Can You Predict Your Airbnb Income Before Listing Your Property?
Short-term rental income is one of those things that most people have an opinion about. Your neighbour says they’re making a killing; someone in a Facebook group swears it’s not worth the hassle. But the truth for you could be different. It depends on your property, your listing, your location, and a handful of other variables. While this sounds a lot more work than it should be, we’ve simplified the process.
Meet Bachcare’s ‘Estimate Your Own Annual Income’ calculator — an in-built tool that takes the guesswork out of the equation. Punch in a few details, and the calculator will tell you that a three-bedroom property in Queenstown can earn you approximately $28,000 per year on short-term rental, and in Christchurch, it could be around the $20,000 mark. These aren’t guesses; they’re estimates based on real data. And before you list your property, knowing your number could make all the difference.
Short-term vs long-term rental in NZ – do the maths first
Alternate subhead: Is short-term rental actually better than long-term? Here’s how to find out.
The first hurdle for most holiday homeowners in NZ is always this: is it worth going short-term or long-term rental? The answer isn’t a clear yes or no; it’s more nuanced. A holiday home’s location, setup, seasonality, and demand all come into play. But what the calculator does is give you a number you can work with and compare against what a long-term tenancy would realistically bring in. For many holiday homeowners, especially those in high-demand areas, that difference could be significant.
What could your Airbnb property actually earn?
Below is a rough idea of what properties in some of New Zealand’s most popular short-term rental regions could earn annually, based on estimates from our calculator.
Note: these figures are for guidance. Your actual income will depend on your specific property, how it’s presented, and how it’s managed.
| Region | 1 bedroom | 2 bedrooms | 3 bedrooms | 4 bedrooms |
| Lake Taupo | $8,083 | $10,419 | $13,561 | $13,002 |
| Mangawhai | $6,001 | $5,605 | $9,063 | $11,623 |
| Tauranga | $8,453 | $9,256 | $13,877 | $18,287 |
| Whangamata | $3,718 | $8,729 | $10,968 | $15,660 |
| Queenstown | $17,051 | $29,534 | $28,027 | $40,114 |
What drives your Airbnb income?
The difference between a property earning $40,000 annually and one that earns $20,000 often comes down to a few factors: where it is, how many bedrooms it has, and how much demand there is in that area. These drive your nightly rate and how often your calendar fills up.
A two-bedroom apartment in Queenstown during ski season operates in a different market from the same property in a quieter regional town in February. The number of bedrooms matters, too: more generally mean a higher nightly rate, as you have the ability to host larger groups, which tend to book longer stays.
These are the variables our calculator uses to give you a realistic annual estimate for your property.
How to find out what your property is worth?
The calculator we’ve created is simple. You need to enter four key details: your full name, email address, region, and number of bedrooms. That’s it. Your estimate appears on the screen straight away, and one of our team members will also follow up to walk you through the numbers and answer any questions you may have.
It’s a useful starting point and one worth considering, especially if you’re new to the short-term rental space or simply if you’re curious to know what your property could potentially earn you.
Try our income calculator
Disclaimer: The figures provided are intended as a general guide only and should not be taken as guaranteed outcomes. They represent estimates based on the information and data we currently hold. Actual property pricing and potential income may vary due to a range of factors, including market conditions, property configuration, and the frequency with which the property is made available for bookings.