Rent vs buy in San Bernardino, CA
In San Bernardino, California, the typical rent is $1,971 /mo and a typical home is $492,859.
Over 7 years, renting saves you $13k.
Today's mortgage rate and a 20% down payment are used with the typical rent and typical home value for San Bernardino's market. The break-even point is year 9.
Clearly labeled opinion with the calculations shown. These figures are estimates, not quotes. If you change a number, the stamp changes too.
- Renting leads by
- $13k after 7 years
- Break-even point
- year 9 when owning catches up
- Full cost of ownership
- $4,129 /mo year 1, against $1,971 rent
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Is it cheaper to rent or buy in San Bernardino?
When you include the money returned after selling, renting costs $12,778 less over 7 years. For the first 8 years, renting costs less. Owning catches up with renting in year 9.
Renting. Owning. Net cost to date, shown by year.
Comparing average rent and mortgage payment in San Bernardino
At San Bernardino's typical price, here are all monthly costs in year 1, including more than just rent and the mortgage.
| Each month, year 1 | Amount | What it is |
|---|---|---|
| Rent | $1,971 | All of it, every month |
| Mortgage payment | $2,687 | $2,368 of it is interest in year 1 |
| Property tax | $251 | 0.61% of the value a year |
| Insurance | $93 | Census median for the city |
| Upkeep | $411 | 1% of the value a year |
| Owning, cash out | $3,441 | $319 of it builds equity |
| Lost return on the down payment | $801 | Annual earnings on the cash at 8.3% |
| Buying costs, spread out | $205 | 3.5% of the price over 7 years |
| True cost of owning | $4,129 | Cash paid minus equity, plus both costs listed above |
The figures behind San Bernardino's result
- Typical home value: Zillow ZHVI, September 2026
- $492,859
- Typical rent: Zillow ZORI, September 2026
- $1,971 monthly
- The engine doesn't model private mortgage insurance. A 20% down payment avoids it.
- 20%
- Mortgage rate: Freddie Mac Primary Mortgage Market Survey (FRED MORTGAGE30US)
- 7.24%
- Home value increase: FHFA house price index, California, 1995 through 2025
- Each year: 5.3%
- Rent increase: CPI rent of primary residence, yearly growth from 2006 through 2026
- Each year: 3.5%
- Savings return: 40% 10-year Treasuries and 60% S&P 500 with dividends, rebalanced yearly, 1928 to 2025
- Each year: 8.3%
- Census ACS 2020-2024, San Bernardino for property tax
- Based on value: 0.61%
- Census ACS 2020-2024, San Bernardino for home insurance
- $93 monthly
- Upkeep: Fannie Mae, low end of 1% to 4%
- Each year: 1% of value
- Purchase costs: Freddie Mac, middle of 2% to 5%
- Based on price: 3.5%
- Selling costsAgent commission and closing costs
- 6% of the price
What would flip the result in San Bernardino?
Each line shows where the 7-year result for San Bernardino changes, while all other inputs stay the same.
Renting wins if
- Annual home price growth is under 5.6%, using California's long-run rate of 5.3%.
- The mortgage rate remains above 6.78%.
- A similar home rents for under $2,110 a month (the typical rate here is $1,971).
- Before year 9, you move.
When buying wins
- Annual home price growth runs above 5.6%.
- You lock in a mortgage rate under 6.78% (today's is 7.24%).
- You'd pay more than $2,110 a month to rent the same home.
- You remain for 9 years or more.
San Bernardino compared with the other 812 cities
| Measure | San Bernardino | Median city |
|---|---|---|
| Typical home value | $492,859 | $422,451 |
| Typical rent | $1,971 /mo | $1,837 /mo |
| Price-to-rent ratio | 20.8 (#295 of 813) | 18.5 |
| Home prices, last 10 years | 8.1% a year | 6.2% a year |
| Rents, last 5 years | 6% a year | 4% a year |
| Property tax | 0.61% | 0.87% |
| Households that rent | 50% | 42% |
Additional cities in California
- In Los Angeles, CA, renting comes out ahead by $111k.
- In San Diego, CA, renting comes out ahead by $108k.
- Rent. San Jose, CA. Renting saves $210k.
- Rent. San Francisco, CA. Renting saves $128k.
- Buy. Fresno, CA. Buying saves $22k.
- Toss-up. In Sacramento, CA, renting leads by $3k.
- Renting wins by $111k in Long Beach, CA.
- Rent. Oakland, CA. Renting saves $44k.
- Buy. Bakersfield, CA. Buying saves $11k.
- Renting wins by $115k in Anaheim, CA.
- Buying wins by $16k in Stockton, CA.
- Renting wins by $27k in Riverside, CA.