Free Airbnb Business Income Calculator: How Many Properties to Replace Your Salary? | Houst
Free calculator

How many Airbnb properties to replace your salary?

Enter your target monthly income and city. See exactly how many managed properties you need, your earnings projection, and how long it takes to get there.

27
Cities covered
Instant
Results
Free
No account needed
London
5 props
to hit £3k/mo
Sydney
3 props
to hit A$5k/mo
Dubai
4 props
to hit AED 20k/mo
2-bed properties · typical net after Houst fee
Your calculation
£
Based on real net earnings from Houst's managed portfolio Covers all 27 Houst cities in 8 countries Updated 2026 4.7 stars on Trustpilot
How it works

Get your answer in three steps

1
Enter your target income

Type the monthly take-home you want to replace or match. The calculator works in local currency for each of Houst's 27 cities.

2
Choose city and property size

Select the city you plan to operate in and the typical property size. Net earnings per property vary significantly by both.

3
See your property target and timeline

Get the exact number of properties needed, projected income at that scale, and two timeline paths to reach your goal.

Typical net earnings by city

What Airbnb hosts actually earn — city by city

Based on Houst's managed portfolio. Net monthly figures after Houst management fee for a typical 1-bedroom property. Results vary by size and location within city.

London
£5,400/mo
2-bed · 76% occupancy
~4 props to hit £20k/mo
Edinburgh
£7,400/mo
2-bed · 75% occupancy
~3 props to hit £20k/mo
Sydney
A$13,800/mo
2-bed · 82% occupancy
~2 props to hit A$25k/mo
Paris
€9,700/mo
2-bed · 77% occupancy
~3 props to hit €25k/mo
Dubai
AED 18,000/mo
2-bed · typical occupancy
~4 props to hit AED 60k/mo
Cape Town
R85,600/mo
2-bed · 70% occupancy
~3 props to hit R250k/mo

All figures net after Houst management fee. Actual results vary. Use the calculator above for a city-specific projection at your target income.

Why the Houst partnership model

Build a portfolio without building an operations team

No rent liability
Unlike rent-to-rent, the Houst partnership model earns commission on bookings. No fixed costs if properties sit empty.
Houst handles operations
Guest communications, pricing, platform management and compliance — all handled centrally. You focus on growing the portfolio.
Scales without capital risk
Add more properties and your commission grows proportionally. No additional capital locked up per property.
50:50 commission split
Partners receive 50% of Houst's management fee on every booking across their portfolio. Steady-state from Year 2.
Partner commission
50%
of Houst fee, every booking
Active markets
27
cities available
Operations handled
100%
pricing, guests, compliance
Rent liability
Zero
commission-only model
Common questions

How many Airbnb properties to replace your salary?

How does the calculator work out how many properties I need?
It divides your target monthly income by the net earnings per property for your selected city and property size, then rounds up to the nearest whole number. The net figures are drawn from Houst's actual managed portfolio data after the management fee, not publicly scraped estimates.
How accurate are the city earnings figures?
They are based on average net monthly income across Houst-managed properties in each city, adjusted by bedroom count. They reflect typical performance at typical occupancy and are directional figures, not guarantees. Properties in premium locations within a city will outperform the average.
Does the calculator assume I own the properties?
No. The Houst partnership model does not require you to own properties. Partners source properties from landlords who want professional short-let management, then earn a commission on bookings. The calculator shows income at scale regardless of ownership structure. If you are evaluating rent-to-rent as an alternative, use the R2R vs partnership calculator to compare both models.
What is the Houst partner programme?
Houst partners are on-the-ground operators who source and manage a portfolio of short-let properties in their city under the Houst brand and systems. Houst handles pricing, guest communications, platform management and compliance. Partners handle local operations: check-ins, cleaning coordination and landlord relationships. Partners earn 50% of Houst's management fee on every booking. Read more about how the Houst partner programme works.
How long does it realistically take to replace a salary?
It depends on how quickly you can onboard properties. The calculator shows two scenarios: a fast path (2 properties per month) and a steady path (1 property every 2 months). Most partners starting from scratch reach 10 properties in 12–18 months. Reaching a full-time income equivalent typically takes 18–36 months depending on city and target income level.
What is Houst's management fee?
Houst charges property owners a management fee from 12% in London, Paris and Dubai, and from 14% in other markets. Partners receive 50% of this fee. The net income figures in the calculator already account for this — they show what a partner earns after the split. Read the full guide to what Houst's management fee includes.
Can I use this calculator for cities outside the UK?
Yes. The calculator covers all 27 cities Houst operates in across 8 countries, including Dublin, Paris, Lisbon, Dubai, Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Perth, Auckland, Wellington and Cape Town. Currency adjusts automatically to local market figures.
Ready to build your portfolio?

Apply to become a Houst partner

Talk to our partnerships team about your city and get a detailed breakdown of what the programme looks like for you.

Apply to partner Learn about the programme
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