Is short-term more profitable than long-term in Quebec?

Potentially, if occupancy is high and the regulations allow it. But platform, cleaning, management, and furnishing costs and seasonal vacancy are much higher; you have to hit a break-even occupancy rate to beat the long-term rental.

DeedWorthGuide · Quebec

Airbnb vs Long-Term Rental in Quebec: The Comparison for Investors (2026)

Q: How do you calculate Airbnb income?

Gross income equals the average daily rate (ADR) multiplied by 365 and by the occupancy rate. You then subtract platform, cleaning, and management fees, furnishing, supplies, and vacancy to get the real net income.

Short-term rental (STR) dangles the promise of higher income than a conventional lease. But in Quebec, the return gap has to be weighed against strict regulation, far higher costs, and the risk of seasonal vacancy. Before you turn a unit into an Airbnb, here's what to calculate — and the rules to follow.

First, legality: you can't just do whatever you want

In Quebec, short-term rental is tightly regulated, and ignoring the rules is costly.

Mandatory CITQ registration. Every short-term rental must hold a registration certificate from the Corporation de l'industrie touristique du Québec. Each property has its own number.
Prior municipal authorization. Before the CITQ, you need an authorization certificate from the city, and zoning must permit the use. In many residential zones, short-term rental is limited to the principal residence or outright prohibited.
Definition. A short-term rental = 31 consecutive days or less for the same traveller.
Display. The CITQ number must be posted at the entrance and on all advertising and platforms (Airbnb, etc.).
Penalties. Renting without valid registration exposes you to fines of $1,000 to $2,500 per infraction, which can add up.

The first practical consequence: if your building is in a standard residential zone and is not your principal residence, STR may simply not be allowed. Checking the zoning is step zero.

How short-term income is calculated

STR income isn't just the nightly rate. The base formula:

Gross STR income = Average daily rate (ADR) × 365 × Occupancy rate

A unit at $150/night at 60% occupancy generates roughly 150 × 365 × 0.60 = $32,850 gross per year. But gross is misleading, because costs are much heavier than for a long-term rental.

The costs that eat into the short-term premium

Where a long-term rental involves few recurring costs, an STR piles them on:

platform commissions (Airbnb, etc.);
cleaning and laundry between each stay;
management / concierge (often 15-25% of income if delegated);
furnishing, equipment, and accelerated wear;
supplies, utilities, internet included for the traveller;
insurance suited to tourist use;
seasonal vacancy (low season, gaps between bookings).

Once these costs are deducted, the short-term "premium" often melts away far faster than expected.

The real test: break-even occupancy

The right question isn't "how much do I earn per night," but: what occupancy rate does the STR need to beat the long-term rental? You compare the net STR income (after all the costs above) to the net income of a stable long-term rental of the same unit. The occupancy rate that equalizes the two is your break-even point: below it, long-term wins; above it, STR comes out ahead — if the regulations allow it and if you absorb the management load.

Long term: less income, but more stability

Long-term rental offers predictable income, lower costs, little day-to-day management, and no CITQ registration. In return, rents are governed by the Tribunal administratif du logement (TAL, Quebec's rental board), which limits increases. For many investors, it's the portfolio's stable foundation, with STR relevant only for very specific assets and zones.

Compare both scenarios before you jump in

The verdict depends on local variables: zoning, tourist seasonality, realistic rate, management cost. DeedWorth compares short-term and long-term for the same building — income (ADR × 365 × occupancy), platform and management fees, STR premium, break-even occupancy, and a verdict — so you decide on numbers rather than on a hunch. Compare STR vs long-term with DeedWorth →

FAQ

Do you need a permit to rent on Airbnb in Quebec? Yes. Every short-term rental requires a CITQ registration certificate and, beforehand, municipal authorization; zoning must permit the use. The CITQ number must be displayed on all advertising and platforms.

What is a short-term rental in Quebec? A rental of 31 consecutive days or less for the same traveller. Beyond that, you're no longer under the short-term tourist accommodation regime.

Is short-term more profitable than long-term? Potentially, if occupancy is high and the regulations allow it. But the costs (platform, cleaning, management, furnishing, seasonal vacancy) are much higher; you have to hit a break-even occupancy rate to beat the long-term rental.

What are the penalties for renting without CITQ registration? Fines of $1,000 to $2,500 per infraction, which can accumulate. Renting without valid registration is risky and increasingly enforced.

How do you calculate Airbnb income? Gross income = average daily rate (ADR) × 365 × occupancy rate. You then subtract platform, cleaning, and management fees, furnishing, supplies, and vacancy to get the real net income.