Airbnb vs Long-Term Rentals: Profitability in Romania

Published on April 29, 2026 and written by Cyril Jarnias

Real Estate Rental in Romania: Airbnb vs. Long-Term Rentals

In a context where real estate rental is becoming a strategic choice for many investors, Romania is emerging as an interesting market for Airbnb and long-term rental models.

While some cities offer booming tourist demand for Airbnb, others favor the stability of long-term tenants.

Comparative Profitability Analysis by City

This article delves into a comparative profitability analysis between these two models by city, revealing:

• Which areas offer the best return on investment
• How factors like local legislation influence this choice
• The impact of economic trends on rental performance

Profitability Comparison: Airbnb vs. Long-Term Rental in Romania

Renting via Airbnb in Romania offers potentially higher profitability than long-term rentals in major cities, but this performance heavily depends on several factors: occupancy rate, seasonality, ancillary costs, and property type. Here is a detailed comparative analysis with concrete examples for Bucharest, Cluj-Napoca, and Timisoara.

Criteria	Airbnb Rental (Short-Term)	Long-Term Rental
Average Rental Rate	40-50% depending on city/season	95-100%
Annual Net Income	$7,000–$9,000 in Bucharest (studio/1BR)	$5,000–$7,500 (same type)
Average Daily Rate	$65–$75	—
Seasonal Variations	High (summer, local events…)	Low
Income Stability	Medium/Low	High

Concrete Examples by City

Bucharest

• Average annual gross income on Airbnb: approximately $8,878, with an occupancy rate of 43% and a daily rate around $75
• For long-term, the monthly rent for a similar apartment ranges between €400 and €600, or about $5,200 to $7,800/year
• Tourist demand fluctuates strongly depending on the season and cultural or economic events
• The best Airbnb hosts sometimes manage over a hundred properties but benefit from economies of scale not accessible to individuals

Cluj-Napoca & Timisoara

• Dynamic markets thanks to universities/international institutions (Cluj), technology sector (Timisoara)
• Airbnb occupancy rates generally between 40% outside peak season and 60% during major festivals or conferences
• Stable long-term rent: furnished apartments mostly rented to students or expats

List of Main Factors Influencing Profitability

1. Tourist vs. residential demand:
   • High tourist demand = better short-term profitability.
   • University cities = long-term stability.
2. Property type:
   • Studios/1BR highly sought after on Airbnb; family homes better valued in long-term.
3. Ancillary costs:
   • More frequent cleaning/maintenance for short-term (+15–25% of gross income).
   • Platforms charge ~3% on the owner’s side + cleaning fees paid by tenant or owner depending on policy.
4. Applicable taxes:
   • Specific tax on Airbnb revenue in some cities; variable local taxation.
5. Property management:
   • More time-consuming for Airbnb unless outsourced (~15–20% commission).
6. Local regulations:
   • Some municipalities impose quotas/licenses limiting the number of short-term rental properties.

Strengths & Limitations by Rental Type

Renting via Airbnb:

• Higher potential return in tourist/dynamic centers (up to +30% vs. long-term)
• Increased exposure to seasonal variations and risks related to future regulations
• High turnover leading to accelerated wear and tear on furniture/equipment

Long-term rental:

• Stable income year-round even outside tourist peaks
• Less daily/weekly involvement for the landlord
• Often simpler/more predictable taxation but lower gross return, especially in central areas popular with tourists

Key Takeaway
The optimal choice will therefore depend mainly on the geographic location of the property, its type, your ability to actively manage your rentals, and your tolerance for regulatory/seasonal risk.

Summary Checklist:

1. Higher gross profitability possible via Airbnb, especially in city centers/strong tourism areas
2. Final net income affected by additional costs (cleaning/management/taxes)
3. Stability guaranteed only with long-term rental
4. Summer season/university climates create additional peaks/returns throughout the year

Analysis of Seasonal Rental Yields by City

City	Long-Term Rental Yield (%)	Estimated Seasonal Rental Yield (Airbnb)*	Average Purchase Price (RON/m²)	Main Strengths
Bucharest	2.6 – 5.3	Up to 7-8 in high season	5,000 – 10,000	Capital, economic center, strong annual demand
Cluj-Napoca	3.0 – 5.0	Up to 6-7 depending on period and neighborhood	6,000 – 12,000	University and IT city, growing urban tourism
Constanța	3.0 – 4.5	Can exceed >10 in summer	4,000 – 7,500	Intense seasonal seaside tourism

*Airbnb yields are estimates based on the ability to rent the property for several weeks at a rate higher than long-term rentals; they vary greatly depending on the precise location and management.

Comparative Yield Analysis

• Constanța: Offers the best seasonal rental yields thanks to the massive influx of tourists on the Black Sea coast during the summer. In high season (June-September), rents can triple compared to a standard rental. However, the occupancy rate drops in the off-season.
• Bucharest: Although less touristy than a coastal or mountain city for short summer stays, Bucharest attracts business and event clientele year-round. Airbnb demand remains strong with a relatively stable occupancy rate.
• Cluj-Napoca: Major university hub and technology center with a large student population but also international festivals (e.g., Untold). Peak periods correspond to major local events.

