How much more do short-term rentals earn than long-term rentals in Queensland?

Queensland short-term rentals earn 30-40% more net income than long-term leases on average. Brisbane properties averaging $211/night with 81% occupancy generate $60,000+ gross annually versus $33,800 for long-term rental at $650/week. Gold Coast properties at $311/night and 78% occupancy earn $84,510 gross versus approximately $39,000 long-term. Sunshine Coast properties at $355/night and 73% occupancy generate $91,124 gross versus $40,000-$45,000 long-term. After expenses, STR net income is typically 30-50% higher.

What occupancy rate do I need for Airbnb to be more profitable?

Break-even occupancy varies by market and nightly rate. Brisbane typically requires 45-50% occupancy for STR to match long-term income (actual average: 81%). Gold Coast requires 35-40% occupancy (actual average: 78%). Sunshine Coast requires 40-45% occupancy (actual average: 73%). This means even if occupancy drops significantly below market average, STRs still outperform long-term rentals. Professional management with dynamic pricing maintains occupancy well above break-even thresholds.

What are the main expenses for short-term rentals vs long-term?

Long-term rental expenses are minimal: property management (7-8% of rent), occasional maintenance, council rates, insurance. Annual expenses typically 10-15% of gross income. Short-term rental expenses include: cleaning ($100-170 per turnover, 15-20 turnovers/month), utilities ($200-400/month), STR management (18% of revenue), platform fees (3-15%), STR insurance ($800-1,500/year), increased maintenance (5-10% of revenue), supplies and restocking. Total STR expenses typically 25-35% of gross revenue. Despite higher expenses, STR net income exceeds long-term due to significantly higher gross revenue.

Is short-term rental worth the extra effort compared to long-term?

With professional management, STRs require zero owner effort while generating 30-50% more net income. Self-managed STRs require 10-20 hours weekly for guest communication, pricing, cleaning coordination, and maintenance. Lane Property's full-service management handles all operations for 18% of revenue - you receive bi-monthly payouts without any involvement. The typical income increase ($10,000-$30,000+ annually) far exceeds the management fee. For hands-off investors, professionally managed STR is objectively superior to long-term rental in both income and convenience.

Which Queensland location is best for short-term rentals?

Highest revenue: Sunshine Coast ($91,124 average, $355 ADR) - best for maximum income. Most stable: Brisbane ($60,058 average, 81% occupancy) - best for consistent year-round performance. Best balance: Gold Coast ($84,510 average, $311 ADR, 78% occupancy) - strong income with good occupancy. Brisbane inner suburbs offer highest occupancy (84%) for lowest risk. Gold Coast beachfront commands premium rates. Noosa achieves highest nightly rates ($600-2,000/night peak) but requires council registration.

How does property management affect the STR vs LTR comparison?

Professional STR management costs more (18% vs 7-8% for long-term) but generates 15-25% higher revenue through dynamic pricing, faster response times, multi-platform distribution, and optimized operations. Lane Property clients average 84% occupancy versus 73-78% self-managed. A property grossing $48,000 self-managed typically achieves $58,000-62,000 with professional management. After 18% management fee ($10,440), net is $47,560-51,560 - still higher than self-managed ($48,000) AND requires zero owner time. The management fee pays for itself through revenue optimization.

What if the short-term rental market crashes?

Short-term rentals provide downside protection: properties can immediately convert to long-term leasing if needed. You maintain full ownership and can switch strategies without penalty. Queensland's strong fundamentals (27.7 million annual visitors, Brisbane 2032 Olympics, no state STR taxes) support long-term STR viability. Even during COVID-19, Queensland STRs recovered quickly due to strong domestic travel. The ability to switch between STR and long-term provides flexibility unavailable with other investment types.

Do I need different insurance for short-term vs long-term rentals?

Yes, standard landlord insurance excludes short-term rental activity. You must obtain specialist STR insurance covering property damage, liability, loss of income, and contents. Annual cost: $800-$1,500 for typical 2-3 bedroom property. Major Australian STR insurers include Termsure, Superhog, and BizCover. Airbnb's Host Guarantee is secondary coverage with many exclusions and should not replace proper insurance. Long-term rentals use standard landlord insurance at $500-800/year. The insurance cost difference ($300-700/year) is negligible compared to income advantage ($10,000-30,000/year).

