Yes, but I explicitly said mortgage only without including utilities, taxes, and insurance if you have to pay that separately from the mortgage. Those things can (and most likely will) change - albeit usually not to the degree that landlords love to pricegouge on rent.

Like, take my same place again as an example. I only pay like $1350 for a mortgage, sure, but I also pay ~$600 in utilities and maintenance fees. My monthly payment to live in a normal environment is short of $2000 a month. My fees will go up again an extra 2% starting next year, so I am paying more - not that much, sure, but it is more. If I was renting a place for $1500 and didn’t have to pay for utilities, even a 20% increase from $1500 to $1800 would still be absolutely cheaper than buying my studio. Renting becomes fucked when landlords go “yeah, pay $1500 a month and you also have to pay for your utilities. Also I’m increasing the rent next month by 20% lmao get fucked nerd”.

This is, of course, just looking at cost. That’s ignoring the fact you’re paying a mortgage to own something versus paying somebody else’s mortgage or just lining their pockets.