Oct 08, 2026
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BigIndia Editorial
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Rent vs. Buy in India's Top 8 Cities: What the 2026 Price-to-Rent Ratios Really Say
In 2026 it costs less each month to rent than to buy in every one of India's eight largest housing markets. Price-to-rent ratios range from about 22 in Bengaluru to about 31 in Delhi and Chennai. Gross rental yields of 3.2% to 4.6% are roughly half the cost of a home loan, so a new buyer's EMI is 1.7 to 2.5 times the rent on the same flat. Buying comes out ahead only when prices rise fast enough. On a typical flat, that means about 6% a year held for ten years, or 7% a year held for five to seven.
