Rent vs Buy in Columbia, MO
Monthly cost of renting vs owning a median-priced home · 30-yr fixed, 20% down
Renting looks favorable in Columbia, MO
Price-to-rent ratio is 24.9 (under 15 favors buying, over 21 favors renting). Renting costs $1,076/mo; owning runs about $2,440/mo — $1,364/mo more to own.
| Monthly cost to own | Amount |
|---|---|
| Mortgage (P&I, 7.18% rate) | $1,743 |
| Property tax | $295 |
| Home insurance | $134 |
| Maintenance | $268 |
| Total to own | $2,440 |
| Average 2BR rent | $1,076 |
Based on a median home value of $321,671 with a $64,334 down payment. Owning also builds equity over time, which a monthly comparison doesn't capture. Estimates use national averages for taxes, insurance and maintenance — your actual costs will vary.