Short-Term vs Long-Term Rental Calculator
Same property, two strategies. Enter the long-term rent you could get and your short-term assumptions to compare net income, including furnishing costs spread over their life.
How the calculation works
LTR net = rent × (1 − vacancy) × (1 − management) − maintenance. STR net per booked night k = (rate + cleaning fee ÷ stay) × (1 − fee) × (1 − mgmt) − cleaning cost ÷ stay. STR net = 30 × occupancy × k − monthly costs − furnishing ÷ life ÷ 12. Break-even occupancy = (LTR net + STR fixed) ÷ (30 × k).
Worked example
Lease: €1,600 × 96% × 92% − €80 = €1,333/month. Airbnb: 19.5 nights at €120 plus cleaning fees, after 15% fee and €45 cleans, minus €350 costs and €200/month furnishing = €1,423/month. Airbnb wins by about €90/month, but only above 62% occupancy.
Track all of this every month, not just once
The calculator above is a one-off snapshot. The STR Host Toolkit is a 16-tab Excel & Google Sheets workbook that does it for up to 5 properties: profit per property after platform fees, VAT and tourist tax, occupancy that ignores owner stays, a 365-night calendar with double-booking flag, Airbnb vs Booking net comparison, ROI (cap rate, cash-on-cash, DSCR), break-even rate, cleaning-fee calculator, a turnover checklist and guest message templates.
Get the free profit sheetGet the full toolkit — €29One-time purchase, instant download via Gumroad.
FAQ
Is Airbnb always more profitable than a long-term rental?
No. It earns more per night but has higher costs, more work and more risk. Below a certain occupancy a lease wins.
Does this include my mortgage?
Leave it out: it is the same under both strategies, so it doesn't change the comparison.
What about local rules?
Many cities limit short-term rentals. Check registration and night caps before switching.