Rent vs buy in New Braunfels, TX
In New Braunfels, Texas, the typical rent is $1,560 /mo and the typical home is $345,353.
Renting comes out ahead by $34k over 7 years
It works from New Braunfels's typical home value and rent, and assumes 20% down at today's mortgage rate. You break even in year 15.
Our opinion, clearly labelled, with the math shown. These are estimates, not quotes. If you change a number, the stamp changes.
- Renting leads by
- $34k after 7 years
- Where it evens out
- The 15th year when owning catches up
- What owning really costs
- Per month: $3,151 year 1, against $1,560 rent
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New Braunfels's typical rent and typical home value are what the stamp uses. Your rent, price and years can turn the result around.
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Is it cheaper to rent or buy in New Braunfels?
Over 7 years renting costs less by $34,031, counting the money that returns to you when you sell. For the first 14 years, renting costs less. In year 15, owning catches up.
The renting side. The owning side. Net cost to date, by year.
Average rent compared with the mortgage payment in New Braunfels
Rent and the mortgage payment aren't the whole story, so here are all the monthly costs in year 1, based on New Braunfels's typical price.
| Each month, year 1 | Amount | What it is |
|---|---|---|
| Rent | $1,560 | All of it, every month |
| Mortgage payment | $1,883 | $1,660 of it is interest in year 1 |
| Property tax | $383 | 1.33% of the value a year |
| Insurance | $116 | Census median for the city |
| Upkeep | $288 | 1% of the value a year |
| Owning, cash out | $2,669 | $223 of it builds equity |
| Lost return on the down payment | $561 | The yearly return on your cash at 8.3% |
| Buying costs, spread out | $144 | 3.5% of the price over 7 years |
| True cost of owning | $3,151 | Take the cash out, subtract the equity part and add the two lines above |
The numbers that drive the New Braunfels verdict
- Home value, typical: Zillow ZHVI, September 2026
- $345,353
- Rent, typical: Zillow ZORI, September 2026
- Per month: $1,560
- Private mortgage insurance is avoided at 20% down, and the engine does not model it
- 20%
- Rate, mortgageFreddie Mac Primary Mortgage Market Survey (FRED MORTGAGE30US)
- 7.24%
- Growth in home prices: FHFA house price index for Texas, 1995 to 2025
- 4.7% each year
- Growth in rentYearly growth 2006 to 2026, CPI rent of primary residence
- 3.5% each year
- What savings earn40% 10-year Treasuries and 60% S&P 500 including dividends, rebalanced yearly, 1928 to 2025
- 8.3% each year
- Tax on propertyCensus ACS 2020-2024, New Braunfels
- Value times 1.33%
- Home insurance (Census ACS 2020-2024, New Braunfels)
- $116 a month
- Maintenance: Fannie Mae, low end of the 1% to 4% range
- 1% a year on the value
- Buying costs (Freddie Mac, middle of 2% to 5%)
- Price times 3.5%
- Selling costs (Agent commission plus closing costs)
- Price times 6%
What would flip the verdict in New Braunfels?
Each line marks where the verdict over 7 years in New Braunfels flips. Everything else stays put.
When renting comes out ahead
- Home price growth stays under 5.9% a year. We use Texas's long-run rate of 4.7%.
- The rate on a mortgage stays above 5.49%.
- Homes like this one rent for less than $1,920 a month. The typical rent here is $1,560.
- Your move happens before year 15.
When buying wins
- Home price growth runs above 5.9% a year.
- You secure a mortgage rate under 5.49%. Today it sits at 7.24%.
- Renting that same home would run over $1,920 a month.
- You stay at least 15 years.
New Braunfels compared with the other 812 cities
| Measure | New Braunfels | Median city |
|---|---|---|
| Typical home value | $345,353 | $422,451 |
| Typical rent | $1,560 /mo | $1,837 /mo |
| Price-to-rent ratio | 18.4 (#408 of 813) | 18.5 |
| Home prices, last 10 years | 3.2% a year | 6.2% a year |
| Rents, last 5 years | -0.3% a year | 4% a year |
| Property tax | 1.33% | 0.87% |
| Households that rent | 35% | 42% |
Data from Zillow ZHVI, ZORI, Census ACS 2020-2024.
Other Texas cities
- Toss-up. Houston, TX. Renting leads by $2k, so it's a toss-up.
- Rent. San Antonio, TX. Renting comes out ahead by $10k.
- Rent. Dallas, TX. Renting comes out ahead by $20k.
- Rent. Fort Worth, TX. Renting comes out ahead by $17k.
- Rent. Austin, TX. Renting comes out ahead by $111k.
- Rent. Arlington, TX. Renting comes out ahead by $34k.