Rent vs buy in Largo, FL
In Largo, Florida, typical rent is $1,754 /mo, and a typical home costs $335,649.
Over 7 years, buying comes out $22k ahead
It assumes 20% down plus today's mortgage rate, applied to Largo's typical rent and home value. The break-even year is 5.
Clearly labelled as an opinion, with the math shown. Estimates, not quotes. The stamp changes when you change a number.
- How far owning leads
- $22k after 7 years
- When costs balance
- 5th year when owning catches up
- Full cost of owning
- $2,929 per month year 1, against $1,754 rent
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Which costs less in Largo, renting or buying?
When you include the money returned after the sale, buying costs $22,243 less over 7 years. In year 5, owning's net cost falls below renting's and remains lower.
Renting. Cost of owning. Net cost by year so far.
Largo's average rent compared with mortgage payments
At Largo's typical price, here are all monthly costs for year 1, including rent and the mortgage.
| Each month, year 1 | Amount | What it is |
|---|---|---|
| Rent | $1,754 | All of it, every month |
| Mortgage payment | $1,830 | $1,613 of it is interest in year 1 |
| Property tax | $207 | 0.74% of the value a year |
| Insurance | $144 | Census median for the city |
| Upkeep | $280 | 1% of the value a year |
| Owning, cash out | $2,461 | $217 of it builds equity |
| Lost return on the down payment | $546 | Earnings on cash at 8.3% a year |
| Buying costs, spread out | $140 | 3.5% of the price over 7 years |
| True cost of owning | $2,929 | Cash paid out, minus the equity part, plus the two items above |
Largo's verdict, and the numbers behind it
- Typical home valueZillow ZHVI, September 2026
- $335,649
- Typical rentZillow ZORI, September 2026
- $1,754 /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, Largo
- 0.74% of value
- Home insuranceCensus ACS 2020-2024, Largo
- $144 /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 could reverse the Largo result?
Each line marks where Largo's 7-year verdict changes, while all other factors stay the same.
When renting wins
- Annual home price growth below 4.6% meets this condition. Our figure is 5.4%, Florida's long-run rate.
- A mortgage rate that stays above 8.41% meets this condition.
- A similar home rents for under $1,520 monthly (the local typical is $1,754).
- You move on before year 5.
When buying wins
- Home prices rise by more than 4.6% a year.
- You secure a mortgage rate below 8.41% (the current rate is 7.24%).
- You'd pay more than $1,520 each month to rent that same home.
- You remain for at least 5 years.
How Largo compares with 812 other cities
| Measure | Largo | Median city |
|---|---|---|
| Typical home value | $335,649 | $422,451 |
| Typical rent | $1,754 /mo | $1,837 /mo |
| Price-to-rent ratio | 15.9 (#560 of 813) | 18.5 |
| Home prices, last 10 years | 7% a year | 6.2% a year |
| Rents, last 5 years | 3.6% a year | 4% a year |
| Property tax | 0.74% | 0.87% |
| Households that rent | 38% | 42% |
Sources: Zillow ZHVI and ZORI, Census ACS 2020-2024.
Other Florida cities
- Buy. In Jacksonville, FL, buying comes out ahead by $27k.
- Buy. In Miami, FL, buying comes out ahead by $27k.
- Buy. In Tampa, FL, buying comes out ahead by $19k.
- Buy. In Orlando, FL, buying comes out ahead by $17k.
- Choose Buy in St. Petersburg, FL. The advantage is $41k.
- For Port St. Lucie, FL, choose Buy; buying wins by $48k.
- Buy. In Hialeah, FL, buying comes out ahead by $37k.
- Buy. In Cape Coral, FL, buying comes out ahead by $36k.
- Buy. In Tallahassee, FL, buying comes out ahead by $11k.
- Buy. Buying wins by $25k in Fort Lauderdale, FL.
- Buy. Buying wins by $22k in Pembroke Pines, FL.
- Buy. Buying wins by $17k in Hollywood, FL.