Affordability has been a problem for the average American family since the onset of the COVID pandemic. Prices began rising as a result of lost production and material shortages. Unfortunately, they have retreated little in the six years since. My question is this: is affordability a problem in the home security space?
SafeHome.org’s 2026 Home Security Market Report would suggest not. Out of the over 2,400 adults surveyed, 62% said that cost pressures have not affected their home security investments. The rest have adapted to the pressures in different ways, including eliminating services, downgrading subscriptions, and delaying upgrades.
This is all well and good except for one key factor: affordability is highly subjective. One family’s major financial investment could be a drop in the bucket to another. And just because a family decides to invest in new home security equipment or services does not mean the budget supports the spending.
A Spectrum of Subjectivity
Not only is affordability subjective, its subjective nature is not linear. Affordability exists on a spectrum. It is also intrinsically connected to the deeply psychological idea of budgeting. Think of it this way: a $50/month security monitoring subscription might seem expensive until it’s compared against a decent meal at a local restaurant.
Comparisons to other items in the family budget are the baseline of the subjectivity spectrum. But there are other things to consider, including:
- Risk and Reward – Affordability takes on a whole new meaning when you start comparing how much you’ll spend against what you’ll get in return. A family investing in a new security system after having been burglarized is likely to see the ‘peace of mind’ reward as more valuable than the money spent.
- The Confidence Factor – Affordability is also directly related to the confidence a homeowner has in his equipment. He might save by investing in budget equipment only to lack confidence that it will actually work when called upon. Spending more on brand-name equipment and trusted services can provide an invaluable level of confidence.
The subjective nature of affordability becomes clear when consumers are looking at something like Vivint Home Security’s HomeProtect package. HomeProtect is marketed as an affordable entry-level package for people just getting their foot in the home security door.
Based solely on bottom-line price, HomeProtect is quite affordable. But is it the right option for a given family? Does the package’s price fit into the family’s budget and give them everything they are looking for to get started?
The Total Cost of Ownership Factor
Even beyond the spectrum of affordability is the concept of ‘total cost of ownership’ (TCO). TCO is a common metric in both new and used car sales. When buying a car, consumers should look beyond the sticker price to include things like insurance, fuel, routine maintenance, and interest in financing. The metric describes just how much a consumer will spend on a car over its entire lifetime.
We can apply the same principle to home security. TCO in a home security scenario includes expenses in three critical categories:
- Upfront Costs – Obtaining a new home security system obviously requires upfront spending. You must purchase or rent cameras, sensors, and a home security hub. If you are purchasing, will the equipment retain its value? If you’re renting, how much will it cost each month?
- Subscription Costs – DIY monitoring and data storage on a home-based cloud are absolutely free. But if you want professional monitoring and off-site storage, you will have to pay a monthly subscription fee. Is the service worth it? In addition, are you willing to be locked into a multi-year contract?
- Hidden Cost Offsets – Investing in home security often comes with hidden cost offsets. For example, insurance companies are known to offer discounts on homes protected by security systems.
One thing total cost of ownership cannot account for is avoiding burglary, home invasion, and other crimes. Being victimized by criminals can cost a lot, in terms of both finances and emotional toll. But those costs can’t be measured if you’re never victimized.
For some people, TCO is immaterial if a home security system effectively deters crime. They are willing to spend whatever it takes to keep criminals at bay. Unfortunately, there are families across America who would be willing to spend any amount if the money was in their budgets. For them, affordability takes on a whole new meaning: how much do they really have to spend on staying safe?
It’s About Finding That Sweet Spot
When you consider all the factors that go into the affordability question, a simple truth emerges: affordability is really about finding that sweet spot. It’s about understanding how much your budget will support, what you can get for that amount, and whether the resulting system meets your needs. Here are my personal recommendations for figuring it out:
1. Be Honest About Your Needs
Before you buy a single piece of equipment or call a provider like Vivint Home Security, honestly assess your needs. You don’t need five security cameras if you live in a two-room apartment. On the other hand, don’t skimp on the video doorbell if your home is situated on a sprawling suburban lot.
2. Be Honest About Your Budget
Honestly assess how much you have to spend on equipment and subscriptions. Getting in over your head could create more anxiety than you would experience had you purchased a less expensive system. Don’t spend what you do not have.
3. Place a Premium on Predictability
A truly affordable system is one that will not hit you with financial surprises down the road. So place a premium on predictability. Go with a trusted brand, insist on name-brand equipment, and make sure all subscription costs are spelled out clearly in the contract language.
Home security can be very affordable if you invest within certain parameters. So if you’ve been thinking about installing a system, start looking around. Keep in mind everything you read in this post as you search for that truly affordable package.
Carol Brown