The invention discloses a method for preparing vinpocetine intermediate gamma-hydroxypropyl-ethylmalonic acid, and belongs to the chemical industry synthesis field. The preparation method comprises the following steps: 1, adding sodium hydride into an organic solvent, adding 2-ethyl diethylmalonate and 1-bromo-3-chloropropane, extracting by using ethyl acetate, and carrying out reduced pressure concentration of a solvent to obtain gamma-chloropropyl-ethyl diethylmalonate; and 2, adding gamma-chloropropyl-ethyl diethylmalonate to an ethanol-water solvent of sodium hydroxide, refluxing, adding a proper amount of water, adjusting the pH value to 1 by using concentrated hydrochloric acid, crystallizing, and carrying out pumping filtration to obtain a white solid gamma-hydroxypropyl-ethylmalonic acid, wherein a molar ratio of 2-ethyl diethylmalonate to 1-bromo-3-chloropropane to sodium hydride in step 1 is 1:1-1.2:1-1.3; and a reaction temperature in the step 1 is 10-40DEG C, and a reaction time of 1-bromo-3-chloropropane, 2-ethyl diethylmalonate and 1-bromo-3-chloropropane is 8-15h. The intermediate is gamma-hydroxypropyl-ethylmalonic acid, and the preparation method has the advantages of cheap and easily available raw materials, low cost, short reaction steps, simple operation, good product quality, and benefit for protecting the green resource.