Rent vs buy in San Leandro, CA
In San Leandro, California, typical rent is $2,517 /mo and the typical home is $798,068 (California).
Over 7 years, renting comes out ahead by $88k.
Today's mortgage rate and 20% down are paired with San Leandro's typical home value and rent. The break-even point occurs in year 15.
Clearly marked opinion, with the math shown. These are estimates, not quotes. If you change a number, the stamp changes too.
- Renting is ahead by
- $88k after 7 years
- Break-even point
- year 15 when owning catches up
- Actual cost of owning
- $6,720 /mo year 1, against $2,517 rent
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Is renting or buying cheaper in San Leandro?
Over 7 years, renting costs $87,703 less, including the money returned to you when you sell. For the first 14 years, renting costs less. By year 15, owning has caught up.
Rent option. Ownership option. Net costs to date for each year.
Comparing average rent and mortgage payment in San Leandro
Year 1 includes every monthly cost at San Leandro's typical price, not just rent and the mortgage.
| Each month, year 1 | Amount | What it is |
|---|---|---|
| Rent | $2,517 | All of it, every month |
| Mortgage payment | $4,351 | $3,835 of it is interest in year 1 |
| Property tax | $485 | 0.73% of the value a year |
| Insurance | $105 | Census median for the city |
| Upkeep | $665 | 1% of the value a year |
| Owning, cash out | $5,607 | $516 of it builds equity |
| Lost return on the down payment | $1,297 | At 8.3% a year, this is what the cash would earn |
| Buying costs, spread out | $333 | 3.5% of the price over 7 years |
| True cost of owning | $6,720 | Cash out, after subtracting equity and adding both entries listed above |
The figures that support the San Leandro result
- Typical home valueZillow ZHVI, September 2026
- $798,068
- Typical rentZillow ZORI, September 2026
- $2,517 /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, California, 1995 to 2025
- 5.3% 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 Leandro
- 0.73% of value
- Home insuranceCensus ACS 2020-2024, San Leandro
- $105 /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
What change could reverse the result for San Leandro?
With all other factors unchanged, each line shows where San Leandro's 7-year verdict shifts.
Renting wins if
- If home prices grow by less than 6.5% each year, this condition holds. We use California's long-run rate of 5.3%.
- The mortgage rate remains higher than 5.28%.
- A similar home rents for under $3,460 a month (the typical local rent is $2,517).
- Your move happens before year 15.
When buying comes out ahead
- Home prices rise by more than 6.5% a year.
- You secure a mortgage rate under 5.28% (today's is 7.24%).
- The same home would cost more than $3,460 a month to rent.
- You remain there for 15 years or more.
San Leandro compared with the other 812 cities
| Measure | San Leandro | Median city |
|---|---|---|
| Typical home value | $798,068 | $422,451 |
| Typical rent | $2,517 /mo | $1,837 /mo |
| Price-to-rent ratio | 26.4 (#111 of 813) | 18.5 |
| Home prices, last 10 years | 3.8% a year | 6.2% a year |
| Rents, last 5 years | 2.7% a year | 4% a year |
| Property tax | 0.73% | 0.87% |
| Households that rent | 42% | 42% |
Sources: Zillow ZHVI and ZORI, Census ACS 2020-2024.
More cities in California
- Renting. Los Angeles, CA. Renting comes out ahead by $111k.
- Renting. San Diego, CA. Renting comes out ahead by $108k.
- Renting. San Jose, CA. Renting comes out ahead by $210k.
- Renting. San Francisco, CA. Renting comes out ahead by $128k.
- Buying. Fresno, CA. Buying comes out ahead by $22k.
- Toss-up. Sacramento, CA. It's a toss-up, with renting ahead by $3k.
- Renting. Long Beach, CA. Renting comes out ahead by $111k.
- Renting. Oakland, CA. Renting comes out ahead by $44k.
- Buying. Bakersfield, CA. Buying comes out ahead by $11k.
- Renting. Anaheim, CA. Renting comes out ahead by $115k.
- Buying. Stockton, CA. Buying comes out ahead by $16k.
- Choose rent. Riverside, CA. Renting leads by $27k.