
|---|---|---|
| Rent | $1,748 | All of it, every month |
| Mortgage payment | $3,408 | $3,004 of it is interest in year 1 |
| Property tax | $490 | 0.94% of the value a year |
| Insurance | $98 | Census median for the city |
| Upkeep | $521 | 1% of the value a year |
| Owning, cash out | $4,517 | $404 of it builds equity |
| Lost return on the down payment | $1,016 | Cash earnings at 8.3% a year |
| Buying costs, spread out | $260 | 3.5% of the price over 7 years |
| True cost of owning | $5,389 | Cash out minus the equity share, then add both lines above. |
The math behind the Burien verdict
- Typical home valueZillow ZHVI, September 2026
- $625,141
- Typical rentZillow ZORI, September 2026
- $1,748 /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, Burien
- 0.94% of value
- Home insuranceCensus ACS 2020-2024, Burien
- $98 /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
What would flip the verdict in Burien?
Each line shows where the 7-year result in Burien flips. All other figures stay the same.
Renting comes out ahead if
- Growth in home prices stays under 7.1% each year (we use 5.3%, taken from Washington's long-run average).
- The mortgage rate remains above 4.33%.
- For a home like this, monthly rent comes in under $2,840 (typical here: $1,748).
- Your move comes before year 22.
Buying comes out ahead when
- Home prices rise by more than 7.1% a year.
- You secure a mortgage rate under 4.33% (today's rate is 7.24%).
- Rent on that same home would run you more than $2,840 each month.
- You remain there for 22 years or more.
How Burien compares with the other 812 cities
| Measure | Burien | Median city |
|---|---|---|
| Typical home value | $625,141 | $422,451 |
| Typical rent | $1,748 /mo | $1,837 /mo |
| Price-to-rent ratio | 29.8 (#72 of 813) | 18.5 |
| Home prices, last 10 years | 6.3% a year | 6.2% a year |
| Rents, last 5 years | 3.7% a year | 4% a year |
| Property tax | 0.94% | 0.87% |
| Households that rent | 43% | 42% |
Sources: Zillow ZHVI and ZORI, Census ACS 2020-2024.
Cities elsewhere in Washington
- Rent wins by $128k in Seattle, WA.
- Rent wins by $26k in Spokane, WA.
- Rent wins by $41k in Tacoma, WA.
- Rent wins by $39k in Vancouver, WA.
- Rent wins by $294k in Bellevue, WA.
- Rent wins by $83k in Kent, WA.
- Rent wins by $77k in Everett, WA.
- Rent wins by $30k in Spokane Valley, WA.
- Rent wins by $92k in Renton, WA.
- Rent wins by $61k in Federal Way, WA.
- Rent wins by $27k in Yakima, WA.
- Rent wins by $85k in Bellingham, WA.