Buy vs. rent: What you'll pay in the 10 biggest cities

% saved buying: 34%
Median home price : $330,000
Median rent: $2,100

With the federal government providing steady employment to many of the D.C.-area's residents, the housing market has recovered quickly from the bust.

Home prices are expected to keep climbing modestly over the next couple of years, at an annual appreciation rate of about 2.6%, according to Trulia. That should be enough for buyers to stay ahead of renters.

First published March 3, 2014: 12:09 PM ET

Source: Trulia
In order to get a more accurate comparison, Trulia estimated sale prices and rents for similar homes in similar neighborhoods, instead of using the average sale price or rental rate. It further calculated the initial total monthly costs of owning and renting, including maintenance, insurance and taxes, as well as future costs of owning and renting, such as price and rent appreciation and inflation. Trulia also included one-time transactional costs, including down payments, sales proceeds and security deposits. It assumes that buyers get a 30-year fixed mortgage with a 4.5% rate and put 20% down and that residents stay in their home for at least seven years.

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