Rent vs buy in Scottsdale, AZ
In Scottsdale, Arizona, the typical home is $851,746 and the typical rent is $2,114 /mo.
Over 7 years, renting ends up ahead by $129k.
Using Scottsdale's typical rent and home value, a 20% down payment and today's mortgage rate. Year 20 is where the two costs meet.
Clearly labelled opinion, with the math shown. Estimates, not quotes. The stamp updates whenever you change a number.
- Renting leads by
- $129k after 7 years
- Where costs match
- Year 20 when owning catches up
- What owning really costs
- $6,913 /mo year 1, against $2,114 rent
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The stamp works from the rent and home value typical for Scottsdale's market. Your rent, price and years can flip the result.
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Is it cheaper to rent or buy in Scottsdale?
Renting costs $128,818 less over 7 years, counting what you get back when you sell. For the first 19 years, renting is cheaper. In year 20, owning catches up.
Rent. Own. Net cost by year so far.
Rent and mortgage payment averages for Scottsdale
Rent and mortgage payments aren't the whole picture, so here are all the monthly costs for year 1 at Scottsdale's typical price.
| Each month, year 1 | Amount | What it is |
|---|---|---|
| Rent | $2,114 | All of it, every month |
| Mortgage payment | $4,644 | $4,093 of it is interest in year 1 |
| Property tax | $263 | 0.37% of the value a year |
| Insurance | $108 | Census median for the city |
| Upkeep | $710 | 1% of the value a year |
| Owning, cash out | $5,724 | $551 of it builds equity |
| Lost return on the down payment | $1,384 | At 8.3% a year, this is what the cash would earn. |
| Buying costs, spread out | $355 | 3.5% of the price over 7 years |
| True cost of owning | $6,913 | Take the equity part out of cash out, then add the two lines above. |
Scottsdale's verdict, in numbers
- Typical home valueZillow ZHVI, September 2026
- $851,746
- Typical rentZillow ZORI, September 2026
- $2,114 /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, Arizona, 1995 to 2025
- 5.2% 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, Scottsdale
- 0.37% of value
- Home insuranceCensus ACS 2020-2024, Scottsdale
- $108 /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 would change the Scottsdale verdict?
Every line marks where Scottsdale's 7-year verdict flips, with all other inputs held as they are.
Renting wins if
- We base this comparison on 5.2%, Arizona's long-run rate, when home prices rise by less than 6.9% annually.
- The mortgage rate remains above 4.53%.
- This kind of home rents for under $3,490 each month (typical here: $2,114).
- Your move happens before year 20.
Buying wins if
- Home prices climb faster than 6.9% each year.
- A mortgage rate below 4.53% is the rate you lock; today's rate is 7.24%.
- You would pay more than $3,490 a month to rent that same home.
- You stay for 20 years or longer.
Scottsdale compared with the other 812 cities
| Measure | Scottsdale | Median city |
|---|---|---|
| Typical home value | $851,746 | $422,451 |
| Typical rent | $2,114 /mo | $1,837 /mo |
| Price-to-rent ratio | 33.6 (#40 of 813) | 18.5 |
| Home prices, last 10 years | 7% a year | 6.2% a year |
| Rents, last 5 years | 1.5% a year | 4% a year |
| Property tax | 0.37% | 0.87% |
| Households that rent | 33% | 42% |
Sources: Zillow ZHVI and ZORI, Census ACS 2020-2024.
More Arizona cities
- Phoenix, AZ: rent vs buy shows a $14k advantage for renting.
- Toss-up in Tucson, AZ, where buying is ahead by $672.
- Mesa, AZ: rent vs buy shows a $24k advantage for renting.
- Gilbert, AZ: rent vs buy shows a $26k advantage for renting.
- Chandler, AZ: rent vs buy shows a $25k advantage for renting.
- Glendale, AZ: rent vs buy shows a $17k advantage for renting.
- Peoria, AZ: rent vs buy shows a $17k advantage for renting.
- Tempe, AZ: rent vs buy shows a $31k advantage for renting.
- Buy: Surprise, AZ, where buying leads by $18k.
- Goodyear, AZ: rent vs buy shows a $28k advantage for renting.
- Buckeye, AZ: rent vs buy shows a $29k advantage for buying.
- Buy: Yuma, AZ, where buying leads by $11k.