Rent vs Buy in Fresno, CA
Monthly cost of renting vs owning a median-priced home · 30-yr fixed, 20% down
Rent and buy are roughly balanced in Fresno, CA
Price-to-rent ratio is 19.0 (under 15 favors buying, over 21 favors renting). Renting costs $1,685/mo; owning runs about $2,841/mo — $1,156/mo more to own.
| Monthly cost to own | Amount |
|---|---|
| Mortgage (P&I, 6.80% rate) | $2,007 |
| Property tax | $353 |
| Home insurance | $160 |
| Maintenance | $321 |
| Total to own | $2,841 |
| Average 2BR rent | $1,685 |
Based on a median home value of $384,885 with a $76,977 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.