Rent vs Buy in Tampa, FL
Monthly cost of renting vs owning a median-priced home · 30-yr fixed, 20% down
Rent and buy are roughly balanced in Tampa, FL
Price-to-rent ratio is 16.0 (under 15 favors buying, over 21 favors renting). Renting costs $1,978/mo; owning runs about $2,830/mo — $852/mo more to own.
| Monthly cost to own | Amount |
|---|---|
| Mortgage (P&I, 6.95% rate) | $2,009 |
| Property tax | $348 |
| Home insurance | $158 |
| Maintenance | $316 |
| Total to own | $2,830 |
| Average 2BR rent | $1,978 |
Based on a median home value of $379,284 with a $75,857 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.