Rent vs buy in Delray Beach, FL
For Delray Beach, Florida, typical rent is $2,820 /mo and typical home value is $345,071.
Over 7 years, buying comes out ahead by $109k
The figures combine Delray Beach's typical rent with its typical home value, plus 20% down and today's mortgage rate. The break-even point arrives in year 2.
A clearly labeled opinion with the math shown. These are estimates, not quotes. The stamp changes when you change a number.
- Owning leads by
- $109k after 7 years
- The break-even point
- year 2 when owning catches up
- Actual cost of ownership
- $3,111 /mo year 1, against $2,820 rent
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In Delray Beach, is renting or buying cheaper?
Over 7 years, buying costs $109,195 less, including the money you receive when you sell. In year 2, owning's net cost falls below renting's and remains lower.
Renting. Owning. Net cost by year so far.
Comparing average rent with mortgage payments in Delray Beach
At Delray Beach's typical price, here's every monthly cost for year 1. Rent and the mortgage are only part of the story.
| Each month, year 1 | Amount | What it is |
|---|---|---|
| Rent | $2,820 | All of it, every month |
| Mortgage payment | $1,881 | $1,658 of it is interest in year 1 |
| Property tax | $230 | 0.8% of the value a year |
| Insurance | $230 | Census median for the city |
| Upkeep | $288 | 1% of the value a year |
| Owning, cash out | $2,629 | $223 of it builds equity |
| Lost return on the down payment | $561 | Annual return on the cash at 8.3% |
| Buying costs, spread out | $144 | 3.5% of the price over 7 years |
| True cost of owning | $3,111 | Cash out minus the equity amount, with the two figures above added |
The figures behind Delray Beach's verdict
- Typical home valueHome value data: Zillow ZHVI, September 2026
- $345,071
- Typical rentRent data: Zillow ZORI, September 2026
- $2,820 monthly
- A 20% down payment avoids private mortgage insurance, which the engine doesn't include in its model.
- 20%
- Rate used: Freddie Mac Primary Mortgage Market Survey (FRED MORTGAGE30US)
- 7.24%
- FHFA house price index, Florida, 1995 to 2025 for home price growth
- Each year: 5.4%
- Rent growthCPI primary residence rent, yearly growth 2006 to 2026
- Each year: 3.5%
- Return on savings: 40% 10-year Treasuries and 60% S&P 500 with dividends, rebalanced yearly, 1928 to 2025
- Each year: 8.3%
- Tax on propertyCensus ACS 2020-2024, Delray Beach
- An amount equal to 0.8% of value
- Census ACS 2020-2024, Delray Beach for home insurance
- $230 monthly
- Maintenance: Fannie Mae, 1% to 4%, low end
- Each year: 1% of value
- Buying costs based on Freddie Mac, middle of 2% to 5%
- The amount equals 3.5% of the price.
- Selling costs include Agent commission plus closing costs
- The amount equals 6% of the price.
What would change the Delray Beach outcome?
Each line shows the point where the 7-year result for Delray Beach changes, with every other factor unchanged.
When renting wins
- Home price growth under 1.2% a year (our model uses 5.4%, which is Florida's long-run rate).
- A mortgage rate above 12.79% remains in place.
- For a home like this, rent is less than $1,650 each month (typical here: $2,820).
- Your move comes before year 2.
When buying wins
- Home prices increase by more than 1.2% each year.
- You lock in a mortgage rate under 12.79%, compared with today's 7.24%.
- The same home would cost more than $1,650 a month to rent.
- You remain for 2 years or longer.
Delray Beach compared with the other 812 cities
| Measure | Delray Beach | Median city |
|---|---|---|
| Typical home value | $345,071 | $422,451 |
| Typical rent | $2,820 /mo | $1,837 /mo |
| Price-to-rent ratio | 10.2 (#785 of 813) | 18.5 |
| Home prices, last 10 years | 5.6% a year | 6.2% a year |
| Rents, last 5 years | 3.9% a year | 4% a year |
| Property tax | 0.80% | 0.87% |
| Households that rent | 37% | 42% |
The figures draw from Zillow ZHVI and ZORI, Census ACS 2020-2024.
More Florida cities
- Buy in Jacksonville, FL. Buying wins by $27k.
- Buy in Miami, FL. Buying wins by $27k.
- Buy in Tampa, FL. Buying wins by $19k.
- Buy in Orlando, FL. Buying wins by $17k.
- For St. Petersburg, FL, the recommendation is Buy. Buying wins by $41k.
- For Port St. Lucie, FL, the recommendation is Buy. Buying wins by $48k.
- Buy. For Hialeah, FL, buying wins by $37k.
- Buying is better in Cape Coral, FL, where it comes out ahead by $36k.
- Buying is better in Tallahassee, FL, where it comes out ahead by $11k.
- Buying is better in Fort Lauderdale, FL, where it comes out ahead by $25k.
- Buying is better in Pembroke Pines, FL, where it comes out ahead by $22k.
- Buying is better in Hollywood, FL, where it comes out ahead by $17k.