Rent vs Buy in San Francisco, CA
Monthly cost of renting vs owning a median-priced home · 30-yr fixed, 20% down
Renting looks favorable in San Francisco, CA
Price-to-rent ratio is 32.5 (under 15 favors buying, over 21 favors renting). Renting costs $3,697/mo; owning runs about $10,932/mo — $7,235/mo more to own.
| Monthly cost to own | Amount |
|---|---|
| Mortgage (P&I, 7.18% rate) | $7,810 |
| Property tax | $1,321 |
| Home insurance | $600 |
| Maintenance | $1,201 |
| Total to own | $10,932 |
| Average 2BR rent | $3,697 |
Based on a median home value of $1,441,021 with a $288,204 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.