The difference between buying vs. renting in San Antonio is higher than the national average, but it doesn’t come close to Austin.
A recent study found that in San Antonio, the monthly cost of owning a home is nearly 25% higher than renting. In Austin, the gap is significantly wider: Monthly mortgage payments are 117% higher than rent, making homeownership feel almost out of reach for renters hoping to make the transition.
Construction Coverage, a data firm for the homebuilder industry, analyzed 838 U.S. cities to determine the gap between buying and renting. The analysis revealed that nationally the median mortgage payment is 20% higher than the median rent, as of February 2026…