{
  "@context": "https://schema.org",
  "@type": "Dataset",
  "name": "Is Airbnb still profitable in 2026?",
  "description": "Yes, but selectively: a well-bought US short-term rental nets roughly 8–15% cash-on-cash in 2026, versus 3–6% for the same property as a long-term rental. Profitability now depends on buying right, professional operations, and surviving local regulation — not on listing anything anywhere.",
  "url": "https://www.revenuelab.fyi/answers/is-airbnb-still-profitable-in-2026",
  "dateModified": "2026-08-29",
  "creator": {
    "@type": "Organization",
    "name": "RevenueLab",
    "url": "https://www.revenuelab.fyi"
  },
  "license": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/",
  "keywords": [
    "Airbnb Revenue Calculator",
    "Airbnb Occupancy Rate Calculator",
    "RevPAR Calculator",
    "Rental Property Cashflow Calculator"
  ],
  "distribution": {
    "@type": "DataDownload",
    "contentUrl": "https://www.revenuelab.fyi/api/public/page.json?path=answers%2Fis-airbnb-still-profitable-in-2026",
    "encodingFormat": "application/json"
  },
  "json": {
    "type": "answer",
    "question": "Is Airbnb still profitable in 2026?",
    "shortAnswer": "Yes, but selectively: a well-bought US short-term rental nets roughly 8–15% cash-on-cash in 2026, versus 3–6% for the same property as a long-term rental. Profitability now depends on buying right, professional operations, and surviving local regulation — not on listing anything anywhere.",
    "tableTitle": "Profit profile: STR vs long-term rental on the same $400K property",
    "columns": [
      "Metric",
      "Short-term rental",
      "Long-term rental"
    ],
    "rows": [
      {
        "label": "Gross revenue/year",
        "value": "$44,000–52,000",
        "note": "$30,000–33,000"
      },
      {
        "label": "Operating costs",
        "value": "45–55% of gross",
        "note": "30–38% of gross"
      },
      {
        "label": "Net operating income",
        "value": "$22,000–28,000",
        "note": "$19,000–23,000"
      },
      {
        "label": "Cash-on-cash (20% down)",
        "value": "8–15%",
        "note": "3–6%"
      },
      {
        "label": "Main risk",
        "value": "Regulation + seasonality",
        "note": "Vacancy + tenant quality"
      }
    ],
    "context": "The easy-money era (2020–2022) ended when supply surged and cities from New York to Honolulu capped or banned non-owner-occupied STRs. What remains is a real business: the winners buy in supply-constrained leisure markets, price dynamically, and hold occupancy near 65% at premium ADR. The losers pay 2021 prices in saturated metros and discover the city council has opinions. Run the downside case — forced conversion to a 12-month lease — before every purchase; if the deal dies as a long-term rental, the deal is the risk.",
    "methodology": "Ranges combine RevenueLab calculator defaults, 2026 host-reported expense stacks (platform fees, turnovers, utilities, supplies, management at 0–25%), and public STR market data. They are educational estimates, not investment advice — verify with zip-code comps and local rules.",
    "dateModified": "2026-08-29",
    "relatedCalculators": [
      {
        "label": "Airbnb Revenue Calculator",
        "to": "/airbnb-revenue-calculator"
      },
      {
        "label": "Airbnb Occupancy Rate Calculator",
        "to": "/airbnb-occupancy-rate-calculator"
      },
      {
        "label": "RevPAR Calculator",
        "to": "/revpar-calculator"
      },
      {
        "label": "Rental Property Cashflow Calculator",
        "to": "/rental-property-cashflow-calculator"
      }
    ],
    "relatedReading": [
      {
        "label": "Airbnb host earnings report 2026",
        "to": "/blog/airbnb-host-earnings-2026"
      },
      {
        "label": "Airbnb vs long-term rental",
        "to": "/vs/airbnb-vs-long-term-rental"
      }
    ]
  }
}