The Hidden Costs of Homeownership Are Up 32% in Five Years
A new Zillow and Thumbtack analysis finds ongoing homeownership costs are $16,566 as price growth slows.
Kendra Sinclair•Home Trends Expert at Thumbtack•Last updated Oct 21, 2026
Last updated Oct 21, 2026
If you own a home or are planning to buy one, you know the mortgage is only part of the budget. Property taxes, homeowners insurance and the work needed to keep your home running smoothly all add to the cost.
A new Zillow and Thumbtack analysis finds that those expenses total $16,566 annually nationwide, or about $1,380 a month, beyond mortgage principal and interest. Those expenses have climbed 32% over five years, but the pace is cooling: combined costs rose approximately 3% over the past year.
The analysis includes estimated property taxes, homeowners insurance and maintenance costs. Here’s how those annual expenses break down for the typical U.S. homeowner.
Maintenance accounts for roughly two-thirds of the national total, covering projects like gutter cleaning, HVAC servicing, and the small repairs that rarely make it into a home budget. That makes ongoing home care an essential part of understanding what you can comfortably afford.
Maintenance growth slows, but costs remain high
Annual maintenance cost increases have slowed each year, from 9% in 2022 to 1% in 2026. That slower annual increase is consistent with Thumbtack’s latest Home Care Price Index findings: maintenance cost growth is stabilizing, but homeowners are still budgeting at a much higher price level.
At $11,171 a year, maintenance is 32% more expensive than five years ago and accounts for roughly two-thirds of the national hidden-cost total. Slower price growth offers some breathing room, but regular upkeep remains a significant ongoing expense.
For homeowners, the slowdown is welcome news and gives them some room to plan. If annual increases remain modest, that relief could make it easier to budget for needed upkeep and address small issues before they become costly repairs.
How costs compare across the country
Among the 30 metro areas analyzed, annual hidden costs are highest in New York ($25,111), followed by San Francisco ($24,383) and Los Angeles ($22,915). Phoenix has the lowest total at $14,187, followed by Charlotte ($15,364) and Nashville ($15,538).
The biggest expense varies by location. New York has the highest estimated property taxes at $11,143 annually, Los Angeles has the highest maintenance costs at $13,838, and Miami has the highest homeowners insurance costs at $4,997, more than twice the national estimate.
Maintenance remains the largest hidden expense in every metro analyzed. Annual upkeep exceeds $12,000 in six markets: Los Angeles, Portland, Seattle, Minneapolis, Boston and San Francisco. Even in Phoenix, where total hidden costs are lowest, maintenance alone is estimated at $10,815 a year.
Not every market is following the national trend. While maintenance price growth is slowing nationally, some homeowners face sharper increases. Los Angeles experienced the largest jump in maintenance expenses, up 27% year over year. That increase reflects a mix of regional factors, including wildfire-related recovery efforts, heightened demand for home services and persistently elevated labor costs.
How to prepare for hidden costs
Whether you’re buying a home or have owned one for years, planning for ongoing expenses can help you manage your budget with fewer surprises.
- Make maintenance a monthly habit. Set aside money regularly for upkeep instead of waiting until a project needs attention.
- Think a season ahead. Thumbtack’s personalized maintenance guidance can help you anticipate projects and schedule work before it becomes urgent.
- Prioritize your home’s needs. Consider the age and condition of your home’s systems and features. A local pro can help you decide what to address now and what can wait.
- Leave room for the unexpected. Keep a cushion for repairs beyond routine upkeep, and revisit your budget as insurance premiums and property taxes change.
Knowing what’s coming makes it easier to plan for. When it’s time for seasonal upkeep or an unexpected repair, Thumbtack helps you find local pros to keep your home running smoothly.
Methodology:
For this analysis, Zillow estimated annual property tax and homeowners insurance costs for a typical U.S. homeowner in each metro, then compared year-over-year and five-year changes. Thumbtack provided estimates for annual home maintenance costs. Pricing data is based on projects requested on Thumbtack and reported directly by the independent service professional or individual customers. The cost is a weighted index of yearly home maintenance projects, based on recommended yearly frequency, calculated quarterly using a moving average.
How it works.
Search.
Browse profiles, see prices and use filters to find pros who match your project.
Chat.
Contact the pros you like to discuss project details.
Hire.
Check pro availability and book appointments right in the app.
Find local pros for your project
Tell us what you're looking for and we'll show you pros right for the job, with prices.