Is Airbnb Better than Long-Term Rental?

Compare your property's potential as a high-value short-term rental (like AirBnB or Vrbo) against the stability of a traditional long-term lease. See which strategy maximizes your net cash flow and make the most informed investment decision.

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Rental illustration

Short-Term Rental Details

Long-Term Rental Details

Comparison Period & Expenses

How This Calculator Works

Our Short-Term vs Long-Term Rental Calculator compares the potential income and expenses of operating your property as either a short-term rental (like Airbnb) or a traditional long-term rental. It factors in all major revenue streams and costs to help you make an informed decision about which rental strategy might be more profitable for your property.

For short-term rentals, we calculate:

  • Revenue = (Nightly Rate × Occupancy Rate × Days in Month) - (Airbnb Fees + Property Management Fees)
  • Expenses = Cleaning Fees + HOA Fees + Maintenance + Utilities
  • Net Income = Revenue - Expenses

For long-term rentals, we calculate:

  • Revenue = Monthly Rent - (Management Fees)
  • Expenses = HOA Fees + Maintenance + Utilities
  • Net Income = Revenue - Expenses

The calculator then projects these monthly incomes over your specified time horizon, showing you:

  • Total revenue for each strategy
  • Total costs and their breakdown
  • Monthly and total net income
  • A visual comparison of cumulative income over time

Tips: Short-term rentals often generate higher revenue but require more active management and have higher operational costs. Long-term rentals typically offer more stable, predictable income with less hands-on involvement. The best choice depends on your property location, market conditions, and your availability for property management.