Rent vs buy in Kissimmee, FL
In Kissimmee, Florida, the typical rent is $1,926 /mo, while a typical home costs $355,424.
Over 7 years, buying comes out ahead by $34k.
With Kissimmee's typical home value and rent, plus 20% down and today's mortgage rate. The break-even point is year 5.
Clearly labelled opinion, with the math shown. Estimates, not quotes. The stamp changes when a number changes.
- Owning leads by
- $34k after 7 years
- When it breaks even
- Year 5 when owning catches up
- Actual cost of owning
- $3,055 monthly year 1, against $1,926 rent
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Which costs less in Kissimmee, renting or buying?
Over 7 years, buying is $34,361 cheaper once you count the money returned when you sell. In year 5, owning's net cost falls below renting's and remains lower.
Rent. Ownership. Net cost to date, by year.
Kissimmee: average rent compared with mortgage payment
At Kissimmee's typical price, every monthly cost for year 1 is listed here. The rent and the mortgage don't tell the whole story.
| Each month, year 1 | Amount | What it is |
|---|---|---|
| Rent | $1,926 | All of it, every month |
| Mortgage payment | $1,938 | $1,708 of it is interest in year 1 |
| Property tax | $190 | 0.64% of the value a year |
| Insurance | $135 | Census median for the city |
| Upkeep | $296 | 1% of the value a year |
| Owning, cash out | $2,559 | $230 of it builds equity |
| Lost return on the down payment | $578 | What the cash would earn yearly at 8.3% |
| Buying costs, spread out | $148 | 3.5% of the price over 7 years |
| True cost of owning | $3,055 | Cash paid out, minus the equity portion, plus the two lines above |
What supports the Kissimmee verdict
- Typical home value: Zillow ZHVI, September 2026
- $355,424
- Typical rent: Zillow ZORI, September 2026
- $1,926 each month
- Private mortgage insurance is avoided with a 20% down payment, and the engine doesn't model it.
- 20%
- Rate for mortgages: Freddie Mac Primary Mortgage Market Survey (FRED MORTGAGE30US)
- 7.24%
- FHFA house price index, Florida, 1995 to 2025 shows home price growth
- 5.4% each year
- Rent growth CPI yearly change in primary-residence rent, 2006 to 2026
- 3.5% each year
- Return on savings 60% S&P 500 with dividends plus 40% 10-year Treasuries, yearly rebalancing, 1928 to 2025
- 8.3% each year
- Property tax: Census ACS 2020-2024, Kissimmee
- 0.64% applied to value
- Home insurance: Census ACS 2020-2024, Kissimmee
- $135 /mo
- Maintenance: Fannie Mae, at the low end of the 1% to 4% range
- 1% of value each year
- Buying costsFreddie Mac: 2% to 5% midpoint
- Price times 3.5%
- Selling costsAgent commission and closing costs
- Price times 6%
What would reverse the Kissimmee result?
Each line marks the point where Kissimmee's 7-year verdict changes, while all other factors stay the same.
Renting comes out ahead if
- Home prices grow by less than 4.2% a year, while our calculation uses 5.4%, Florida's long-run rate.
- A mortgage rate remains higher than 8.94%.
- For a home like this, rent is under $1,560 each month (the typical here is $1,926).
- Your move comes before year 5.
When buying wins
- Home prices rise by more than 4.2% each year.
- You secure a mortgage rate under 8.94% (today's rate is 7.24%).
- The monthly rent for that same home would cost you over $1,560.
- You remain for 5 years or more.
Kissimmee compared with the other 812 cities
| Measure | Kissimmee | Median city |
|---|---|---|
| Typical home value | $355,424 | $422,451 |
| Typical rent | $1,926 /mo | $1,837 /mo |
| Price-to-rent ratio | 15.4 (#603 of 813) | 18.5 |
| Home prices, last 10 years | 6.5% a year | 6.2% a year |
| Rents, last 5 years | 2.8% a year | 4% a year |
| Property tax | 0.64% | 0.87% |
| Households that rent | 54% | 42% |
These figures come from Zillow ZHVI and ZORI, Census ACS 2020-2024.
Cities besides Kissimmee in Florida
- Buying wins by $27k in Jacksonville, FL.
- Buying wins by $27k in Miami, FL.
- Buying wins by $19k in Tampa, FL.
- Buying wins by $17k in Orlando, FL.
- Buying wins by $41k in St. Petersburg, FL.
- Buying wins by $48k in Port St. Lucie, FL.
- Buying wins by $37k in Hialeah, FL.
- Buying wins by $36k in Cape Coral, FL.
- Buying wins by $11k in Tallahassee, FL.
- Buying wins by $25k in Fort Lauderdale, FL.
- Pembroke Pines, FL is a buy, with a $22k advantage.
- Hollywood, FL is a buy, with a $17k advantage.