How much does an Airbnb make in Destin? Our real numbers

Short answer: a well-run Destin condo can bring in a lot more than a long-term rental – but how much depends on the unit, the building and how you run it. Our beach studio brought in $61,870 in gross rental income in 2025. Our 2-bedroom condo had $70,103 in gross revenue in 2025, and $63,592 was paid out to us after platform fees. Below we show where those numbers come from and what we pay to run each unit.

We are Sara and Patrick. We have been hosting since 2018 and run about 30 vacation rentals in Florida (around Orlando and in Destin) and Las Vegas – 26 of them we own. Across our listings we hold a 4.90★ average on Airbnb, and we have hosted more than 40,000 guests. The studio below was our first investment property in Destin.

Case 1: our beach studio (Sandpiper Cove)

The studio is about 471 sq ft, just steps from the beach, with a queen bed and a sleeper sofa – enough for couples and small families. We bought it on a tight budget, renovated it, and later did a full renovation during the off-season to raise our rates.

This unit was our top earner measured by what we put in versus what we get out. Long-term renting would not have come anywhere close – but a studio this close to the beach, fully renovated and with strong reviews, is not an average unit either.

Case 2: our 2-bedroom condo (Palms of Destin)

This is a two-bedroom, two-bath condo of about 970 sq ft with a small bunk room for kids – it sleeps six. The resort has heated pools, a parking garage, tennis courts, a gym and a restaurant. It also has about 400 units, and we estimate around 350 of them are vacation rentals. In other words: a lot of competition right down the hall.

Running costs still come out of the payout. Note that "gross revenue" here includes the cleaning fees and the taxes guests pay – the taxes are not your money, they go to the state and county.

What drives revenue in Destin

• Distance to the beach. Walking distance matters more than almost anything else in a beach market.
• Sleeping capacity. A 2-bedroom that sleeps six earns a higher nightly rate than a studio – but also costs more to buy, clean and furnish.
• Building amenities. Heated pools are a big reason our 2-bedroom still rents in winter. The Gulf Coast is seasonal, so anything that helps the off-season counts.
• Standing out from identical units. In a building full of similar condos, the one with the best photos, the clearest title and a few smart upgrades gets the bookings and the higher rates.
• Reviews. Strong reviews push your listing up in search and let you charge more. Our studio ranked on the first page of Airbnb search results most of the time.

The costs: HOA, cleaning, taxes, insurance

Running our studio meant paying HOA fees (incl. internet and TV), condo insurance (HO-6) plus flood insurance, property tax, electricity and water, cleaning and repairs. Even after those costs, it earned far more than a long-term rental would have. Here is what to know about the biggest cost items:

• HOA: In Destin condos, the HOA fee is often the biggest fixed cost. Our 2-bedroom pays about $800 a month – but that covers electricity, internet, cable TV, the pools and the garage. A high fee scared other buyers away, which is one reason we got a good price.
• Cleaning: We paid about $120 per turnover for the studio. Guests pay a cleaning fee, but you pay the cleaner after every stay – so many short stays mean many cleanings.
• Platform fees: Airbnb's host-only fee is usually about 15.5%. Vrbo charges a flat 12% from October 29, 2026. See Airbnb vs. Vrbo for hosts.
• Lodging taxes: Guests pay Florida's 6% state sales tax plus the county surtax, and the Okaloosa County tourist development tax (currently 6%). Airbnb collects the state tax and surtax, but Okaloosa County says it is not contracted with any platform – so owners register with the Clerk of Court and file the tourist tax themselves.
• Licenses: A Florida DBPR vacation rental license costs $170 a year (plus a $50 application fee for a new license). The City of Destin also has an annual short-term rental registration and requires a business tax receipt – check what applies to your unit. Careful: some "Destin-area" addresses, like Miramar Beach, are in Walton County, with different rules.
• Insurance and income tax: Coastal insurance (including flood and hurricane deductibles) can change a lot from year to year, so get quotes before you buy. Florida has no state personal income tax, but federal income tax applies to your profit – talk to a CPA.

See every number behind these condos

Module 6 walks through our top earner, our best deal and how we finance new properties.

See Module 6

How Destin compares with Orlando

Most of our units are around Orlando. A typical one there costs about $150,000 including renovation, rents for about $140 a night all-in and brings in about $3,000–3,500 gross per month. Because we manage it ourselves, about $1,500 a month is left after all costs. Our Destin condos bring in noticeably more per dollar invested – but beach markets are more seasonal, and HOA fees and coastal insurance are real costs. If you are looking at Orlando, read Is Airbnb allowed in Orlando? first – the rules there depend on the exact address.

How to run your own numbers

The classic mistake: taking peak-season occupancy and projecting it onto the whole year. Run your numbers month by month, plan the off-season conservatively, and check the HOA rules before you fall in love with a unit. Our free Unfiltered Property Checklist lists the 25 things we check before we buy.

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