Airbnb vs Long-Term Rental Calculator

Compare Short-Term vs Long-Term Rental Income for Your 2 Bedroom Property

Discover how much more you could earn by switching from traditional long-term rentals to professional short-term rental management. Get an instant, personalised income comparison.

40% Higher Returns

84% Avg Occupancy

4.9★ Google Rating

Short-Term Stay vs Long-Term Rental: Which One Is Best For Your Property?

Choosing between a short term or long term rental strategy? The Airbnb calculator above looks at your yield and return but lets breakdown the key differences between Short Stay and Long Term Rentals to help you make the right call for your investment property.

Higher Income Potential

Dynamic pricing allows short term rentals to outperform fixed leases, especially in peak travel seasons. Want to see how much? Check the Airbnb vs Long Term Rent Calculator above.

Reduced Wear and Tear

Guests usually stay for shorter periods, meaning less long-term damage compared to year-round tenants who leave wear until the end-of-lease clean.

Flexibility & Control

Block out dates for personal use, adjust pricing seasonally, and maintain complete control over your property without being locked into year-long leases.

Regular Property Inspections

With turnover between guests, your property gets cleaned and inspected regularly, catching maintenance issues early before they become expensive problems.

Predictable Cash Flow

Fixed monthly rent provides consistent income without seasonal fluctuations. However, this stability means missing out on peak season rates and dynamic pricing opportunities that can significantly boost annual returns.

Minimal Day-to-Day Management

Once a tenant is in place, there's less frequent communication and coordination. The trade-off is reduced visibility into property condition and limited flexibility for owner use or market adjustments.

Works in Residential Markets

Long-term rentals can make sense in purely residential areas with limited tourist appeal. But in tourist destinations like Brisbane, Gold Coast, or Sunshine Coast, short-term typically outperforms by 30-40%.

Lower Operational Complexity

Fewer turnovers mean reduced cleaning and communication overhead. However, this also means less frequent property inspections and no ability to adjust strategy based on market conditions.

Quick Comparison: Short-Term vs Long-Term

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Long-Term

Owner Usage Flexibility

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Regular Property Monitoring

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Adjust Pricing to Market

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Greater Tax Deduction Opportunities

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Control Over Guest Selection

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No Lease Restrictions (Easier to Sell)

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Predictable Monthly Income

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Low Management Effort

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Lower Operating Costs

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Works in Tourist Areas

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Fewer Regulations

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PROPERTY OWNER SUCCESS STORIES

Real Results from Owners Who Switched to Short-Term Rentals

Discover how Queensland property owners increased their rental income by 30-40% after transitioning from long-term leases to professionally managed Airbnb properties with Lane Property.

4.9

84% Occupancy Rate

200+ Happy Owners

View All Reviews on Google →

Compare Short-Term vs Long-Term Rental Income for Your 2 Bedroom Property

Calculate Your Potential Income

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Short-Term Stay vs Long-Term Rental: Which One Is Best For Your Property?

Higher Income Potential

Reduced Wear and Tear

Flexibility & Control

Regular Property Inspections

Predictable Cash Flow

Minimal Day-to-Day Management

Works in Residential Markets

Lower Operational Complexity

Quick Comparison: Short-Term vs Long-Term

See What Your Property Could Earn

Real Results from Owners Who Switched to Short-Term Rentals

Maximise returns. Minimise hassle.
‍

Dynamic pricing

Listing optimisation

Guest communication

Cleaning coordination

Transparent reporting

Local expertise

Prefer to Book A Call?

Get Your Free Rental Assessment.

Rental Type	Net Weekly Income
Long-Term Rental	$0
Short-Term Rental	$0
💰 Potential Uplift	$0

Timeframe	Net Income
Weekly	$0
Monthly	$0
Annually	$0

Rental Type	Annual Yield
Long-Term Rental	0%
Short-Term Rental	0%
📈 Yield Difference	0%

Higher Income Potential

Reduced Wear and Tear

Flexibility & Control

Regular Property Inspections

Predictable Cash Flow

Minimal Day-to-Day Management

Works in Residential Markets

Lower Operational Complexity

Quick Comparison: Short-Term vs Long-Term

See What Your Property Could Earn

Maximise returns. Minimise hassle.‍

Dynamic pricing

Listing optimisation

Guest communication

Cleaning coordination

Transparent reporting

Local expertise

Prefer to Book A Call?

Get Your Free Rental Assessment.

Maximise returns. Minimise hassle.
‍