Pattaya · practical by design
Rent vs buy in Pattaya: compare holding costs
Compare rent over a chosen holding period with transaction costs, annual ownership expenses and the entered simple opportunity cost.
Compare rent over a chosen holding period with transaction costs, annual ownership expenses and the entered simple opportunity cost. Use the worked figures below to see the difference, then enter your own quotes in the linked calculator. Keep the amount, household and time period consistent when comparing alternatives.
Checked 26 October 2026 · Source: published formula and worked arithmetic. Figures are fictional.
At 15,000 baht a month, five years of rent totals 900,000. A fictional cash purchase at 3,000,000 with 200,000 transaction costs, 30,000 yearly expenses and 3% simple opportunity cost totals 800,000 in modeled ownership costs. The model assumes the purchase principal is fully recovered at sale. Change that assumption separately before making a property decision.
Worked comparison
| Scenario | Calculation | Result |
|---|---|---|
| A | 15,000 × 12 × 5 | 900,000 THB |
| B | 200,000 + 30,000 × 5 + 3,000,000 × 0.03 × 5 | 800,000 THB |
Pattaya rent vs buy cost calculator
Questions before you calculate
Does a lower modeled ownership cost prove buying is better?
No. It compares entered costs under the stated assumptions, without a resale forecast or mortgage model.
Which formula does this comparison use?
Rent cost = monthly rent × 12 × years. Ownership cost = transaction costs + annual expenses × years + purchase price × opportunity rate ÷ 100 × years.