Airbnb vs. Long-Term Rental Calculator
Airbnb's higher gross gets eaten by 65% occupancy + cleaning + platform fees + utilities + furnishing + your management hours. Long-term rental wins more often than the headline gross suggests.
How the math works
Short-term (Airbnb-style): nightly rate × occupied nights − Airbnb commission (3%) − cleaning fees − utilities (you pay everything) − furnishing amortization − management time/cost.
Long-term: monthly rent − vacancy reserve − maintenance reserve − property management (if outsourced).
Why the comparison surprises people: the headline gross gap (Airbnb $4,500/mo at peak vs $2,200/mo long-term) shrinks dramatically once you bake in 65% realistic occupancy, 8-12% Airbnb commission, $200-400/month cleaning, $200-300/month utilities, $50-100/month furnishing wear, and 8-15 hours/month of host management. Net often comes out within 20% of long-term, with much higher operational stress.
Regulatory risk: many cities (NYC, SF, Barcelona) have restricted short-term rentals significantly. The calculator doesn't model this; you should know your local rules before committing.
Math runs locally. Inputs never leave your browser.
Real-world scenarios
- Airbnb gross $54K vs long-term $26K — net story is much closer — full breakdown of why the headline gross gap doesn't translate to a net gap.