Rent vs buy in Deltona, FL
In Deltona, Florida, the typical rent is $2,010 /mo and the typical home price is $297,684.
Over 7 years, buying comes out ahead by $63k
Today's mortgage rate is paired with Deltona's typical rent and home value and 20% down. Costs balance in year 3.
Opinion, clearly labeled, with the math shown. These are estimates, not quotes. Change any number, and the stamp will change with it.
- Owning comes out ahead by
- $63k after 7 years
- When costs balance
- year 3 when owning catches up
- Actual cost of owning
- $2,595 /mo year 1, against $2,010 rent
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In Deltona, which costs less, renting or buying?
Across 7 years, buying costs $62,663 less, including the money you get back when you sell. In year 3, owning's net cost falls below renting's and remains lower.
Renting. Owning. Net costs by year so far.
Average rent compared with mortgage payment in Deltona
Year 1 includes more than rent and a mortgage. These are all the monthly costs at Deltona's typical price.
| Each month, year 1 | Amount | What it is |
|---|---|---|
| Rent | $2,010 | All of it, every month |
| Mortgage payment | $1,623 | $1,431 of it is interest in year 1 |
| Property tax | $166 | 0.67% of the value a year |
| Insurance | $142 | Census median for the city |
| Upkeep | $248 | 1% of the value a year |
| Owning, cash out | $2,179 | $192 of it builds equity |
| Lost return on the down payment | $484 | The earnings the cash would bring in at 8.3% a year |
| Buying costs, spread out | $124 | 3.5% of the price over 7 years |
| True cost of owning | $2,595 | Subtract equity from cash out and add the two lines above |
The figures behind Deltona's verdict
- Typical home valueZillow ZHVI, September 2026
- $297,684
- Typical rentZillow ZORI, September 2026
- $2,010 /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, Deltona
- 0.67% of value
- Home insuranceCensus ACS 2020-2024, Deltona
- $142 /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 Deltona result?
Each line shows when the 7-year result for Deltona changes. All other factors stay as they are.
Renting comes out ahead when
- Each year, home prices rise by less than 2.8% (our calculation uses 5.4%, Florida's long-run rate).
- For this result, the mortgage rate stays above 10.93%.
- Monthly rent for a home like this is under $1,340. The typical rent here is $2,010.
- Moving before year 3.
Buying is ahead when
- Each year, home prices rise by more than 2.8%.
- You lock the mortgage rate under 10.93%. Today's rate stands at 7.24%.
- You'd pay more than $1,340 a month to rent that same home.
- You remain in the home for 3 years or longer.
How Deltona compares with the other 812 cities
| Measure | Deltona | Median city |
|---|---|---|
| Typical home value | $297,684 | $422,451 |
| Typical rent | $2,010 /mo | $1,837 /mo |
| Price-to-rent ratio | 12.3 (#752 of 813) | 18.5 |
| Home prices, last 10 years | 8% a year | 6.2% a year |
| Rents, last 5 years | 5.1% a year | 4% a year |
| Property tax | 0.67% | 0.87% |
| Households that rent | 20% | 42% |
Sources: Zillow ZHVI and ZORI, Census ACS 2020-2024.
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