Rental Arbitrage in Atlanta, GA
Licensed, capped at primary residence plus one additional unit. Atlanta issues a short-term rental license (STRL) to an owner or long-term tenant for their primary residence and exactly one additional dwelling unit, with no additional fees for this pair. The license must be displayed on all advertisements. Multifamily buildings are capped at 33% of units in 3-12 unit buildings and 15% in 13+ unit buildings. The application is available online daily with no deadline. Read the rules and sources.
- Average daily rate
- $172.10
- Occupancy
- 55%
- Annual revenue potential
- $29,300
How Much Rent Can a Unit Here Carry?
- Most rent that breaks even
- $2,353
- Rent that leaves a 20% margin
- $1,682
At the market's average rate and occupancy, a unit books about 16.7 nights and $3,351 a month. The ceiling assumes 3-night stays, an $85 cleaning fee against a $75 clean, a 3% platform fee and $480 a month for bills, insurance, supplies and software. Market averages include every listing size, so a one-bedroom usually earns less. Treat these as upper limits for a lease negotiation, not targets.
Only in limited areas. Renters can only operate in certain zones, or with a special approval. Confirm the exact property qualifies before you sign. See where.
Run the Numbers for Atlanta, GA
Pre-filled with the market's rate and occupancy, and a rent at the 20% margin ceiling. Replace the rent with the real asking rent of the unit you're considering.
Loading the tool…
The Atlanta, GA Market
Atlanta averaged a $172.10 daily rate at 55% occupancy over the last 12 months, about 16.7 booked nights and $3,350 of booking income a month.
The city licenses an owner or long-term tenant for their primary residence plus one additional unit, and multifamily buildings are capped at 33% of units (3 to 12 units) or 15% (13 or more) as short-term rentals. For rental arbitrage, that means one extra unit per person, which makes Atlanta a place to test a single unit rather than build a portfolio.
What a Unit Can Earn
At market averages, a unit breaks even at about $2,350 in rent and keeps a 20% margin at about $1,680.
Startup Costs
At a $1,650 rent, expect roughly $11,700 before the first booking: a one-month deposit, the first month's rent, about $7,500 of furnishing and $900 of setup. Add a cushion of a few months of costs. Work it out properly with the startup cost calculator.
Risks to Weigh
- One additional unit per license holder
- Building-level caps on short-term rental units
- 55% occupancy means more slow months to budget for
Frequently Asked Questions
- Can I Do Rental Arbitrage in Atlanta?
- On a small scale. Atlanta licenses an owner or long-term tenant for their primary residence plus one additional unit, so it suits testing a single unit rather than building a portfolio.
- What Rent Can an Atlanta Unit Carry?
- At market averages, a unit breaks even at about $2,350 in rent and keeps a 20% margin at about $1,680.
- How Much Does an Average Atlanta Short-Term Rental Earn?
- AirDNA's Atlanta market averaged a $172.10 daily rate at 55% occupancy over the last 12 months, with annual revenue of about $29,300 for an average listing.
- Are There Limits per Building in Atlanta?
- Yes. No more than 33% of units can be short-term rentals in buildings of 3 to 12 units, and 15% in buildings of 13 or more.
- What Should I Budget for in Atlanta?
- Slow months. At 55% average occupancy, plan for weeks with few bookings while the rent stays the same.