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Rent vs Buy Calculator

Lifestyle Tools

Long-term cost comparison for housing decisions

Quick Answer

Rent vs Buy Calculator: Long-term cost comparison for housing decisions. Rent vs Buy Calculator uses standard everyday life formulas to compute accurate results instantly.

10k CNY
%
%
yrs
CNY
%
%
yrs
After 10 years
Renting wins
Buy net asset 138.6×10k vs Rent net asset 173.3×10k CNY (price appreciation NOT assumed)
Down payment90.0 ×10k
Monthly payment9197 CNY
Break-even yearNot in range
Gross rent yield2.00%
Gross rent yield 2.00%: international healthy range is 4-6% (price/rent ratio 200-300 months). Most Chinese tier-1 cities run 1.5-2% (600+ months) — buying only makes financial sense there if prices appreciate, which this model deliberately does NOT assume.

Model assumptions

  1. 1Loan 210.0×10k at 3.3% for 30 yrs → monthly payment 9197 (equal installment)
  2. 2Buy net asset = home value (held constant) − remaining loan balance
  3. 3Rent net asset = down payment invested + monthly (payment − rent) difference invested, compounded at your return rate
  4. 4Both sides start with identical cash flows; whichever ends with higher net asset "wins"

Year-by-year comparison

YearBuy net assetRent net assetLeader
Y194.2 ×10k97.8 ×10kRent
Y298.5 ×10k105.7 ×10kRent
Y3102.9 ×10k113.8 ×10kRent
Y4107.5 ×10k121.9 ×10kRent
Y5112.3 ×10k130.2 ×10kRent
Y6117.2 ×10k138.6 ×10kRent
Y7122.3 ×10k147.1 ×10kRent
Y8127.5 ×10k155.7 ×10kRent
Y9133.0 ×10k164.4 ×10kRent
Y10138.6 ×10k173.3 ×10kRent
Model limits: ignores transaction taxes (~1-3% deed tax + agent fees), maintenance costs, property tax, and the option value of flexibility. The decision is never purely financial — school districts, stability, and family plans matter. Use this as the quantitative baseline, then weigh qualitative factors.

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How to Use

  1. Enter scenario values: fill real-life numbers into the Rent vs Buy Calculator (defaults work for a quick try).
  2. Instant results: everything computes live, no button needed.
  3. Read the advice: results come with practical tips, reference standards and pitfalls.
  4. Compare options: adjust parameters to compare choices side by side.

Key Points

  • Rent vs Buy Calculator is a free online everyday life tool — open and use, no sign-up.
  • All calculations run locally in your browser; your data never leaves the device.
  • Key capability: Long-term cost comparison for housing decisions.
  • Results come with formulas and reference tables so you can verify every number.

Formula & How It Works

Rent vs Buy Calculator formula

Rent vs Buy Calculator uses standard everyday life formulas to compute accurate results instantly.

FAQ

How do I use the Rent vs Buy Calculator?
Open the page and fill in the input fields — results update automatically. Long-term cost comparison for housing decisions.
Are the results accurate?
Yes. Standard formulas and conversion factors are used and verified.
Is it free? Do I need to sign up?
Completely free. No registration, login or download required.
Does it work on mobile?
Yes. The responsive design works on phones, tablets and desktops.
Is my data saved?
No. Everything runs locally in your browser.

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Source & Updates

Based on common formulas and industry conventions. Last updated: 2025-07

Last updated:

Formulas and content on this page are reviewed by the YiJianSuan team. For reference only — official sources prevail.

Maintained and periodically reviewed by the YiJianSuan editorial team — review process in ourEditorial Policy.

Cite this page: YiJianSuan. Rent vs Buy Calculator[EB/OL]. https://www.yijiansuan.com/en/c/life/rent-vs-buy

Results provided by this tool are for reference only and do not constitute professional advice.