Rent vs buy in Greeley, CO
In Greeley, Colorado, the typical rent is $1,454 /mo and the typical home value is $413,427.
Renting comes out $33k ahead over 7 years
Greeley's typical rent and home value form the basis, using 20% down and today's mortgage rate. The break-even point arrives in year 12.
A clearly labeled opinion that shows the math. The figures are estimates rather than quotes. Change any number and the stamp will change.
- Renting leads by
- $33k after 7 years
- Break-even point
- year 12 when owning catches up
- Actual cost of owning
- $3,470 /mo year 1, against $1,454 rent
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Is it cheaper to rent or buy in Greeley?
Renting costs $32,651 less over 7 years, including the money returned when you sell. For the first 11 years, renting costs less. In year 12, owning catches up.
Renting. Owning. Net cost accumulated by year.
Comparing average rent with mortgage payments in Greeley
Rent and mortgage payments don't tell the full story. At Greeley's typical price, here are all the monthly costs for year 1.
| Each month, year 1 | Amount | What it is |
|---|---|---|
| Rent | $1,454 | All of it, every month |
| Mortgage payment | $2,254 | $1,987 of it is interest in year 1 |
| Property tax | $158 | 0.46% of the value a year |
| Insurance | $136 | Census median for the city |
| Upkeep | $345 | 1% of the value a year |
| Owning, cash out | $2,893 | $267 of it builds equity |
| Lost return on the down payment | $672 | The return on cash at 8.3% a year |
| Buying costs, spread out | $172 | 3.5% of the price over 7 years |
| True cost of owning | $3,470 | Cash out, minus the equity share, with the two entries above added. |
Figures behind the Greeley result
- Typical home valueZillow ZHVI, September 2026
- $413,427
- Typical rentZillow ZORI, September 2026
- $1,454 /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, Colorado, 1995 to 2025
- 5.2% 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, Greeley
- 0.46% of value
- Home insuranceCensus ACS 2020-2024, Greeley
- $136 /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 result in Greeley?
Every line marks where Greeley's 7-year result switches, while everything else stays unchanged.
Renting comes out ahead when
- Our calculation uses 5.2%, Colorado's long-run rate, for home prices that grow slower than 6.1% a year.
- The mortgage rate remains above 5.84%.
- Monthly rent for a home like this comes to under $1,800 (typical here: $1,454).
- Before reaching year 12, you move.
When buying comes out ahead
- Home prices rise by more than 6.1% a year.
- You lock in a mortgage rate under 5.84%, while today's rate is 7.24%.
- The same home would cost over $1,800 monthly to rent.
- You remain in the home for 12 years or more.
How Greeley compares with the other 812 cities
| Measure | Greeley | Median city |
|---|---|---|
| Typical home value | $413,427 | $422,451 |
| Typical rent | $1,454 /mo | $1,837 /mo |
| Price-to-rent ratio | 23.7 (#181 of 813) | 18.5 |
| Home prices, last 10 years | 5.4% a year | 6.2% a year |
| Rents, last 5 years | 2.9% a year | 4% a year |
| Property tax | 0.46% | 0.87% |
| Households that rent | 39% | 42% |
Sources: Zillow ZHVI and ZORI, Census ACS 2020-2024.
A look at other Colorado cities
- Rent. Denver, CO. Renting saves you $37k.
- Rent. Colorado Springs, CO. Renting saves you $17k.
- Rent. Aurora, CO. Renting saves you $22k.
- Rent. Fort Collins, CO. Renting saves you $41k.
- Rent. Lakewood, CO. Renting saves you $54k.
- Rent. Thornton, CO. Renting saves you $26k.
- Rent. Arvada, CO. Renting saves you $47k.
- Rent. Westminster, CO. Renting saves you $34k.
- Buy. Pueblo, CO. Buying saves you $5k.
- Rent. Centennial, CO. Renting saves you $53k.
- Rent. Boulder, CO. Renting saves you $147k.
- Rent. Longmont, CO. Renting saves you $45k.