Rent vs buy in Sugar Land, TX
In Sugar Land, Texas, the typical rent is $1,997 /mo and the typical home price is $440,014.
Renting comes out ahead by $65k over 7 years
The figures reflect Sugar Land's typical home value and rent, plus 20% down and today's mortgage rate. The break-even year is 23
Clearly marked opinion, with the math shown. These are estimates, not quotes. The stamp updates when you change a number.
- Renting leads by
- $65k after 7 years
- The break-even point
- At year 23 when owning catches up
- What owning really costs
- $4,261 per month year 1, against $1,997 rent
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Is it cheaper to rent or buy in Sugar Land?
After 7 years, renting costs $64,873 less, including the money you get back when you sell. For the first 22 years, renting costs less. During year 23, owning catches up.
Renting. Owning. Net cost by year so far.
Average rent compared with mortgage payments in Sugar Land
Rent and mortgage payments don't tell the whole story. At Sugar Land's typical price, these are all monthly costs for year 1.
| Each month, year 1 | Amount | What it is |
|---|---|---|
| Rent | $1,997 | All of it, every month |
| Mortgage payment | $2,399 | $2,114 of it is interest in year 1 |
| Property tax | $623 | 1.7% of the value a year |
| Insurance | $258 | Census median for the city |
| Upkeep | $367 | 1% of the value a year |
| Owning, cash out | $3,647 | $284 of it builds equity |
| Lost return on the down payment | $715 | The amount the cash would earn in a year at 8.3% |
| Buying costs, spread out | $183 | 3.5% of the price over 7 years |
| True cost of owning | $4,261 | Cash out, minus the equity portion, plus the two lines above |
The figures behind Sugar Land's verdict
- Typical home valueZillow ZHVI, September 2026
- $440,014
- Typical rentZillow ZORI, September 2026
- $1,997 /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, Sugar Land
- 1.7% of value
- Home insuranceCensus ACS 2020-2024, Sugar Land
- $258 /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 Sugar Land, what would flip the result?
Each line shows where Sugar Land's 7-year verdict changes, while all other factors remain the same.
Renting comes out ahead when
- Home price growth stays below 6.4% each year. Our figures rely on 4.7%, Texas's long-term average.
- The mortgage rate remains above 4.60%.
- For a home like this, monthly rent is under $2,690, with $1,997 being typical here.
- Your move takes place before year 23.
When buying has the edge
- Home prices rise by more than 6.4% a year.
- You secure a mortgage rate under 4.60% (today's is 7.24%)
- If you rented that same home, the monthly cost would be more than $2,690.
- Your stay lasts 23 years or longer.
How Sugar Land compares with 812 other cities
| Measure | Sugar Land | Median city |
|---|---|---|
| Typical home value | $440,014 | $422,451 |
| Typical rent | $1,997 /mo | $1,837 /mo |
| Price-to-rent ratio | 18.4 (#415 of 813) | 18.5 |
| Home prices, last 10 years | 3.7% a year | 6.2% a year |
| Rents, last 5 years | 1.7% a year | 4% a year |
| Property tax | 1.70% | 0.87% |
| Households that rent | 20% | 42% |
Sources: Zillow ZHVI and ZORI, Census ACS 2020-2024.
More cities in Texas
- Toss-up. In Houston, TX. It's a toss-up, with renting ahead by $2k.
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- Rent. Renting leads by $111k in Austin, TX.
- Toss-up. In El Paso, TX, buying leads by $2k.
- Rent. Arlington, TX comparison. Renting is ahead by $34k.
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- Rent. Renting leads by $105k in Plano, TX.
- Toss-up. In Lubbock, TX, buying leads by $2k.
- Rent. Laredo, TX comparison. Renting is ahead by $20k.
- Rent, with a $36k advantage in Irving, TX.