While much ink has been spilled on how much more expensive accommodations will be in Toronto and the GTA during the upcoming FIFA World Cup, a new earnings calculator suggests that local residents with a room (or home) to spare could make quite a bit of cash. 

This week, short-term accommodation platform Airbnb unveiled a host earnings calculator that shows how much a homeowner could earn if they allow all or part of their home to be booked during the much-anticipated soccer tournament. 

The city will host six matches–including the first-ever men’s FIFA World Cup match on Canadian soil–between June 12 and July 2. Other games will take place in Vancouver, the United States and Mexico.

While a Deloitte report commissioned by Airbnb suggests that Airbnb guest travel tied to the games in is expected to generate about $243 million in total economic output across Toronto and nearby areas (as well as about $128 million in value added to GDP), it also says platform hosts could earn close to $18 million across the board–an average of about $2,700 per host. 

Toronto

According to the calculator, renting out a three-bedroom house in the east end of Toronto (in Leslieville, specifically) could generate $9,134 during the event. One room in the home could go for $2,635. Renting out a one-bedroom unit just east of the downtown core in the St. Lawrence Market neighbourhood could make a host about $6,137 richer. 

In Scarborough, renting an entire four-bedroom home in the McCowan/Sheppard area could net about $5,566 (or $1,149 for one private room). 

Anyone who owns a unit in The Well, located in the city’s King West neighbourhood, could rent out an entire one-bedroom unit for $8,442–almost the same price as a three-bedroom home east of the core. 

Moving west, a one-bedroom unit in High Park, located just off the Gardiner Expressway, could earn about $5,417. In Rexdale, a one-bedroom unit on Albion Road could generate $2,482. 

Mississauga

If you have a home in Malton–which is close to Pearson International Airport–you could be a good candidate for tourists looking to rent homes or rooms during the games. 

According to the calculator, a four-bedroom home on Brandon Gate Drive could net about $5,234 (or $1,193 for a room). 

In the Erin Mills neighbourhood, a four-bedroom house in the Burnhamthorpe and Winston Churchill area could go for about $5,992 (or $1,025 for a private room). A one-bedroom condo in the Arc, located near Erin Mills Town Centre, could go for $2,975. 

In City Centre, a one-bedroom unit near Celebration Square could earn about $2,242. In Absolute World (better known as the Marilyn Monroe towers), a one-bedroom unit could rent for about $3,395 for a one-bedroom. 

Brampton

In Brampton, a four-bedroom house in Bramalea–not far from the airport–could net an owner about $6,065. A one-bedroom unit on Kings Cross Road could generate $2,130. 

A three-bedroom home in Bram West could go for $4,220 for the entire home or $765 per bedroom. 

Oakville

A little further from Toronto, but about midway between the city and Niagara Falls (another destination tourists are likely to visit while in Canada to see the matches), Oakville is a possible destination for people who don’t mind commuting into the core. 

A one-bedroom unit in Oakvillage, a development in the Dundas and Trafalgar area, could generate about $2,922. A full house in the Iroquois Ridge North neighbourhood could generate about $7,632 (or $1,070 for a private room).

A one-bedroom condo in one of Oakville’s older downtown buildings could go for about $2,530. 

Oshawa

Also further out (and east of Toronto), Oshawa might be attractive to tourists who are happy to stay close to a GO Transit station. 

A four-bedroom house in the city’s Lakeview neighbourhood could net about $3,236 for the whole house or $587 for a private room. A two-bedroom apartment on Glen Street could go for about $1,560. 

An entire two-bedroom townhouse in Central Oshawa could rent for $1,608 (or $714 for a room). 

According to the Deloitte report, approximately 146,000 tourists requiring accommodation will visit Toronto and nearby areas during the tournament. This figure, the report says, includes around 28,000 Airbnb guests who are expected to contribute 187,000 guest nights.

The report also notes that Toronto is relatively affordable in terms of Airbnb listings, as March data indicates that 85 per cent of available listings on the platform are under $500 per night, with a significant percentage of bookings to date also under that price point. 

For people who plan to travel in groups, the report notes that 67 percent of available two-bedroom or larger units are under $500 per night. 

The neighbourhoods currently trending on Airbnb include East York, Etobicoke-Lakeshore, and Trinity-Bellwoods. 

Airbnb says new hosts who list their homes for the FIFA World Cup can receive $750 on top of any hosting income. 

In a news release, the short-term accommodation platform said demand for homes and rooms is surging, with searches for stays in host cities already up 80 per cent during the tournament. Airbnb also said its data suggests that about one in six guests in Canada, Mexico and the US are booking with Airbnb for the first time. 

According to a survey of host city residents by Focaldata5, almost 90 per cent of respondents say income from hosting will benefit them financially, and could be used to pay down debt, cover living expenses and tackle home improvements. 

“The FIFA World Cup 2026 is approaching fast, and fans from around the world are looking for places to stay in the communities we all call home,” Dave Stephenson, chief business officer at Airbnb, said in a statement. 

“It’s a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for locals to open their doors and earn from the biggest sporting event on the planet. For anyone considering hosting, our host earnings calculator makes it easy to estimate what you could earn on Airbnb during the tournament, based on how you choose to host – and we are offering an extra $750 to new hosts.”

All estimates are based on real addresses in Toronto, Mississauga, Brampton, Oakville and Oshawa. Rates can fluctuate based on home type and location. 

Cover photo from the City of Toronto’s official Facebook page


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