Rent vs buy in Palm Coast, FL

Palm Coast, Florida shows a typical rent of $1,897 /mo and a typical home at $343,894.

Buy

Over 7 years, buying comes out ahead by $32k

Based on Palm Coast's typical rent, its typical home value, 20% down and today's mortgage rate. The break-even point comes in year 5.

This opinion is clearly labeled, and the math is shown. The figures are estimates, not quotes. If you change a number, the stamp changes with it.

How far ahead owning is: $32k
Break-even point: Year 5
Full cost of owning: $2,996 /mo

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The figures in the stamp reflect Palm Coast's typical rent and typical home value. Your rent, price and time period can change the result.

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Is renting or buying cheaper in Palm Coast?

Across 7 years, buying costs $32,467 less, including the money you get back when you sell. In year 5, owning's net cost falls below renting's and remains lower.

Renting Owning Net cost by year so far.

Average rent compared with mortgage payment in Palm Coast

Rent and the mortgage don't tell the whole story. At Palm Coast's typical price, every monthly cost for year 1 is listed here.

Each month, year 1	Amount	What it is
Rent	$1,897	All of it, every month
Mortgage payment	$1,875	$1,653 of it is interest in year 1
Property tax	$215	0.75% of the value a year
Insurance	$140	Census median for the city
Upkeep	$287	1% of the value a year
Owning, cash out	$2,516	$222 of it builds equity
Lost return on the down payment	$559	Annual earnings the cash would provide at 8.3%
Buying costs, spread out	$143	3.5% of the price over 7 years
True cost of owning	$2,996	Cash out minus the equity portion, plus the two amounts listed above

The figures behind Palm Coast's result

Typical home valueZillow ZHVI, September 2026: $343,894
Typical rentZillow ZORI, September 2026: $1,897 /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, Palm Coast: 0.75% of value
Home insuranceCensus ACS 2020-2024, Palm Coast: $140 /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

In Palm Coast, what would flip the result?

Each line marks the point where Palm Coast's 7-year verdict changes, while all other factors remain as they are.

When renting is the better choice

Home prices grow at under 4.3% a year. Florida's rate over the long run is 5.4%, and that's the one we use.
The mortgage rate holds above 8.90%.
For a comparable home, monthly rent is under $1,550 (the local typical figure is $1,897).
Your move happens before year 5.

When buying is the better choice

Home prices grow at a pace above 4.3% a year.
Today's mortgage rate is 7.24%, and you lock in a rate below 8.90%.
For the same home, monthly rent would exceed $1,550.
Your stay lasts at least 5 years.

How Palm Coast compares with the other 812 cities

Measure	Palm Coast	Median city
Typical home value	$343,894	$422,451
Typical rent	$1,897 /mo	$1,837 /mo
Price-to-rent ratio	15.1 (#619 of 813)	18.5
Home prices, last 10 years	5.5% a year	6.2% a year
Rents, last 5 years	3.3% a year	4% a year
Property tax	0.75%	0.87%
Households that rent	18%	42%

Sources: Zillow ZHVI and ZORI, Census ACS 2020-2024.

Other Florida cities

Buying wins by $27k in Jacksonville, FL.
Buying wins by $25k in Fort Lauderdale, FL.
Buying wins by $22k in Pembroke Pines, FL.

Florida rent vs buy: the state's numbers