Rent vs buy in Daytona Beach, FL
In Daytona Beach, Florida, the typical rent is $1,518 /mo and the typical home is $251,316.
Buying comes out ahead by $35k over 7 years
The assumptions are today's mortgage rate, 20% down, and the typical rent and home value in Daytona Beach's market. The break-even point lands in year 4.
Clearly labelled opinion, with the math shown. Estimates, not quotes. Adjust a number and the stamp shifts.
- Owning leads by
- $35k after 7 years
- Break-even point
- the 4th year when owning catches up
- What owning really costs
- $2,207 per month year 1, against $1,518 rent
Change my numbers
The stamp draws on typical rent and home value for Daytona Beach's market. Change the rent, the price or the number of years and the answer can flip.
Do your numbers differ from the city's?
Fill in the rent, price and down payment you want to use. The stamp shifts with those numbers.
Is renting or buying cheaper in Daytona Beach?
Buying costs $34,768 less over 7 years, including the money you receive when the home sells. In year 4, owning's net cost falls below renting's and stays lower.
Renting costs. Owning costs. Net cost to date, by year.
Average rent compared with the mortgage payment in Daytona Beach
Rent and the mortgage don't tell the whole story. Here's every monthly cost for year 1, based on Daytona Beach's typical price.
| Each month, year 1 | Amount | What it is |
|---|---|---|
| Rent | $1,518 | All of it, every month |
| Mortgage payment | $1,370 | $1,208 of it is interest in year 1 |
| Property tax | $145 | 0.69% of the value a year |
| Insurance | $132 | Census median for the city |
| Upkeep | $209 | 1% of the value a year |
| Owning, cash out | $1,856 | $162 of it builds equity |
| Lost return on the down payment | $408 | The yearly return on that cash: 8.3% |
| Buying costs, spread out | $105 | 3.5% of the price over 7 years |
| True cost of owning | $2,207 | Cash out with the equity part taken off, plus the two lines above |
The numbers that explain the Daytona Beach verdict
- Typical home valueZillow ZHVI, September 2026
- $251,316
- Typical rentZillow ZORI, September 2026
- $1,518 /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, Daytona Beach
- 0.69% of value
- Home insuranceCensus ACS 2020-2024, Daytona Beach
- $132 /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 Daytona Beach?
Each line gives the threshold that flips the 7-year verdict for Daytona Beach, with every other input left as is.
Renting comes out ahead when
- Home prices grow at under 3.7% each year, and we use 5.4%, Florida's rate over the long run.
- The rate you pay on a mortgage remains above 9.67%.
- Renting a home like this costs less than $1,150 each month (typical here: $1,518).
- Your move comes before year 4.
Buying comes out ahead when
- Each year, home prices grow by more than 3.7%.
- The mortgage rate you secure is below 9.67% (today's rate is 7.24%).
- The same home would cost over $1,150 a month to rent.
- You'll be there 4 years or more.
Daytona Beach compared with the other 812 cities
| Measure | Daytona Beach | Median city |
|---|---|---|
| Typical home value | $251,316 | $422,451 |
| Typical rent | $1,518 /mo | $1,837 /mo |
| Price-to-rent ratio | 13.8 (#686 of 813) | 18.5 |
| Home prices, last 10 years | 6.3% a year | 6.2% a year |
| Rents, last 5 years | 3.1% a year | 4% a year |
| Property tax | 0.69% | 0.87% |
| Households that rent | 53% | 42% |
Sources: Zillow ZHVI and ZORI, Census ACS 2020-2024.
More cities in Florida
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- Buy. Buying wins by $48k in Port St. Lucie, FL.
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- Buy. Buying wins by $17k in Hollywood, FL.