Sadly, this has been changing in the States. Rents are now higher than mortgages for the same living square footage. For example, my own son is looking for when he starts as an EMT. He's looking at $1700 or more for around 1000 SF 2 bedroom apartment, plus amenties fees, plus renter's insurance. By comparison, we live in a nearly 1300 SF 3 bedroom, 2 bathroom house. Our mortgage plus tax and insurance escrow is less than $700.