{
  "title": "Rent vs. Buy: The Key Numbers (United States, 2026)",
  "url": "https://rentvsbuymath.com/numbers",
  "license": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/",
  "attribution": "RentVsBuyMath.com (rentvsbuymath.com/numbers), computed by its open-source engine",
  "computedOn": "2026-10-17",
  "engine": {
    "repo": "https://github.com/jnyst1985/rentvsbuymath-engine",
    "methodology": "https://rentvsbuymath.com/methodology",
    "tests": 188,
    "vectors": 10
  },
  "units": {
    "money": "USD, nominal",
    "difference": "buy net worth minus rent net worth at the end of the stay, after selling costs and taxes on both sides",
    "tippingRent": "monthly rent above which buying beats renting-and-investing, USD"
  },
  "assumptions": {
    "homePrice": 420000,
    "monthlyRent": 2100,
    "downPaymentPct": 20,
    "mortgageTermYears": 30,
    "closingCostPct": 3,
    "sellingCostPct": 6,
    "propertyTaxPct": 1.1,
    "homeInsuranceAnnual": 2500,
    "maintenancePct": 1,
    "homeAppreciationPct": 3,
    "rentIncreasePct": 2.5,
    "investmentReturnPct": 7,
    "inflationPct": 2.5,
    "marginalTaxRatePct": 24,
    "capitalGainsRatePct": 15,
    "filingStatus": "single",
    "standardDeduction": 16100,
    "itemizeDeductions": false,
    "pmiAnnualPct": 0.6,
    "currency": "USD"
  },
  "tippingByRate": [
    {
      "rate": 4,
      "tippingRent": 1890,
      "pctOfPrice": 0.45,
      "priceToRent": 18.5,
      "verdict": "buy",
      "gap": 38365
    },
    {
      "rate": 4.5,
      "tippingRent": 2003,
      "pctOfPrice": 0.48,
      "priceToRent": 17.5,
      "verdict": "buy",
      "gap": 17779
    },
    {
      "rate": 5,
      "tippingRent": 2117,
      "pctOfPrice": 0.5,
      "priceToRent": 16.5,
      "verdict": "rent",
      "gap": 3109
    },
    {
      "rate": 5.5,
      "tippingRent": 2233,
      "pctOfPrice": 0.53,
      "priceToRent": 15.7,
      "verdict": "rent",
      "gap": 24276
    },
    {
      "rate": 6,
      "tippingRent": 2350,
      "pctOfPrice": 0.56,
      "priceToRent": 14.9,
      "verdict": "rent",
      "gap": 45701
    },
    {
      "rate": 6.5,
      "tippingRent": 2468,
      "pctOfPrice": 0.59,
      "priceToRent": 14.2,
      "verdict": "rent",
      "gap": 67361
    },
    {
      "rate": 7,
      "tippingRent": 2587,
      "pctOfPrice": 0.62,
      "priceToRent": 13.5,
      "verdict": "rent",
      "gap": 89237
    },
    {
      "rate": 7.5,
      "tippingRent": 2708,
      "pctOfPrice": 0.64,
      "priceToRent": 12.9,
      "verdict": "rent",
      "gap": 111307
    },
    {
      "rate": 8,
      "tippingRent": 2829,
      "pctOfPrice": 0.67,
      "priceToRent": 12.4,
      "verdict": "rent",
      "gap": 133553
    }
  ],
  "matrix": [
    {
      "horizon": 5,
      "rate": 4,
      "verdict": "rent",
      "difference": -2302,
      "breakEvenYear": null,
      "tippingRent": 2131
    },
    {
      "horizon": 5,
      "rate": 5,
      "verdict": "rent",
      "difference": -20871,
      "breakEvenYear": null,
      "tippingRent": 2384
    },
    {
      "horizon": 5,
      "rate": 6,
      "verdict": "rent",
      "difference": -39695,
      "breakEvenYear": null,
      "tippingRent": 2640
    },
    {
      "horizon": 5,
      "rate": 6.5,
      "verdict": "rent",
      "difference": -49189,
      "breakEvenYear": null,
      "tippingRent": 2769
    },
    {
      "horizon": 5,
      "rate": 7,
      "verdict": "rent",
      "difference": -58730,
      "breakEvenYear": null,
      "tippingRent": 2899
    },
    {
      "horizon": 5,
      "rate": 8,
      "verdict": "rent",
      "difference": -77933,
      "breakEvenYear": null,
      "tippingRent": 3161
    },
    {
      "horizon": 10,
      "rate": 4,
