Free rental analyzer
Short-Term vs Long-Term Rental Analyzer
Should you rent a property by the night, like an Airbnb, or to a tenant on a lease? Put in one property and see the real profit of each, after the loan and every cost, plus the slow months, the break-even point and the risk.
The property and rentals
Where the money goes, short-term
Year 1, per dollar collected.Where the money goes, long-term
Year 1, per dollar collected.Full comparison
Year 1. The better value in each row is shaded.What the numbers say
Cash flow month by month
What is left each month after the loan and all costs. Choose a season pattern on the left to match your market.The year in a table
What the numbers say
Does short-term still win if things go wrong?
Monthly cash flow after the loan. The long-term column changes only when the change affects it.Nightly rate and occupancy map
What the numbers say
Total gain over the years
Cash flow collected plus what you would keep if you sold, minus the cash you put in.Checkpoints
What the numbers say
Planning tool, not financial, legal or tax advice. Short-term rental income varies a lot by market and season, and many cities limit or ban it, so check local rules, taxes and your insurance and loan terms before you buy. Your own occupancy and nightly rate estimates drive every result.
Tutorial
How to use the Short-Term vs Long-Term Rental Analyzer
Compare renting a property nightly with renting it to a long-term tenant, month by month and over ten years.
- 1
Enter the property
Price, loan, taxes and the long-term rent you could get.
- 2
Enter the nightly numbers
Nightly rate, occupancy, cleaning, platform fees, furnishing and management.
- 3
Read the verdict
Check the head to head, the seasons, what it takes to win, and the 10-year view.
1Head to headWhich earns more?
Monthly cash flow for both strategies, the yearly difference and the break-even occupancy.
2SeasonsHow bad are the slow months?
Pick a beach, ski or city pattern. The chart shows each month, how many months are in the red and the cash cushion you need.
Tip. Short-term income comes in lumps. Size your cash cushion for the worst months.
3What ifWhat has to be true?
The break-even occupancy for each strategy, plus the nightly rate or occupancy you need to beat long-term rent.
4Long runTen years out
Gain after 10 years, yearly return and how quickly furnishing pays back.
Worked example
Defaults in the tool: 66% occupancy, $245 a night.At these inputs the nightly strategy is ahead by about $8,500 a year.
Short-term breaks even at 59% occupancy. Long-term never covers the loan at this price, so the comparison depends on your market.
Assumptions explained
| Field | What to enter |
|---|---|
| Nightly rate and occupancy | Use local data for your area and season, not the best month. |
| Cleaning and platform fees | Per stay costs that reduce nightly income. |
| Furnishing and setup | One-time cost that long-term rentals do not need. |
| Management | Percent of income if someone else runs it. |
| Long-term rent and vacancy | What a tenant would pay and how often it is empty. |
Is short-term always better?
No. It earns more only if occupancy holds, and it carries more work and risk.
Do rules matter?
Yes. Check local short-term rental rules and HOA limits before you buy.
Are my numbers saved?
Only in your browser.
Ready to try it?
Use your own nightly rate and occupancy and see which strategy wins. Estimates only.