Rent vs buy in Clearwater, FL
In Clearwater, Florida, the typical rent is $1,975 /mo and the typical home is $340,654.
Buying comes out ahead by $40k over 7 years
With Clearwater's typical rent and home value, plus 20% down and today's mortgage rate. You break even in year 4.
Our clearly labeled opinion includes the math. These figures are estimates rather than quotes. Adjust a number, and the stamp updates.
- Owning leads by
- $40k after 7 years
- The break-even point
- In year 4 when owning catches up
- Full cost of ownership
- $2,988 each month year 1, against $1,975 rent
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Clearwater's typical rent and home value are the figures used in the stamp. Your rent, price and number of years can change the result.
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Is it cheaper to rent or buy in Clearwater?
Over 7 years, buying costs $39,545 less when you include the money returned after you sell. In year 4, owning's net cost falls below renting's and remains lower.
For renting. For owning. Net cost to date, by year.
Comparing average rent with mortgage payment in Clearwater
Rent and the mortgage don't cover everything at Clearwater's typical price. Here are all monthly costs for year 1.
| Each month, year 1 | Amount | What it is |
|---|---|---|
| Rent | $1,975 | All of it, every month |
| Mortgage payment | $1,857 | $1,637 of it is interest in year 1 |
| Property tax | $207 | 0.73% of the value a year |
| Insurance | $164 | Census median for the city |
| Upkeep | $284 | 1% of the value a year |
| Owning, cash out | $2,512 | $220 of it builds equity |
| Lost return on the down payment | $554 | At 8.3% a year, this is what the cash would earn. |
| Buying costs, spread out | $142 | 3.5% of the price over 7 years |
| True cost of owning | $2,988 | Cash out, minus the equity part, then add the two lines above |
Clearwater verdict: the numbers behind it
- Typical home valueZillow ZHVI, September 2026
- $340,654
- Typical rentZillow ZORI, September 2026
- $1,975 /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, Florida, 1995 to 2025
- 5.4% 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, Clearwater
- 0.73% of value
- Home insuranceCensus ACS 2020-2024, Clearwater
- $164 /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
Which changes would flip the Clearwater result?
Each line marks where the 7-year result in Clearwater changes, while everything else stays the same.
When renting wins
- Home prices grow below 4.0% a year, while the calculation uses Florida's long-run rate of 5.4%.
- The mortgage rate remains above 9.28%.
- A home like this has a monthly rent below $1,550, while the local typical rent is $1,975.
- Moving before year 4 changes the result.
When buying wins
- Home prices increase by more than 4.0% each year.
- You secure a mortgage rate below 9.28%, compared with today's rate of 7.24%.
- If you rented the same home, you'd pay more than $1,550 a month.
- Your stay lasts 4 years or longer.
The other 812 cities compared with Clearwater
| Measure | Clearwater | Median city |
|---|---|---|
| Typical home value | $340,654 | $422,451 |
| Typical rent | $1,975 /mo | $1,837 /mo |
| Price-to-rent ratio | 14.4 (#661 of 813) | 18.5 |
| Home prices, last 10 years | 6.5% a year | 6.2% a year |
| Rents, last 5 years | 2.9% a year | 4% a year |
| Property tax | 0.73% | 0.87% |
| Households that rent | 41% | 42% |
Sources: Zillow ZHVI and ZORI, Census ACS 2020-2024.
More cities in Florida
- Buying wins by $27k in Jacksonville, FL.
- Buying wins by $27k in Miami, FL.
- Buying wins by $19k in Tampa, FL.
- Buying wins by $17k in Orlando, FL.
- Buying wins by $41k in St. Petersburg, FL.
- Buying wins by $48k in Port St. Lucie, FL.
- Buying wins by $37k in Hialeah, FL.
- Buying wins by $36k in Cape Coral, FL.
- Buying wins by $11k in Tallahassee, FL.
- Buying wins by $25k in Fort Lauderdale, FL.
- Buying wins by $22k in Pembroke Pines, FL.
- Buying wins by $17k in Hollywood, FL.