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Airbnb vs Long-Term Rental Calculator

Compare net income from short-term Airbnb rental against a traditional long-term lease.

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Money math without the spreadsheet headache. Plug in your numbers and I'll show you exactly where the dollars land.

Try a scenario

Click to load — tweak from there.

Inputs

Result

Higher net annual income

Airbnb

Airbnb annual net income

$26,025

Long-term rental annual net income

$19,872

Annual difference

$6,153

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How to use this

  1. 1Enter airbnb nightly rate ($).
  2. 2Enter airbnb occupancy rate (%).
  3. 3Enter cleaning cost per stay ($).
  4. 4Enter average nights per stay.
  5. 5Enter platform fee % (%).
  6. 6Enter long-term monthly rent ($).
  7. 7Enter property management fee % (%).
  8. 8Read your higher net annual income on the right — it updates as you type.
  9. 9Hit Share to keep the scenario or send it to someone.

About this calculator

Short-term rentals like Airbnb can earn a much higher nightly rate but come with cleaning costs, platform fees, vacancy between bookings, and more hands-on management, while a long-term rental delivers steady, predictable income with far less turnover work. This tool nets out both options' income after their respective costs so you can see which model actually earns more for your property.

FormulaAirbnb Net = Nightly Rate × Occupied Nights × 12 − Cleaning Costs − Platform Fees − Extra Utilities. Long-Term Net = Monthly Rent × 12 − Vacancy Loss − Management Fee.

Worked example

Using the values the calculator loads with:

Inputs

  • Airbnb nightly rate: 150 $
  • Airbnb occupancy rate: 60 %
  • Cleaning cost per stay: 80 $
  • Average nights per stay: 3
  • Platform fee %: 3 %
  • Long-term monthly rent: 1800 $
  • Property management fee %: 8 %

Results

  • Higher net annual income: Airbnb
  • Airbnb annual net income: $26,025
  • Long-term rental annual net income: $19,872
  • Annual difference: $6,153

What each field means

Inputs

Airbnb nightly rate ($)
The airbnb nightly rate used in the calculation, measured in $. Starts at 150 $ so you have a working example on load.
Airbnb occupancy rate (%)
The airbnb occupancy rate used in the calculation, measured in %. Starts at 60 % so you have a working example on load. Accepted range: 0–100 %.
Cleaning cost per stay ($)
The cleaning cost per stay used in the calculation, measured in $. Starts at 80 $ so you have a working example on load.
Average nights per stay
The average nights per stay used in the calculation. Starts at 3 so you have a working example on load. Accepted range: 1–30.
Platform fee % (%)
The platform fee % used in the calculation, measured in %. Starts at 3 % so you have a working example on load. Accepted range: 0–15 %.
Long-term monthly rent ($)
The long-term monthly rent used in the calculation, measured in $. Starts at 1800 $ so you have a working example on load.
Property management fee % (%)
The property management fee % used in the calculation, measured in %. Starts at 8 % so you have a working example on load. Accepted range: 0–20 %.

Results

Higher net annual income
Returned as a plain value and shown as the headline result. It recalculates instantly whenever you change an input, so you can compare scenarios without reloading.
Airbnb annual net income
Returned as a money amount in US dollars. It recalculates instantly whenever you change an input, so you can compare scenarios without reloading.
Long-term rental annual net income
Returned as a money amount in US dollars. It recalculates instantly whenever you change an input, so you can compare scenarios without reloading.
Annual difference
Returned as a money amount in US dollars. It recalculates instantly whenever you change an input, so you can compare scenarios without reloading.

FAQ

Does this account for local short-term rental regulations?

No — many cities restrict or ban short-term rentals or require permits; verify local zoning and licensing rules before assuming Airbnb income is even legally available.

What about furnishing costs for Airbnb?

Short-term rentals require full furnishing and regular replacement of linens/supplies, an upfront and ongoing cost not included here that can meaningfully cut into net income in year one.

Which has less hassle?

Long-term rentals require far less day-to-day management — one tenant, one lease, occasional turnover — versus the constant guest communication and turnover Airbnb requires unless you hire a co-host.

Accuracy and limitations

  • Results are estimates before tax, fees, and inflation unless an input explicitly covers them.
  • Rates are treated as fixed for the whole period — variable-rate products will drift from this projection.
  • This is educational maths, not financial advice. Check anything contractual with the lender or your accountant.

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Cite this calculator

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APA
RevenueLab. (2026). Airbnb vs Long-Term Rental Cost Calculator. Retrieved from https://www.revenuelab.fyi/toolbox/airbnb-vs-long-term-rental-cost
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Source: [Airbnb vs Long-Term Rental Cost Calculator — RevenueLab](https://www.revenuelab.fyi/toolbox/airbnb-vs-long-term-rental-cost) (2026).
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