What Are the Best Places to Invest in Airbnb in Ecuador?

Source: AirROI Reviewed by Jun Zhou , Founder @ AirROI

Updated: 2026-04-08

The short-term rental market in Ecuador spans 77 cities tracked in AirROI's 2026 dataset, ranging from mature urban markets with thousands of active listings to emerging destinations where early operators still have pricing leverage. Supply growth, regulation, and seasonal demand vary significantly across the region — making market selection one of the highest-leverage decisions an Airbnb investor can make.

This page ranks the best Airbnb markets in Ecuador across four dimensions: market depth (active listings), revenue, nightly rate (ADR), and occupancy rate. Quito, Pichincha leads by market size with 2,862 active listings and $318/month revenue. Across all ranked markets, average occupancy is 20.9% with $380/month in average revenue and $94/night ADR. 77 of 77 markets carry a low regulation profile — a key consideration for investors evaluating compliance costs and time-to-market.

Rankings based on AirROI's analysis of 20,000,000+ short-term rental listings across revenue, ADR, occupancy, and regulation. See ranking methodology.

Explore Live Market Data

Top Airbnb Markets in Ecuador by Active Listings

Active listing count is the most direct measure of a market's depth, maturity, and investor confidence. Cities with the most Airbnb listings in Ecuador attract the highest volume of travelers and offer the most reliable benchmarking data for pricing and revenue projections. Quito, Pichincha leads with 2,862 active short-term rental listings and $318/month in average revenue.

#	Market	Active Listings (TTM)	Revenue/mo	ADR	Occupancy	Regulation
1	Quito, Pichincha	2,862	$318	$46	32.5%	Low
2	Cuenca, