The Brief It’s still slightly cheaper to own a home than to rent in most places, but that could be changing, depending on your zip code. Is it cheaper to rent or buy in 2025? Overall, it’s cheaper to own a single-family home than rent a 3-bedroom house in nearly 60% of the 341 markets analyzed. The West is the only region in America where it’s cheaper to rent. These include:Los Angeles County, CaliforniaCook County, Illinois (Chicago)San Diego County, CaliforniaOrange County, California (outside Los Angeles)Miami-Dade County, FloridaWhere are wages rising faster than home prices?