Rent vs buy in Plantation, FL

In Plantation, Florida, the typical rent is $2,466 /mo and the typical home is $492,003.

Buy

Buying comes out ahead by $8k over 7 years

That math applies 20% down, today's mortgage rate and Plantation's typical rent and home value. Break-even lands in year 7.

Clearly labelled opinion, with the math shown. These are estimates, not quotes. Adjust one number and the stamp updates.

Owning is ahead by: $8k
Break-even point: Year 7
Real cost of owning: $4,455 /mo

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The stamp draws its numbers from Plantation's typical home value and rent. Your own rent, price and years can flip the stamp.

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In Plantation, is renting or buying cheaper?

Buying saves $8,182 over 7 years after including the money returned when you sell. The net cost of owning falls below that of renting in year 7 and remains lower.

Renting. Owning. Net cost so far, for each year.

Average rent compared with the mortgage payment in Plantation

Rent and the mortgage don't tell the whole story. Here are all the monthly costs for year 1, using Plantation's typical price.

Each month, year 1	Amount	What it is
Rent	$2,466	All of it, every month
Mortgage payment	$2,682	$2,364 of it is interest in year 1
Property tax	$373	0.91% of the value a year
Insurance	$303	Census median for the city
Upkeep	$410	1% of the value a year
Owning, cash out	$3,768	$318 of it builds equity
Lost return on the down payment	$800	The yearly amount the cash would earn at 8.3%
Buying costs, spread out	$205	3.5% of the price over 7 years
True cost of owning	$4,455	Subtract the equity part from cash out, then add the two lines above.

Numbers behind the Plantation verdict

Value of a typical homeZillow ZHVI, September 2026: $492,003
Zillow ZORI, September 2026 for typical rent: $2,466 a month
A 20% down payment avoids private mortgage insurance, which the engine doesn't include.: 20%
Mortgage rate: Freddie Mac Primary Mortgage Market Survey (FRED MORTGAGE30US): 7.24%
FHFA house price index, Florida, 1995 to 2025 for home price growth: 5.4% per year
Rent growth rateCPI primary residence rent, yearly growth 2006 to 2026: 3.5% per year
Savings return: 60% S&P 500 with dividends plus 40% 10-year Treasuries; yearly rebalancing, 1928 to 2025: 8.3% each year
Census ACS 2020-2024, Plantation for property tax: 0.91% of the value
Insurance for the homeCensus ACS 2020-2024, Plantation: $303 a month
Upkeep: Fannie Mae, low end of the 1% to 4% range: 1% of value each year
Buying costs: Freddie Mac, midpoint of 2% to 5%: Price multiplied by 3.5%
Selling costs: Agent commission plus closing costs: 6% of the price

What would change the verdict in Plantation?

Each line marks where Plantation's 7-year result changes, with everything else remaining the same.

Renting comes out ahead when

A yearly home price growth rate below 5.2% is the condition. We use 5.4%, Florida's rate over the long run.
The mortgage rate remains above 7.53%.
A similar home has a monthly rent below $2,380 (typical here: $2,466).
Before year 7, you move.

Buying comes out ahead when

Home prices grow by more than 5.2% a year.
You secure a mortgage rate under 7.53% (today's is 7.24%).
More than $2,380 a month would be needed to rent that same home.
You remain for 7 years or longer.

Plantation compared with the other 812 cities

Measure	Plantation	Median city
Typical home value	$492,003	$422,451
Typical rent	$2,466 /mo	$1,837 /mo
Price-to-rent ratio	16.6 (#508 of 813)	18.5
Home prices, last 10 years	6% a year	6.2% a year
Rents, last 5 years	3% a year	4% a year
Property tax	0.91%	0.87%
Households that rent	36%	42%

Data sources: Zillow data for ZHVI and ZORI, Census ACS 2020-2024.

More cities in Florida

Buy. Jacksonville, FL. Buying puts you $27k ahead.
In Fort Lauderdale, FL, buying comes out ahead by $25k.
In Pembroke Pines, FL, buying comes out ahead by $22k.

Florida rent vs buy numbers