Rent vs buy in Camarillo, CA
In Camarillo, California, the typical rent is $2,911 /mo and the typical home is $910,985.
Over 7 years, renting comes out ahead by $90k.
Using Camarillo's typical rent and home value, plus 20% down and today's mortgage rate. The break-even point lands in year 14.
Our take, clearly labelled, with the math laid out. Figures are estimates, not quotes. The stamp updates whenever you change a number.
- Ahead by renting
- $90k after 7 years
- Break-even point
- Year 14 when owning catches up
- Real cost of owning
- $7,600 each month year 1, against $2,911 rent
Change my numbers
The numbers behind the stamp are Camarillo's typical rent and its typical home value. What your rent is, what the price is and how many years you count can flip the result.
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In Camarillo, is renting or buying cheaper?
Counting what you get back when you sell, renting costs $89,676 less over 7 years. For the first 13 years, renting is cheaper. In year 14, owning catches up.
Rent. Buy. Net cost to date, year by year.
Camarillo's average rent compared with the mortgage payment
Rent and the mortgage don't tell the whole story. Here are all the monthly costs in year 1, using Camarillo's typical price.
| Each month, year 1 | Amount | What it is |
|---|---|---|
| Rent | $2,911 | All of it, every month |
| Mortgage payment | $4,967 | $4,378 of it is interest in year 1 |
| Property tax | $493 | 0.65% of the value a year |
| Insurance | $109 | Census median for the city |
| Upkeep | $759 | 1% of the value a year |
| Owning, cash out | $6,328 | $589 of it builds equity |
| Lost return on the down payment | $1,481 | What your cash would earn yearly at 8.3% |
| Buying costs, spread out | $380 | 3.5% of the price over 7 years |
| True cost of owning | $7,600 | Cash out, minus the equity share, plus the two lines above |
Camarillo's verdict, by the numbers
- Typical home valueZillow ZHVI, September 2026
- $910,985
- Typical rentZillow ZORI, September 2026
- $2,911 /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, California, 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, Camarillo
- 0.65% of value
- Home insuranceCensus ACS 2020-2024, Camarillo
- $109 /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 Camarillo, what would flip the result?
Each line marks the point at which the 7-year verdict in Camarillo flips. Everything else stays as it is.
When renting wins
- Home prices grow under 6.4% a year, using 5.3% (California's rate over the long run).
- The mortgage rate remains higher than 5.49%.
- A similar home rents below $3,870 monthly (typical here: $2,911).
- You move earlier than year 14.
When buying wins
- Home prices rise more than 6.4% each year.
- You lock in a mortgage rate under 5.49% (today's is 7.24%).
- That home would cost you over $3,870 a month to rent.
- You remain 14 years or longer.
Camarillo compared with the other 812 cities
| Measure | Camarillo | Median city |
|---|---|---|
| Typical home value | $910,985 | $422,451 |
| Typical rent | $2,911 /mo | $1,837 /mo |
| Price-to-rent ratio | 26.1 (#120 of 813) | 18.5 |
| Home prices, last 10 years | 4.5% a year | 6.2% a year |
| Rents, last 5 years | 3.9% a year | 4% a year |
| Property tax | 0.65% | 0.87% |
| Households that rent | 35% | 42% |
Sources: Zillow ZHVI and ZORI, Census ACS 2020-2024.
Other California cities
- Renting wins by $111k. Los Angeles, CA. Rent.
- Renting wins by $108k. San Diego, CA. Rent.
- Renting wins by $210k. San Jose, CA. Rent.
- Renting wins by $128k. San Francisco, CA. Rent.
- Buying wins by $22k. Fresno, CA. Buy.
- A toss-up in Sacramento, CA: renting sits ahead by $3k. Toss-up.
- Renting wins by $111k. Long Beach, CA. Rent.
- Renting wins by $44k. Oakland, CA. Rent.
- Buying wins by $11k. Bakersfield, CA. Buy.
- Renting wins by $115k. Anaheim, CA. Rent.
- Buying wins by $16k. Stockton, CA. Buy.
- Renting wins by $27k. Riverside, CA. Rent.