Rent vs buy in Daly City, CA
In Daly City, California, typical rent is $3,046 /mo and a typical home costs $1,119,784.
Renting comes out ahead by $151k over 7 years
Today's mortgage rate and a 20% down payment, with the rent and home value typical in Daly City's market. The break-even point is year 18.
An opinion with clear labels and the math shown. These figures are estimates, not quotes. Adjust a number, and the stamp adjusts with it.
- Renting leads by
- $151k after 7 years
- Point where costs match
- year 18 when owning catches up
- Full ownership cost
- $9,242 each month year 1, against $3,046 rent
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In Daly City, is renting or buying cheaper?
Over 7 years, renting costs $150,618 less, including the money returned to you when you sell. For the first 17 years, renting costs less. By year 18, owning has caught up.
Renting. Owning. Net cost by year so far.
Average rent compared with the mortgage payment in Daly City
At Daly City's typical price, here's every monthly expense in year 1, including costs beyond rent and the mortgage.
| Each month, year 1 | Amount | What it is |
|---|---|---|
| Rent | $3,046 | All of it, every month |
| Mortgage payment | $6,105 | $5,381 of it is interest in year 1 |
| Property tax | $541 | 0.58% of the value a year |
| Insurance | $100 | Census median for the city |
| Upkeep | $933 | 1% of the value a year |
| Owning, cash out | $7,679 | $724 of it builds equity |
| Lost return on the down payment | $1,820 | Annual earnings the cash would receive at 8.3% |
| Buying costs, spread out | $467 | 3.5% of the price over 7 years |
| True cost of owning | $9,242 | Cash paid out, minus the equity portion, plus the two amounts listed above |
The Daly City verdict, in numbers
- Typical home valueZillow ZHVI, September 2026
- $1,119,784
- Typical rentZillow ZORI, September 2026
- $3,046 /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, Daly City
- 0.58% of value
- Home insuranceCensus ACS 2020-2024, Daly City
- $100 /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 reverse the Daly City verdict?
Each line shows where the 7-year verdict changes in Daly City; everything else stays as it is.
Renting comes out ahead when
- Home prices increase by less than 6.8% each year. California's long-run rate is 5.3%, which is the rate we apply.
- The mortgage rate remains above 4.84%.
- For a similar home, monthly rent is less than $4,660 (the typical rent here is $3,046).
- You move before the year 18 mark.
When buying comes out ahead
- Annual home price growth exceeds 6.8%.
- A mortgage rate below 4.84% is what you lock in (today's is 7.24%).
- For the same home, renting would cost over $4,660 monthly.
- You stay for 18 years or longer.
How Daly City compares with 812 other cities
| Measure | Daly City | Median city |
|---|---|---|
| Typical home value | $1,119,784 | $422,451 |
| Typical rent | $3,046 /mo | $1,837 /mo |
| Price-to-rent ratio | 30.6 (#64 of 813) | 18.5 |
| Home prices, last 10 years | 3.8% a year | 6.2% a year |
| Rents, last 5 years | 4.9% a year | 4% a year |
| Property tax | 0.58% | 0.87% |
| Households that rent | 40% | 42% |
Sources: Zillow ZHVI and ZORI, Census ACS 2020-2024.
Cities in California besides Daly City
- Rent. Renting wins by $111k in Los Angeles, CA.
- Rent. Renting wins by $108k in San Diego, CA.
- Rent. Renting wins by $210k in San Jose, CA.
- Rent. Renting wins by $128k in San Francisco, CA.
- Buy. Buying wins by $22k in Fresno, CA.
- Toss-up. Renting is ahead by $3k in Sacramento, CA.
- Rent. Renting wins by $111k in Long Beach, CA.
- Rent. Renting wins by $44k in Oakland, CA.
- Buy. In Bakersfield, CA, buying wins by $11k.
- Rent. In Anaheim, CA, renting wins by $115k.
- Buy. In Stockton, CA, buying wins by $16k.
- Rent. In Riverside, CA, renting wins by $27k.