The listed price is never the real price. Here is the true breakdown of the cost of a humanoid robot over 3 years.
The acquisition price
2026 order-of-magnitude estimates, at purchase:
- Unitree G1: €16,000 ex-works (Europe, excluding customs duties).
- Tesla Optimus Gen 2: €22,000 target price (effective production underway, price not guaranteed).
- Figure 02: not sold individually, lease only.
- 1X NEO: not sold individually, subscription only.
The hidden costs
Beyond the acquisition price, budget for:
- Customs duties + VAT (for US/CN imports): ~25%. On a G1 at €16,000 ex-works, add €4,000 VAT + ~€500 customs duties.
- Maintenance: 5-10% of the acquisition price per year. €800 to €1,600/year for a G1.
- Spare parts: failed actuators, wearing joints. Budget €500 to €1,500/year depending on usage intensity.
- Energy: €1 to €2 per day for recharging under intensive use. Negligible compared to the rest.
- Software updates: free for Unitree (open source), paid for locked-in manufacturers (~€300-500/year for major patches).
The total cost over 3 years (TCO)
For a Unitree G1 purchased at €16,000 ex-works:
| Item | 3-year total |
|---|---|
| Acquisition | €16,000 |
| VAT + customs | €4,500 |
| Maintenance (5%/year) | €2,400 |
| Spare parts | €2,500 |
| Energy | €500 |
| 3-year total | ~€25,900 |
That is ~€720/month over 3 years. Compare this to the €450/month lease (€16,200 over 36 months, including maintenance and parts).
Leasing becomes competitive again
Once hidden costs are factored in, leasing at €450-500/month often remains cheaper than buying over 3 years. This is one of the most counter-intuitive figures in the market.
Our advice
Unless you use the robot for 5+ years or have a very specific use case that justifies ownership, leasing remains the most economical option. And that’s without counting the value of being able to switch models for Gen 3.