Factors Influencing Seasonal Yields

List of Key Factors:

• Tourist Seasonality: Constanța benefits from a very pronounced summer peak; Cluj-Napoca benefits more from the academic and event calendar; Bucharest remains attractive year-round due to urban/business tourism.
• Major Local Events: Festivals like Untold in Cluj-Napoca or international conferences in Bucharest temporarily increase yield through a temporary rise in demand.
• Tourist Preferences: Foreign tourists often prefer Constanța for its coastline, while Cluj-Napoca attracts with its dynamic cultural/student life.

Other Determining Factors:

• Market saturation for Airbnb in certain areas can limit rent increases despite high demand;
• Evolving local regulations concerning short-term rentals can affect future profitability.

Concrete Examples

1. In Constanța, an apartment near the beach rented in July/August can generate twice the monthly income of a standard long-term rental over the entire year.
2. In Cluj-Napoca during the Untold festival or major university events (start of term/graduation), daily prices can double or even triple temporarily — but quickly drop afterward.
3. In Bucharest city center/historic core (“Old Town”), some owners achieve an annual occupancy rate higher than that seen in traditional residential areas.

Summary Table of Market Trends

City	Stable Annual Demand?	Pronounced High Season?
Bucharest	Yes	Yes
Cluj-Napoca	No	Yes (event-based)
Constanța	No	Yes (summer)

Saturation/Demand Effects:

• Highly touristy markets like Constanța sometimes see their yields drop if too many investors simultaneously offer their properties for short-term rental;
• In university or business city centers like those of Cluj-Napoca/Bucharest, there is more stability because different types of travelers ensure regular occupancy even outside tourist peaks;
• The choice between long-term/seasonal rental must factor in additional costs related to high turnover (cleaning/management/vacancy periods).

Recommendations for Real Estate Investors in Romania

1. Favor Constanța to maximize summer yield but anticipate low winter occupancy;
2. Diversify portfolio with well-located properties in dynamic urban centers like Bucharest/Cluj to ensure annual stability through a mix of business/tourism/festival clientele;
3. Carefully analyze local competition on platforms like Airbnb before acquisition to avoid saturated markets;
4. Adapt the offer to specific expectations based on the target area: comfort/beach amenities for Constanța vs. business/cultural amenities in inland city centers;

To optimize your real estate rental investment in Romania, it is recommended to adapt your strategy to the local profile — combining a fine analysis of the tourist calendar, an in-depth study of event peaks, and active monitoring of regulatory developments

Factors Influencing the Profitability of Rental Contracts in Romania

The main factors influencing the profitability of rental contracts in Romania — whether Airbnb (short-term) or long-term rental — are multiple and vary according to cities, tourist seasonality, the regulatory framework, and operational costs.

Rental Demand by City

• Bucharest: Dynamic capital with 4,312 Airbnb listings recorded in 2025. The average monthly income on Airbnb reaches $740, with an occupancy rate around 43%.
• Cluj-Napoca: Major university city, sustained demand but less documented in recent sources.
• Timișoara: Strong potential with nearly 1,300 active listings; average annual income $9,223 (approximately $768/month) and median occupancy rate of 52%.
• Ploiești (secondary city for comparison): Average monthly Airbnb income around $887, high occupancy rate (59%) but lower nightly price ($46/night) than in major metropolises.

City	Number of Listings	Income/Month (Airbnb)	Occupancy Rate	Average Daily Price
Bucharest	4,312	$740	43%	$75
Cluj-Napoca	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A
Timișoara	~1,300	$768	52%	N/A
Ploiesti	~143	$887	59%	$46

Seasonal Variations

The profitability of short-term rentals varies greatly depending on the season. Tourist peaks in Bucharest generally correspond to spring and autumn, while some secondary cities like Ploiești record their most profitable month in September.

Long-term rental offers increased stability without major influence from seasonal variations.

Local Regulations

To date, regulations on short-term rentals remain relatively flexible in several major Romanian cities like Bucharest or Timisoara; this still favors investment via Airbnb. However, this situation can change rapidly under local political or social pressure.

Long-term rentals are more governed by common national rental law, which provides a certain legal security for landlords.

Maintenance and Management Costs

Comparative list of recurring expenses:

Short-Term (Airbnb)

• Frequent cleaning fees
• Cost of full furniture & replacement
• Platform fee + commission (~3%)
• Active management (check-in/out, client communication)

Long-Term

• Lighter routine maintenance
• Less need for high-end furnishing
• Reduced administrative costs

Comparative Average Prices in Some European Capitals

City	Long-Term Rent (€ /month)*	Short-Term Income (€ /month)**
Bucharest	≈500–700	≈700–750
Sofia (Bulgaria)	≈400–600	≈650–710

Compared to Western Europe:

The gross yield per square meter is often higher in Romania due to the low initial real estate purchase price combined with growing tourist dynamism. However, there is a significant gap between the theoretical maximum yield on Airbnb and the actual net yield after accounting for off-peak or low-season periods as well as additional costs related to high occupant turnover.

Summary List – Key Factors Impacting Profitability:

1. Specific rental demand by city/neighborhood;
2. Local tourist season;
3. Evolving municipal regulations;
4. Cost/time management differential between short-term vs. long-term contracts;
5. Local real estate price compared to potential generated income;
6. Growing competitive landscape on platforms like Airbnb.

To maximize profitability, it is essential to adapt your real estate strategy to local specifics while remaining attentive to potential regulatory developments specific to the Romanian market as well as those observed elsewhere in Central and Eastern Europe.