Rent vs buy in San Antonio, TX
In San Antonio, Texas, the typical rent is $1,381 /mo and the typical home price is $244,623.
Over 7 years, renting wins by $10k
The calculation uses 20% down, today's mortgage rate and San Antonio's usual rent and home value. It reaches break-even in year 10.
Our opinion is clearly labeled, with the math shown. These figures are estimates, not quotes. The stamp updates whenever you change a number.
- Renting is ahead by
- $10k after 7 years
- Break-even point
- year 10 when owning catches up
- Actual cost of owning
- $2,358 /mo year 1, against $1,381 rent
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The stamp draws on San Antonio's figures for typical rent and home value. Your choices about rent, price and years can change the result.
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Is it cheaper to rent or buy in San Antonio?
Over 7 years, renting costs $9,974 less when you include the money you get back after selling. For the first 9 years, renting costs less. In year 10, owning catches up.
Renting costs. Owning costs. Net cost to date, by year.
Average rent compared with the mortgage payment in San Antonio
Rent and mortgage payments don't cover everything. These are all monthly costs for year 1 using San Antonio's typical price.
| Each month, year 1 | Amount | What it is |
|---|---|---|
| Rent | $1,381 | All of it, every month |
| Mortgage payment | $1,334 | $1,176 of it is interest in year 1 |
| Property tax | $357 | 1.75% of the value a year |
| Insurance | $122 | Census median for the city |
| Upkeep | $204 | 1% of the value a year |
| Owning, cash out | $2,016 | $158 of it builds equity |
| Lost return on the down payment | $398 | What the cash would earn yearly at a rate of 8.3% |
| Buying costs, spread out | $102 | 3.5% of the price over 7 years |
| True cost of owning | $2,358 | Cash out, minus the equity share, plus the two lines shown above |
The figures behind the San Antonio verdict
- Typical home valueZillow ZHVI, September 2026
- $244,623
- Typical rentZillow ZORI, September 2026
- $1,381 /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, Texas, 1995 to 2025
- 4.7% 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, San Antonio
- 1.75% of value
- Home insuranceCensus ACS 2020-2024, San Antonio
- $122 /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 San Antonio, what would reverse the result?
The 7-year verdict in San Antonio flips at each line shown, while everything else remains unchanged.
Renting wins if
- Home prices grow by under 5.2% each year. For our calculation, we use 4.7%, Texas's rate over the long run.
- The rate for a mortgage stays above 6.52%.
- A similar home rents below $1,490 each month (typical here: $1,381).
- Before year 10, you move.
Buying comes out ahead when
- Home prices grow by more than 5.2% a year.
- You fix a mortgage rate under 6.52% (today's is 7.24%).
- For the same home, you would spend more than $1,490 a month on rent.
- You remain 10 years or longer.
How San Antonio compares with the other 812 cities
| Measure | San Antonio | Median city |
|---|---|---|
| Typical home value | $244,623 | $422,451 |
| Typical rent | $1,381 /mo | $1,837 /mo |
| Price-to-rent ratio | 14.8 (#635 of 813) | 18.5 |
| Home prices, last 10 years | 4.3% a year | 6.2% a year |
| Rents, last 5 years | 0.6% a year | 4% a year |
| Property tax | 1.75% | 0.87% |
| Households that rent | 48% | 42% |
Sources: Zillow ZHVI and ZORI, Census ACS 2020-2024.
More cities across Texas
- Toss-up for Houston, TX. Renting leads by $2k, but the options are close.
- Rent. Dallas, TX. Renting leads 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 leads by $34k.
- Rent. Garland, TX. Renting comes out ahead by $12k.