Short-Term Rental Calculator

Calculate Airbnb and VRBO income, cash-on-cash return, and true ROI — including seasonal models and regulatory costs.

$
%
%
$
%
$
%
$
Monthly Net Income
$804
After mortgage, management, platform fees, and all expenses
Gross Annual Revenue
$47,085
Net Annual Income
$9,653
Cash-on-Cash Return
12.9%
Gross Rental Yield
13.5%

Monthly net income and cash-on-cash return at different occupancy levels at $175/night.

OccupancyGross Revenue/yrNet Revenue/yrMonthly Cash FlowCash-on-Cash
40%$31,390$25,338-$251-4.0%
55%$43,161$34,840$5408.6%
70%$54,933$44,342$1,33221.3%
85%$66,704$53,844$2,12434.0%

Model revenue across high, medium, and low seasons with different rates and occupancy.

$
%
mo
$
%
mo
$
%
mo
Annual Seasonal Profit/Loss
+$9,484
High Season Revenue
$16,078
3 months
Mid Season Revenue
$17,879
6 months
Low Season Revenue
$3,881
3 months
Total Annual Revenue
$37,838
Net after fees
Annual Costs
$28,354
Mortgage + expenses
Days Booked/Year
212 days

How to Use the Short-Term Rental Calculator

This calculator analyzes Airbnb and VRBO rental income from a property you own or are considering buying. It goes beyond simple revenue estimates to show true profitability after all costs.

Quick Calculator

Enter your Property Value, Down Payment %, Interest Rate, Nightly Rate, Occupancy Rate, Cleaning Fee, Management Fee %, and Monthly Expenses. The calculator shows monthly net income, annual cash flow, and cash-on-cash return — the three numbers that matter most for STR investors.

Advanced — STR Analysis

Occupancy Scenarios shows cash flow at 40%, 55%, 70%, and 85% occupancy. Expense Breakdown itemizes all costs with a visual chart. vs Long-Term Rental lets you compare STR income against a traditional lease at your estimated market rent.

Pro — Professional Model

The Seasonal Model lets you define high/medium/low seasons with different rates and occupancy. Regulatory Costs adds hotel tax and permit costs to see the true regulatory burden. Full 5-Year ROI combines cumulative cash flow with property appreciation for total return on invested capital.

Key Formulas

Gross Revenue = (Nightly Rate × Booked Nights) + (Cleaning Fee × Number of Trips)
Net Revenue = Gross Revenue × (1 − Platform Fee % − Management Fee %)
Monthly Net Income = (Net Revenue / 12) − Mortgage − Monthly Expenses
Cash-on-Cash Return = Annual Net Income / (Down Payment + Closing Costs) × 100
Booked Nights = 365 × Occupancy Rate

Worked Example: Lakefront Cabin in Tennessee

David's STR Investment Analysis

David is evaluating a $350,000 lakefront cabin in the Smoky Mountains with 20% down at 7%.

Property Value$350,000
Down Payment (20%)$70,000
Mortgage Payment$1,863/mo
Nightly Rate$195
Occupancy Rate65%
Booked Nights237/yr
Gross Revenue$49,556/yr
Platform + Mgmt (23%)$11,398/yr
Net Revenue$38,158/yr
Monthly Expenses$600/mo
Monthly Net Income+$317/mo
Cash-on-Cash Return5.4%

David earns a modest positive cash flow with a 5.4% cash-on-cash return. With 4% annual appreciation, his 5-year total ROI including equity buildup climbs to over 35%.

Frequently Asked Questions

Beyond the mortgage, budget for: property management (20-30% of revenue if outsourced), cleaning costs between stays, platform fees (3% Airbnb / 5% VRBO), short-term rental insurance ($1,500-$3,000/yr vs standard homeowner policy), utilities (electric, water, internet), furnishing replacement, maintenance reserve (1% of property value/year), supplies (~$5-15/night), and local permits or hotel taxes.
Self-managing saves 20-30% of revenue but requires significant time — responding to inquiries, coordinating cleaners, handling maintenance issues, managing check-ins. If you live nearby and have a few properties, self-managing is feasible. If you're remote or have multiple properties, professional management often pays for itself through better reviews, higher occupancy, and less stress.
STR income is generally taxable as rental income. You can deduct operating expenses (mortgage interest, depreciation, management fees, utilities, maintenance) against rental income. You may also be subject to self-employment tax if you provide hotel-like services. Most STR owners also collect and remit local hotel/transient occupancy taxes (8-15%), which Airbnb sometimes handles automatically depending on your market.
New listings typically see 30-50% occupancy in the first 3-6 months while building reviews and search ranking. After 12-18 months with good reviews and optimized pricing, many listings reach 55-70% occupancy. Top-performing properties with professional photos, dynamic pricing, and 100+ reviews can reach 75-85%. Use conservative (50-55%) projections for financial modeling.
Top STR markets typically have strong tourism demand, STR-friendly regulations, and reasonable property prices relative to rental income. Popular markets include Smoky Mountain Tennessee, Gulf Coast Florida, Scottsdale Arizona, Outer Banks North Carolina, and Colorado mountain towns. Avoid markets with heavy STR restrictions (NYC, LA, Portland) unless you can verify your property will be grandfathered or permitted.

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