Rent vs Buy in San Diego, CA
Monthly cost of renting vs owning a median-priced home · 30-yr fixed, 20% down
Renting looks favorable in San Diego, CA
Price-to-rent ratio is 28.9 (under 15 favors buying, over 21 favors renting). Renting costs $2,823/mo; owning runs about $7,438/mo — $4,615/mo more to own.
| Monthly cost to own | Amount |
|---|---|
| Mortgage (P&I, 7.18% rate) | $5,314 |
| Property tax | $899 |
| Home insurance | $409 |
| Maintenance | $817 |
| Total to own | $7,438 |
| Average 2BR rent | $2,823 |
Based on a median home value of $980,490 with a $196,098 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.