Rental income estimator
Compare what your property could earn from short stays, mid-term and long-term letting. Takes ten seconds.
Short answer: Choose your suburb, bedrooms and property type below to see an indicative yearly income range for each way of letting. The figures are gross, before fees and costs. For an exact figure, request a free written appraisal from a licensed agent.
Estimate your income
Gross income before management fees, cleaning and running costs. Indicative only: based on 2025–26 market data for the region, adjusted for area, size and type. It is not a figure for your specific property.
Sources: short-stay nightly rates and occupancy for Brisbane, the Gold Coast and the Sunshine Coast from Airbtics market data (2025–26), cross-checked with Hometime. Long-term rents for the Gold Coast and Sunshine Coast from Domain and Rentbuzz rent medians. Brisbane and Sydney long-term rents, mid-term rates, Sydney short-stay rates, and suburb, bedroom and property-type adjustments are PlaceHosts estimates.
How the estimate works
Each region starts from a baseline for a typical two-bedroom apartment, drawn from published 2025–26 short-stay market data (Airbtics, Hometime) and rent medians (Domain, Rentbuzz), with our own estimates where no reliable published figure exists. We then adjust for the suburb, the number of bedrooms and the property type, and show a range of about 15% either side.
In Sydney, a whole home you don't live in can only be let for short stays for 180 nights a year, so the short-stay figure combines up to 170 short-stay nights with mid-term stays for the rest of the year. Read more in our Sydney short-stay rules guide.
What the estimate can't see
Two apartments in the same building can earn very different amounts. The things that move the number most are:
- Building rules. Some strata schemes in NSW ban short stays. In Queensland, by-laws can't ban them but buildings can still be unsuitable.
- Views, parking, pool and outdoor space. These matter far more to guests than to long-term tenants.
- Furnishing and photos. A well-presented listing can earn 20–30% more per night.
- Costs. Short stays carry cleaning, utilities, supplies, furniture and, in Brisbane, higher council rates. See what Airbnb management costs and Airbnb vs long-term rent for the full comparison.
Common questions
How accurate is the rental income estimator?
It gives an indicative range based on regional market data, adjusted for suburb, size and property type. It does not see your building, views, parking or presentation, which can move income a lot. A free written appraisal from a licensed agent gives a figure for your specific property.
Are the figures before or after costs?
They are gross income, before management fees, cleaning, utilities, furniture and other running costs. Short stays have the highest costs, so the gap between short-stay and long-term income narrows once costs are taken out.
Why is the Sydney short-stay figure a mix?
In Greater Sydney, a whole home that isn't your principal place of residence can only be let for short stays for 180 nights a year. The estimate assumes up to 170 short-stay nights, with mid-term stays filling the rest of the year.
What is a mid-term rental?
A furnished rental for one to six months, usually to people relocating for work, renovating their own home or working on contract. It sits between short stays and a standard lease. See our mid-term rentals guide.
Get the exact figure for your property
A licensed agent will check your address, building rules and comparable listings, and send a written appraisal within one business day. No lock-in contract, 30 days' notice.
Request my free appraisalRelated: Airbnb vs long-term rent · Mid-term rentals · What Airbnb management costs · Brisbane rules · Sydney rules
Last checked: 10 November 2026. This page is general information, not legal or tax advice. Rules change, so confirm the details for your own property with the council, your body corporate or strata manager, and your accountant.