Should You Rent or Buy?
Free breakeven analysis for 50+ US cities. Find out when buying beats renting in your city.
National Overview
Best Cities to Buy in 2025
View all →Pittsburgh
PA
$1,300/mo
$220K
14x
6 yrs
Cleveland
OH
$1,200/mo
$190K
13x
5 yrs
Memphis
TN
$1,100/mo
$180K
14x
6 yrs
Birmingham
AL
$1,200/mo
$200K
14x
6 yrs
Detroit
MI
$1,300/mo
$200K
13x
5 yrs
Best Cities to Rent in 2025
View all →San Francisco
CA
$3,500/mo
$1200K
28x
18 yrs
New York
NY
$3,200/mo
$800K
25x
15 yrs
Los Angeles
CA
$2,800/mo
$900K
27x
17 yrs
Boston
MA
$2,900/mo
$750K
22x
14 yrs
Miami
FL
$2,600/mo
$620K
24x
15 yrs
San Diego
CA
$2,900/mo
$850K
24x
15 yrs
Most Affordable Cities to Buy in 2025
| City | Median Rent | Home Price | P/R Ratio | Breakeven | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cleveland, OH | $1,200/mo | $190K | 13x | 5 yrs | Buy |
| Detroit, MI | $1,300/mo | $200K | 13x | 5 yrs | Buy |
| Pittsburgh, PA | $1,300/mo | $220K | 14x | 6 yrs | Buy |
| Memphis, TN | $1,100/mo | $180K | 14x | 6 yrs | Buy |
| Birmingham, AL | $1,200/mo | $200K | 14x | 6 yrs | Buy |
| Kansas City, MO | $1,400/mo | $260K | 15x | 7 yrs | Neutral |
| St. Louis, MO | $1,300/mo | $230K | 15x | 7 yrs | Neutral |
| Buffalo, NY | $1,200/mo | $210K | 15x | 7 yrs | Neutral |
| Cincinnati, OH | $1,300/mo | $240K | 15x | 7 yrs | Neutral |
| Milwaukee, WI | $1,200/mo | $220K | 15x | 7 yrs | Neutral |
10 cities shown
Run Your Personalized Analysis
Enter your income, savings, and timeline to get a custom rent vs. buy recommendation.
Open CalculatorHow the Price-to-Rent Ratio Works
Buying is likely more financially advantageous than renting. Lower ratio = stronger case for buying.
It depends on your personal situation — timeline, down payment, and local appreciation rates matter most.
Renting and investing the difference is likely more financially advantageous in the long run.