How Much Can You Earn from an Airbnb in Salt Lake City?

Jun 25

3 min read

The interior of a large white home with a couch, TV, coffee table, and a kitchen in the background - TruStay

Salt Lake City is one of the West’s most unique and underrated Airbnb markets. With its growing population, year-round tourism, and close access to ski resorts, national parks, and convention centers, it offers both seasonal and steady demand. But just how much can you earn from an Airbnb in Salt Lake City?

Whether you're a local with a basement apartment or a remote investor with an eye on Sugar House or The Avenues, understanding the revenue potential is a key step in deciding if Airbnb hosting is worth it in SLC.

In this guide, we’ll explore the current numbers, what influences income, and how TruStay helps hosts unlock more earnings while doing less.

How Much Can You Earn from an Airbnb in Salt Lake City? (2025 Data)

According to recent market data from AirDNA and other industry sources, here’s a snapshot of what SLC Airbnb hosts can expect:

Average daily rate (ADR): ~$195–$250
Average monthly revenue: $2,300–$3,800
Annual potential revenue: $25,000–$45,000+ (for high-performing full-time listings)
Occupancy rates: 58%–78%, depending on season and listing quality

Of course, these are averages—and your actual earnings depend on multiple factors like location, seasonality, property size, amenities, guest experience, and management quality.

What Affects Airbnb Earnings in SLC?

1. Location

Neighborhoods like Sugar House, 9th & 9th, The Avenues, and Downtown often outperform suburban or less walkable areas. Proximity to the airport, ski resorts, hospitals, and the Salt Palace Convention Center can significantly boost bookings.

2. Property Type

Entire homes and 2–3 bedroom units tend to earn more than private rooms or studios. Homes that sleep 6+ can command premium rates, especially for groups and families.

3. Design, Amenities & Photos

Well-furnished spaces with thoughtful touches (like central A/C, blackout curtains, fast Wi-Fi, and outdoor space) consistently outperform their competition. High-quality photos make a major difference in click-through rates.

4. Seasonality & Local Events

SLC has both winter and summer demand drivers: ski season, Sundance overflow, university graduations, conferences, and major sporting events all cause rate spikes. Smart pricing tools can help you capitalize on these windows.

5. Your Management Approach

DIY hosts often leave money on the table by underpricing, mismanaging calendars, or responding too slowly to guest inquiries. Partnering with a professional property manager like TruStay can often pay for itself by maximizing both occupancy and rate.

Real-Life Examples

Let’s look at two simplified scenarios:

Example A: A 2BR unit in Sugar House

ADR: $225
Occupancy: 70%
Monthly revenue: ~$4,725
Annual: ~$56,700

Example B: A 1BR condo near the U of U

ADR: $165
Occupancy: 60%
Monthly revenue: ~$2,970
Annual: ~$35,640

Both properties can be strong earners—but the larger home in a high-demand neighborhood with solid management stands out over time.

What About Costs?

Earning $4K+ a month sounds great—but what are the costs?

Here’s a quick rundown of typical expenses:

Mortgage or rent
Utilities and internet
Repairs and maintenance
Cleaning fees
Supplies and restocking
Airbnb service fees (~3% for most hosts)
Property management (varies)

If you're managing it yourself, it can be a full-time job. TruStay helps owners by streamlining operations, boosting bookings, and ultimately freeing up your time.

What’s a “Good” Profit Margin in SLC?

A healthy Airbnb in Salt Lake City should deliver 20%–35% profit margins after all expenses—though this depends on your mortgage and setup.

Many TruStay-managed properties outperform those averages thanks to:

Dynamic pricing
Listing optimization
Local market insights
Proactive guest communication

How TruStay Helps SLC Owners Earn More

At TruStay, we specialize in helping hosts earn more—without doing more.

From day one, we offer:

Localized income projections
Market insights specific to your property
Full-service or hybrid management options
Custom amenity and design recommendations

Our team can evaluate your existing Airbnb or help you analyze a property you're considering purchasing. Using real market data and trend forecasting, we can project the potential income of your home—or even compare how it would perform as a short-term, mid-term, or long-term rental. If the numbers don't make sense, we’ll tell you. If they do, we’ll help you make the most of it.

We’ve worked with owners who thought they “topped out” in earnings—only to help them boost income by 20–40% through simple changes and strategy.

Best of all, we tailor our pricing to fit your actual performance. If your place underperforms, we lower your fees. That makes us truly aligned with your success.