Free tool

How many Airbnb properties to replace your salary?

Enter your target monthly income and city. See exactly how many managed properties you need, your projected earnings, and a realistic timeline. No signup required.

27
Cities covered
Instant
Results
Free
No account needed
5 properties
£27k
London 2-bed, monthly
3 months
Fast path
Onboarding 2/mo
Example: £5,000/mo target · London · 2 bed · Houst managed
Your calculation
Based on real Houst managed property earnings per city Accurate commission rates per market 27 cities across 10 countries Updated 2026

Enter your target income and city below. We'll calculate how many Airbnb properties you need to build a portfolio that replaces your salary — and how long it realistically takes to get there.

Earnings figures are net after the Houst fee by default. Toggle to "not included" to see the gross self-managed equivalent.

Three steps to your property target

1
Enter your target income

Type the monthly take-home you want to replace. Select your city and property size. The calculator works with Houst-managed net figures or self-managed gross.

2
Get your property count

We calculate how many properties you need based on real average net earnings per property in your city after the Houst management fee.

3
See your timeline

Get a fast-path and steady-path timeline showing how long it realistically takes to build the portfolio from scratch at different onboarding speeds.

What does a managed property earn?

Net monthly figures after the Houst management fee for a 1-bed property at typical occupancy. Larger properties earn proportionally more.

London
£5,400/mo
76% avg occupancy
Edinburgh
£7,400/mo
75% avg occupancy
Paris
€9,700/mo
77% avg occupancy
Sydney
A$13,800/mo
82% avg occupancy
Dubai
AED 18,000/mo
Typical occupancy
Cape Town
R85,600/mo
70% avg occupancy

All figures based on 1-bed properties, net after Houst management fee. 2-bed earns ~35% more, 3-bed ~70% more. Actual results vary by property and location.

About the Airbnb business income calculator

How many Airbnb properties do I need to replace my salary?
It depends on your target income and city. In London, a 2-bed property nets around £7,300/month after fees — so 2 properties would generate around £14,600/month. Use the calculator above for a city-specific figure based on your target.
How accurate are the city earnings figures?
Figures are based on average net monthly earnings across Houst-managed properties in each city after the management fee. They are directional estimates, not guarantees. Premium locations and well-presented properties typically outperform the average.
Does the calculator assume I own the properties?
No. The Houst partnership model does not require property ownership. Partners source properties from landlords and earn commission on every booking. The calculator works whether you own properties or source them under a management agreement.
What is the Houst partner programme?
Houst partners source and manage short-let properties in their city under the Houst brand. Houst handles pricing, guest communications and compliance. Partners earn 50% of Houst's management fee on every booking. Read more at houst.com/airbnb-business.
How long does it take to replace a salary with Airbnb?
Most partners starting from scratch reach 10 properties in 12 to 18 months. Reaching a full-time income equivalent typically takes 18 to 36 months depending on city, target income and onboarding pace.
What does the management fee toggle do?
By default, the calculator uses net earnings after the Houst fee — what you actually keep as a partner. Toggle to "not included" to see gross self-managed equivalent figures, useful if you are comparing against a self-managed portfolio.
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.