Rent vs Buy Calculator

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.

Home Price

10k CNY

Down Payment %

Loan Rate

Loan term (years)

yrs

Monthly rent

CNY

Annual rent increase

Investment return

Comparison horizon

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

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

Year-by-year comparison

Year	Buy net asset	Rent net asset	Leader
Y1	94.2 ×10k	97.8 ×10k	Rent
Y2	98.5 ×10k	105.7 ×10k	Rent
Y3	102.9 ×10k	113.8 ×10k	Rent
Y4	107.5 ×10k	121.9 ×10k	Rent
Y5	112.3 ×10k	130.2 ×10k	Rent
Y6	117.2 ×10k	138.6 ×10k	Rent
Y7	122.3 ×10k	147.1 ×10k	Rent
Y8	127.5 ×10k	155.7 ×10k	Rent
Y9	133.0 ×10k	164.4 ×10k	Rent
Y10	138.6 ×10k	173.3 ×10k	Rent

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

Enter scenario values: fill real-life numbers into the Rent vs Buy Calculator (defaults work for a quick try).
Instant results: everything computes live, no button needed.
Read the advice: results come with practical tips, reference standards and pitfalls.
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.

Related Guides

Source & Updates

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

Last updated: 2026-08-04

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

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.

Year-by-year comparison

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How to Use

Key Points

Formula & How It Works

FAQ

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Source & Updates

Year-by-year comparison