Rent vs buy calculator for St. Louis, MO
Starts from local data for St. Louis, MO (ZIP 63101): a 3-bedroom rent of $2,050 a month (range $1,731–$2,050), the St. Louis County property tax rate of 1.20% and the 7.24% 30-year mortgage rate. Every value stays editable.
After 7 years, renting wins by
$21,436
Net worth if you buy
$119,817
Net worth if you rent
$141,253
Buying pays off after
11 yrs
Cash to buy
$45,500
Cost to own, month 1
$2,872
Rent, month 1
$2,000
- Year 1: buy vs rent
- $27,391 / $58,605
- Year 5: buy vs rent
- $86,527 / $112,970
- Year 7: buy vs rent
- $119,817 / $141,253
- Home value at sale
- $430,456
- Loan payoff at sale
- $284,811
- Selling costs
- $25,827
- Total rent paid
- $183,899
How this is calculated
- 1Buying costs the down payment and closing costs up front, then each month principal and interest, PMI (until the loan is below 80% of the price), property tax, insurance, HOA and maintenance. Tax, insurance, HOA and maintenance grow with the home's value.
- 2Renting costs the rent, which rises each year by the rent increase.
- 3Same budget both ways: the renter invests the down payment and closing costs on day one. Each month, whoever's housing costs less invests the difference. Investments grow at the investment return.
- 4Buyer's net worth = home value × (1 − selling costs %) − loan balance + the buyer's investments. Renter's net worth = the renter's investments.
- 5Buying pays off after the first year in which the buyer's net worth is at least the renter's.
Not included: income taxes (mortgage interest deduction, capital gains exclusion, taxes on investment gains), moving costs and refinancing. Small changes to appreciation and investment return swing the result a lot; try a few.
Frequently asked questions
- What rent should I use for a 3-bedroom rental in St. Louis, MO?
- In ZIP 63101 the typical figure is $2,050 a month ($1,731–$2,050); across St. Louis's 58 ZIP codes it's $936–$2,590, with a median of $1,610. Check listings for the specific property.
- What is the property tax rate in St. Louis, MO?
- Owner-occupied homes in St. Louis County pay a typical 1.20% of their value a year (Census ACS, median taxes paid ÷ median home value, Dec 31, 2024). Investors often pay more after a purchase: the home is reassessed at the sale price and there is no homestead exemption.
- What is the current 30-year mortgage rate?
- The 30-year fixed rate averaged 7.24% in the week of Oct 29, 2026 (Freddie Mac PMMS via FRED). It's a national average for owner-occupied loans; investment property loans usually cost more.