Rent vs buy in Hollywood, FL
In Hollywood, Florida, the typical rent is $2,299 /mo and the typical home is $442,331.
Over 7 years, buying wins by $17k.
Today's mortgage rate and 20% down apply to a calculation based on Hollywood's typical rent and home value. Break-even comes in year 6.
Clearly labelled opinion, with the math shown. Estimates, not quotes. The stamp updates whenever you change a number.
- Owning leads by
- $17k after 7 years
- Break-even point
- year 6 when owning catches up
- Full cost of owning
- $3,990 /mo year 1, against $2,299 rent
Change my numbers
Hollywood's typical rent and home value form the basis of the stamp. Your rent, price and number of years can change the result.
Do these numbers differ from the city's?
Enter your rent, price and down payment. When they change, the stamp changes.
Is it cheaper to rent or buy in Hollywood?
Over 7 years, buying costs $16,500 less once you count the money you receive when you sell. In year 6, owning's net cost falls below renting's and remains lower.
Renting. Owning. Net cost so far for each year.
Average rent compared with mortgage payment in Hollywood
Rent and the mortgage don't tell the whole story. Here are all monthly costs for year 1 at Hollywood's typical price.
| Each month, year 1 | Amount | What it is |
|---|---|---|
| Rent | $2,299 | All of it, every month |
| Mortgage payment | $2,412 | $2,126 of it is interest in year 1 |
| Property tax | $321 | 0.87% of the value a year |
| Insurance | $272 | Census median for the city |
| Upkeep | $369 | 1% of the value a year |
| Owning, cash out | $3,373 | $286 of it builds equity |
| Lost return on the down payment | $719 | At 8.3% a year, the cash would earn this amount |
| Buying costs, spread out | $184 | 3.5% of the price over 7 years |
| True cost of owning | $3,990 | Cash out minus the equity portion, plus the two items above |
The figures behind the Hollywood result
- Typical home valueZillow ZHVI, September 2026
- $442,331
- Typical rentZillow ZORI, September 2026
- $2,299 /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, Hollywood
- 0.87% of value
- Home insuranceCensus ACS 2020-2024, Hollywood
- $272 /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 result in Hollywood?
Each line shows the threshold that changes the 7-year result for Hollywood, while all other factors remain the same.
Renting wins if
- We use 5.4% for Florida's long-run rate when home prices grow by less than 5.0% annually.
- A mortgage rate above 7.90% remains in effect.
- For a home like this, the monthly rent is less than $2,120 (typical here: $2,299).
- Before year 6, you move.
Buying is ahead when
- Home prices rise faster than 5.0% a year.
- You secure a mortgage rate below 7.90%, while today's rate is 7.24%.
- Monthly rent for the same home would exceed $2,120.
- You remain there for at least 6 years.
Hollywood compared with 812 other cities
| Measure | Hollywood | Median city |
|---|---|---|
| Typical home value | $442,331 | $422,451 |
| Typical rent | $2,299 /mo | $1,837 /mo |
| Price-to-rent ratio | 16.0 (#553 of 813) | 18.5 |
| Home prices, last 10 years | 6.5% a year | 6.2% a year |
| Rents, last 5 years | 4.5% a year | 4% a year |
| Property tax | 0.87% | 0.87% |
| Households that rent | 41% | 42% |
Sources: Zillow ZHVI and ZORI, Census ACS 2020-2024.
More cities in Florida
- Buy. Jacksonville, FL. Buying comes out ahead by $27k.
- Buy. Miami, FL. Buying comes out ahead by $27k.
- Buy. Tampa, FL. Buying comes out ahead by $19k.
- Buy. Orlando, FL. Buying comes out ahead by $17k.
- Buy. St. Petersburg, FL. The advantage totals $41k for buying.
- Buy. Port St. Lucie, FL. The advantage totals $48k for buying.
- Buy. Hialeah, FL. Buying comes out ahead by $37k.
- Buy. Cape Coral, FL. Buying comes out ahead by $36k.
- Buy. Tallahassee, FL. Buying comes out ahead by $11k.
- Buy. Fort Lauderdale, FL. Buying comes out ahead by $25k.
- Buy. Pembroke Pines, FL. Buying comes out ahead by $22k.
- Buy. Gainesville, FL. Buying comes out ahead by $24k.