Average Airbnb Earnings by UK City 2026: A Data-Led Comparison for Landlords

UK landlords love a postcode-by-postcode comparison, and Airbnb earnings vary far more than headline national figures suggest. This 2026 comparison breaks down typical earnings across the country's most active short-term let markets.

All figures are illustrative averages for a well-presented, professionally managed two-bedroom property, with current dynamic pricing and multi-platform listing. Use them as a planning baseline, not a guarantee.

London

Average annual gross income for a well-located two-bedroom listing typically ranges from £45,000 to £75,000, with the 90-night cap restraining unmanaged listings. Properties with planning consent or commercial use class often earn meaningfully more.

Net yields are pressured by high property values, which means London Airbnbs often earn excellent absolute income but middling percentage yields. The strongest London performers are central one and two-bedroom flats with planning consent, exceptional photography, and active multi-platform management.

Zone 1 and Zone 2 prime postcodes routinely earn double or triple the income of Zone 4 equivalents.

Manchester

Manchester remains one of the strongest year-round markets in the UK. Typical annual gross earnings range from £28,000 to £48,000 for a central two-bed, driven by business travel, music events, sport and a healthy weekend market.

Net yields in Manchester are some of the best in the UK for short-term lets, with attractive entry prices supporting strong percentage returns. The Northern Quarter, Ancoats, Castlefield and the city centre core all perform well.

Edinburgh

Edinburgh's licensing regime is tight, but well-licensed properties still perform strongly. Annual gross earnings of £30,000 to £55,000 are realistic for a quality two-bedroom listing, with peak earnings around the Festival pushing top properties materially higher.

The supply contraction following licensing has actually supported nightly rates for licensed properties. Properties without a licence are no longer in the market.

Liverpool

Liverpool has emerged as a high-yield, mid-cost market. Annual gross earnings of £24,000 to £42,000 are realistic, with strong tourist, music and event-led demand. Entry prices remain affordable, supporting some of the best percentage net yields in the UK.

Bristol

Bristol benefits from a balanced mix of business, leisure, and university-driven demand. Annual gross earnings of £25,000 to £42,000 are common for central two-beds, with shoulder-season performance stronger than most comparable cities.

Birmingham

Birmingham continues to grow as a short-term let market thanks to corporate travel, events, conferences and the wider Midlands tourist offer. Annual gross earnings of £22,000 to £38,000 are realistic, with stronger numbers in the city centre and Jewellery Quarter.

Glasgow

Glasgow performs well on mid-week corporate and event-led demand. Annual gross earnings of £22,000 to £40,000 are typical, with consistent year-round numbers and less seasonal variation than coastal markets.

Cardiff, Newcastle, Brighton, York

All sit in the £20,000 to £40,000 annual gross range, with strong seasonal peaks and lower mid-week winter demand. Brighton has the strongest summer peak; York has the most concentrated tourist demand; Cardiff and Newcastle benefit most from sporting events.

Smaller cities and emerging markets

Sheffield, Leeds, Belfast, Nottingham, Aberdeen and Inverness all show strong potential in 2026, with annual gross earnings typically £18,000 to £32,000 for two-beds. Lower competition means well-run listings can capture share quickly.

Coastal and rural markets

Coastal properties in Cornwall, Devon, Pembrokeshire, Norfolk and the Scottish Highlands can match or exceed urban earnings, but with a much sharper seasonal pattern. A typical cottage might earn £30,000 to £55,000 across 50 weeks, with 60% of revenue concentrated in 16 peak weeks.

The big takeaway

City-level averages are useful as a planning baseline, but every street and every property is different. The difference between a top-performing listing and an average one in the same postcode is routinely 30% to 60% in net income.

Three factors drive most of the variance:

1. Quality of photography and listing copy. 2. Pricing strategy and multi-platform exposure. 3. Operational quality (response times, reviews, turnover discipline).

If you'd like a specific projection for your property in your postcode, 53 Degrees Property runs free comparable-market analyses across the UK using current AirDNA and platform data, combined with our own operational benchmarks.