Is it more costly to own your own home or to rent from someone?

We were renting a very nice duplex with 2 br, 1 1/2 ba, a fireplace, attic, 1 car garage, and nice yard for 700/month. The cons about it were the landlords were really mean. Like un-normally mean. The neighbor was a nightmare. The worst part was the water. It was a gorgeous place, but the well water was orange. Couldn't drink it and we couldn't fill up a kid pool in the summertime. Had a softener, but the lords never kept up with keeping it filled. So we moved to the country to a 3 br 2 full bath manufactured home with huge yard. No storage, which I thought I could live without. I was wrong. We moved mainly because we were tired of the landlords and the high rent. Our payments are now 565, but there is a ton of maintenance we've had to tend to. So all in all we are basically paying the same, if not more, for this place than we were when renting. I have to confess, I really miss my rental. Even though it was only a 2 br and the water sucked, at least I had storage and didn't have to worry about replacing a leach field for 10 grand. 0_0 So my bf and I have tried to just accept the fact we made a mistake with this place we got and maybe 'the next house' we buy will be better. I wonder, should we even buy a house next time? Maybe it's just cheaper to rent? Then the con to renting is you don't get that money back. Then again there is no guarantee you're gonna get the money you paid for a house back either. So any outside opinions welcome! lol.....