Short-Term vs Long-Term Rental Calculator
Compare Airbnb or VRBO short-term rental income vs long-term rental income on the same property. Find your break-even occupancy and which strategy wins.
STR vs LTR: The Numbers That Actually Matter
The short-term rental vs long-term rental decision comes down to three numbers: nightly rate, occupancy, and expenses. Most landlords focus only on the nightly rate and get excited about what looks like 2-3x the monthly rent. What they miss is that STR expenses are dramatically higher -- cleaning fees after every checkout, supplies, platform fees (13% on Airbnb), higher utilities, more rapid wear and tear, and the time cost of active management. A $185/night STR with 60% occupancy and $18,000 in expenses nets about the same as a $2,400 LTR with standard expenses.
The key variable is occupancy. In strong vacation markets (beach towns, ski resorts, major event cities), sustained 65-75% occupancy makes STR clearly superior. In urban markets and suburban areas with no clear tourist draw, achieving 50%+ sustained occupancy is difficult, and LTR often wins on a risk-adjusted basis. Use this calculator to find your exact break-even occupancy, then research what actual STR occupancy looks like in your specific market before deciding.