If you don't know what you're doing, then you should start by renting a decent flute.

If you're a flute player yourself, it's ok to buy a flute.

I recently bought two used flutes for my daughter. After she rented for one year it seemed it would stick, I bought her first flute off Craigslist. It helps that I played the flute for 15 years and could test it out myself and see that it was in good condition, but really it wasn't a huge deal. I got it for $75. When she started middle school, I got a second one for her (from Facebook marketplace) to leave at school for about the same amount. That one was not in quite as good condition to start, but I paid around $100 for a tune up and to fix the pads/keys at a music store. I have a really good flute, but she isn't allowed to play it until she stops banging into walls with the student ones...

You could buy a used one for $100. We did.

Buy a cheap one with a warranty - guitar center offers a warranty for two years, then upgrade if they stick with it. Cheaper than renting. Guitar center price matches if you find it online cheaper.

If your kid is going to learn flute in school, just get someone who knows the flute to help you buy a used one. Frankly, anyone who played a wind instrument can help you. If you get it from a family with a kid that was using it recently, it will be fine. You can take them in to have new pads put on, but your friend will notice this when she or he plays it, so you probably won't need this for a while. The world is full of former band geeks. Just ask around.

Many places will apply a portion of the rental fees toward your purchase cost if you decide to buy the rental instrument later.

We rented my daughter's instrument, then bought it at a pretty reasonable cost after two years.

rent. she doesn't need better than that right now and repairs are pricy.

For a beginner, it is probably better to rent a starter instrument and determine that they will stick with it. The keywork on flutes is fairly delicate and repairs/repadding can be pricy, so if you do decide to buy a used instrument, have it evaluated before you commit to a purchase.

I don't remember the total, but flutes are cheap to rent.

I would not generally buy a used instrument unless you are somewhat proficient at setting up and maintain said instrument, or that you are going to buy a fairly expensive one that you'll be taking to a professional for refurbishment - but then that would necessitate you knowing how to properly determine the condition of a used expensive instrument to note any major issues that would affect the instrument's value.

So my recommendation is to rent for a while.

Thanks.