Calculator guide
Pattaya rent or buy: compare your assumptions
Use comparable homes, a stated holding period and explicit costs when comparing renting with a cash purchase. The simple model compares nonrecoverable costs and assumes the purchase principal is recovered at sale. That assumption needs scrutiny. Rental yield, unit price and move-in cash answer different questions and belong in separate checks.
Name the assumptions.
The rent-versus-buy tool uses a simple annual opportunity cost with no compounding, no mortgage and no price forecast. Acquisition and sale costs are entered as one amount. A lower modeled cost cannot establish a suitable investment.
Keep yield distinct from ROI.
The rental yield tool divides gross rent or net operating income by total acquisition outlay. It does not include leverage, tax or a resale gain. Annual expenses and occupied months are assumptions that you must substantiate.
Compare the same area definition.
A quoted price divided by stated square metres is arithmetic, not a valuation. Check the area definition and documents before comparing properties. The tool does not verify title, permission to rent or a lawful deposit limit.
Calculation methods and dated official rule references: Methods & sources. Reviewed 23 October 2026. Each linked calculator shows its own formula and source scope.