Homestay Income Calculator
Estimate what your homestay can really earn across peak, normal and low seasons, after OTA commission and running costs.
How much can a homestay earn?
Homestays in the hills, near beaches and in heritage towns earn very differently from month to month. A Darjeeling, Kasol or Coorg property may be full in peak months and very quiet in the monsoon or deep winter. Averages hide this, so this homestay income calculator works season by season: peak, normal and low, each with its own rate, occupancy and number of months.
Example
A 5-room homestay sells peak months at ₹4,500 and 80% occupancy. One peak month (about 30.4 days) gives roughly 122 room nights and ₹5.5 lakh in room revenue. In a low month at ₹2,200 and 30%, the same rooms earn only about ₹1 lakh — but salaries, food and electricity still have to be paid. That gap is why yearly planning matters more than a good peak month.
Costs to include
- Staff: caretaker, cook, cleaner, and seasonal helpers.
- Food and groceries: breakfast or meals if included, tea and staff food.
- Utilities: electricity, water, LPG, Wi-Fi, generator diesel.
- Maintenance: repairs, painting, linen replacement and pest control.
- OTA commission: Airbnb, Booking.com, MakeMyTrip and others deduct commission; GST of 18% applies to it.
Room tariffs up to ₹7,500 per night attract 5% GST if you are registered. Enter rates excluding GST, since GST is passed to the government.
Ways to raise homestay income
- Price peak weekends and festivals higher instead of one flat rate.
- Fill the low season with long-stay workation offers; test them with the length of stay discount calculator.
- Sell meals, bonfires, local tours and pick-ups as add-ons.
- Win repeat guests and direct WhatsApp bookings to cut commission.
- Know the occupancy you must reach every month with the break-even occupancy calculator.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a homestay earn per month in India?
It depends on location, rooms, rates and season. Enter your own room count, seasonal rates and occupancy in this calculator to see a monthly average and a season-wise breakdown.
Is GST charged on homestay rooms?
A GST-registered homestay charges 5% GST on room tariffs up to ₹7,500 per night and 18% above that. Whether you must register depends on your turnover, so check with your CA.
Should I count OTA commission as a cost?
Yes. Airbnb, Booking.com and other OTAs deduct commission from your payout, and GST applies on that commission. This calculator adds 18% GST to the commission you enter.
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