      "verdict": "buy",
      "difference": 38365,
      "breakEvenYear": 6,
      "tippingRent": 1890
    },
    {
      "horizon": 10,
      "rate": 5,
      "verdict": "rent",
      "difference": -3109,
      "breakEvenYear": null,
      "tippingRent": 2117
    },
    {
      "horizon": 10,
      "rate": 6,
      "verdict": "rent",
      "difference": -45701,
      "breakEvenYear": null,
      "tippingRent": 2350
    },
    {
      "horizon": 10,
      "rate": 6.5,
      "verdict": "rent",
      "difference": -67361,
      "breakEvenYear": null,
      "tippingRent": 2468
    },
    {
      "horizon": 10,
      "rate": 7,
      "verdict": "rent",
      "difference": -89237,
      "breakEvenYear": null,
      "tippingRent": 2587
    },
    {
      "horizon": 10,
      "rate": 8,
      "verdict": "rent",
      "difference": -133553,
      "breakEvenYear": null,
      "tippingRent": 2829
    },
    {
      "horizon": 15,
      "rate": 4,
      "verdict": "buy",
      "difference": 83265,
      "breakEvenYear": 6,
      "tippingRent": 1858
    },
    {
      "horizon": 15,
      "rate": 5,
      "verdict": "buy",
      "difference": 13106,
      "breakEvenYear": 11,
      "tippingRent": 2062
    },
    {
      "horizon": 15,
      "rate": 6,
      "verdict": "rent",
      "difference": -59758,
      "breakEvenYear": null,
      "tippingRent": 2273
    },
    {
      "horizon": 15,
      "rate": 6.5,
      "verdict": "rent",
      "difference": -97091,
      "breakEvenYear": null,
      "tippingRent": 2382
    },
    {
      "horizon": 15,
      "rate": 7,
      "verdict": "rent",
      "difference": -134966,
      "breakEvenYear": null,
      "tippingRent": 2492
    },
    {
      "horizon": 15,
      "rate": 8,
      "verdict": "rent",
      "difference": -212166,
      "breakEvenYear": null,
      "tippingRent": 2716
    },
    {
      "horizon": 20,
      "rate": 4,
      "verdict": "buy",
      "difference": 124010,
      "breakEvenYear": 6,
      "tippingRent": 1886
    },
    {
      "horizon": 20,
      "rate": 5,
      "verdict": "buy",
      "difference": 17357,
      "breakEvenYear": 11,
      "tippingRent": 2070
    },
    {
      "horizon": 20,
      "rate": 6,
      "verdict": "rent",
      "difference": -94387,
      "breakEvenYear": null,
      "tippingRent": 2263
    },
    {
      "horizon": 20,
      "rate": 6.5,
      "verdict": "rent",
      "difference": -151989,
      "breakEvenYear": null,
      "tippingRent": 2362
    },
    {
      "horizon": 20,
      "rate": 7,
      "verdict": "rent",
      "difference": -210648,
      "breakEvenYear": null,
      "tippingRent": 2463
    },
    {
      "horizon": 20,
      "rate": 8,
      "verdict": "rent",
      "difference": -330846,
      "breakEvenYear": null,
      "tippingRent": 2670
    },
    {
      "horizon": 30,
      "rate": 4,
      "verdict": "buy",
      "difference": 172409,
      "breakEvenYear": 6,
      "tippingRent": 1978
    },
    {
      "horizon": 30,
      "rate": 5,
      "verdict": "rent",
      "difference": -43325,
      "breakEvenYear": null,
      "tippingRent": 2131
    },
    {
      "horizon": 30,
      "rate": 6,
      "verdict": "rent",
      "difference": -271124,
      "breakEvenYear": null,
      "tippingRent": 2292
    },
    {
      "horizon": 30,
      "rate": 6.5,
      "verdict": "rent",
      "difference": -389212,
      "breakEvenYear": null,
      "tippingRent": 2375
    },
    {
      "horizon": 30,
      "rate": 7,
      "verdict": "rent",
      "difference": -509902,
      "breakEvenYear": null,
      "tippingRent": 2461
    },
    {
      "horizon": 30,
      "rate": 8,
      "verdict": "rent",
      "difference": -758522,
      "breakEvenYear": null,
      "tippingRent": 2637
    }
  ]
}