Rent vs buy in Montebello, CA
In Montebello, California, the typical home value is $817,962, and the typical rent is $2,837 /mo.
Renting costs $64k less over 7 years
Today's mortgage rate and 20% down are paired with Montebello's typical rent and home value. Year 12 marks the break-even point.
Clearly labeled opinion with the math shown. These are estimates, not quotes. The stamp changes when a number changes.
- Renting leads by
- $64k after 7 years
- Break-even point
- year 12 when owning catches up
- Actual cost of ownership
- $6,866 /mo year 1, against $2,837 rent
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Montebello's typical home value and rent provide the inputs for the stamp. Your rent, price and years can flip the result.
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Is renting or buying cheaper in Montebello?
Across 7 years, renting saves $64,142 after counting the money returned when you sell. For the first 11 years, renting costs less. In year 12, owning catches up.
Renting. Owning. Net cost by year so far.
Average rent compared with mortgage payment in Montebello
Rent and the mortgage don't tell the whole story. Here are all monthly costs for year 1 at Montebello's typical price.
| Each month, year 1 | Amount | What it is |
|---|---|---|
| Rent | $2,837 | All of it, every month |
| Mortgage payment | $4,460 | $3,931 of it is interest in year 1 |
| Property tax | $504 | 0.74% of the value a year |
| Insurance | $79 | Census median for the city |
| Upkeep | $682 | 1% of the value a year |
| Owning, cash out | $5,725 | $529 of it builds equity |
| Lost return on the down payment | $1,330 | Annual return the cash would earn at 8.3% |
| Buying costs, spread out | $341 | 3.5% of the price over 7 years |
| True cost of owning | $6,866 | Cash out minus the equity portion, plus the two lines above |
The figures supporting Montebello's result
- Typical home valueZillow ZHVI, September 2026
- $817,962
- Typical rentZillow ZORI, September 2026
- $2,837 /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, California, 1995 to 2025
- 5.3% 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, Montebello
- 0.74% of value
- Home insuranceCensus ACS 2020-2024, Montebello
- $79 /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 Montebello result?
Each line shows where Montebello's 7-year result changes while all other factors stay as they are.
Renting wins under these conditions
- Annual home price growth stays below 6.2%; we apply 5.3%, based on California's long-term rate.
- The mortgage rate remains higher than 5.85%.
- For a similar home, monthly rent falls below $3,520; the typical local figure is $2,837.
- Moving before year 12.
Buying wins under these conditions
- Annual home price growth runs above 6.2%.
- You lock in a mortgage rate under 5.85%; today's rate is 7.24%.
- The same home would cost over $3,520 a month to rent.
- You stay for 12 years or longer.
How Montebello compares with the other 812 cities
| Measure | Montebello | Median city |
|---|---|---|
| Typical home value | $817,962 | $422,451 |
| Typical rent | $2,837 /mo | $1,837 /mo |
| Price-to-rent ratio | 24.0 (#162 of 813) | 18.5 |
| Home prices, last 10 years | 6.2% a year | 6.2% a year |
| Property tax | 0.74% | 0.87% |
| Households that rent | 54% | 42% |
Sources: Zillow ZHVI and ZORI, Census ACS 2020-2024.
Other cities across California
- Rent. Los Angeles, CA. Renting is ahead by $111k.
- Rent. San Diego, CA. Renting leads by $108k.
- Rent. San Jose, CA. Renting leads by $210k.
- Rent. San Francisco, CA. Renting leads by $128k.
- Buy. Fresno, CA. Buying leads by $22k.
- Too close to call. Sacramento, CA. Renting leads by $3k.
- Rent. Long Beach, CA. Renting leads by $111k.
- Rent. Oakland, CA. Renting leads by $44k.
- Buy. Bakersfield, CA. Buying leads by $11k.
- Rent. Anaheim, CA. Renting leads by $115k.
- Buy. Stockton, CA. Buying leads by $16k.
- Rent. Riverside, CA. Renting is ahead by $27k.