Rent vs buy in Kyle, TX
In Kyle, Texas, typical rent is $1,566 /mo, and the typical home costs $294,565.
Renting comes out ahead by $21k over 7 years
Using Kyle's typical rent and home value, plus 20% down and today's mortgage rate. You reach break-even at the 12-year mark.
An opinion with a clear label and the math shown. The figures are estimates, not quotes. If you change a number, the stamp changes too.
- Renting comes out ahead by
- $21k after 7 years
- Break-even point
- year 12 when owning catches up
- Actual cost of owning
- $2,829 a month year 1, against $1,566 rent
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Does renting or buying cost less in Kyle?
Over 7 years, renting costs $20,519 less, including the money returned when you sell. For the first 11 years, renting costs less. By year 12, owning catches up.
Renting. Owning. Net cost so far, shown by year.
Kyle's average rent compared with its mortgage payment
At Kyle's typical price, here's every monthly cost for year 1, not just rent and the mortgage.
| Each month, year 1 | Amount | What it is |
|---|---|---|
| Rent | $1,566 | All of it, every month |
| Mortgage payment | $1,606 | $1,416 of it is interest in year 1 |
| Property tax | $452 | 1.84% of the value a year |
| Insurance | $115 | Census median for the city |
| Upkeep | $245 | 1% of the value a year |
| Owning, cash out | $2,418 | $190 of it builds equity |
| Lost return on the down payment | $479 | Annual return on that cash: 8.3% |
| Buying costs, spread out | $123 | 3.5% of the price over 7 years |
| True cost of owning | $2,829 | Cash out, less equity, with the two lines above added |
Figures behind Kyle's verdict
- Typical home valueZillow ZHVI, September 2026
- $294,565
- Typical rentZillow ZORI, September 2026
- $1,566 /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, Texas, 1995 to 2025
- 4.7% 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, Kyle
- 1.84% of value
- Home insuranceCensus ACS 2020-2024, Kyle
- $115 /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 change the result in Kyle?
Each line shows where the 7-year verdict changes in Kyle, while everything else remains unchanged.
Renting costs less when
- Annual home price growth is under 5.6%, and we use Texas's 4.7% long-run rate.
- The rate for your mortgage remains above 6.00%.
- A comparable home rents for under $1,790 each month; the typical amount is $1,566.
- Moving before year 12.
Conditions that favor buying
- Home prices rise at more than 5.6% each year.
- You lock in a mortgage rate under 6.00% (today's is 7.24%).
- For the same home, your rent would exceed $1,790 each month.
- Your stay lasts 12 years or longer.
Kyle compared with the other 812 cities
| Measure | Kyle | Median city |
|---|---|---|
| Typical home value | $294,565 | $422,451 |
| Typical rent | $1,566 /mo | $1,837 /mo |
| Price-to-rent ratio | 15.7 (#586 of 813) | 18.5 |
| Home prices, last 10 years | 3.2% a year | 6.2% a year |
| Rents, last 5 years | -0.6% a year | 4% a year |
| Property tax | 1.84% | 0.87% |
| Households that rent | 33% | 42% |
Sources: Zillow ZHVI and ZORI, Census ACS 2020-2024.
More cities in Texas
- Toss-up. In Houston, TX, renting is ahead by $2k, making the result a toss-up.
- Rent. In San Antonio, TX, renting comes out ahead by $10k.
- Rent. In Dallas, TX, renting comes out ahead by $20k.
- Rent. In Fort Worth, TX, renting comes out ahead by $17k.
- Rent. In Austin, TX, renting comes out ahead by $111k.
- Toss-up. In El Paso, TX, buying is ahead by $2k, making the result a toss-up.
- Rent. In Arlington, TX, renting comes out ahead by $34k.
- Buy. In Corpus Christi, TX, buying comes out ahead by $4k.
- Rent. In Plano, TX, renting comes out ahead by $105k.
- Toss-up. In Lubbock, TX, buying is ahead by $2k, making the result a toss-up.
- Rent. In Laredo, TX, renting comes out ahead by $20k.
- Rent. In Irving, TX, renting comes out ahead by $36k.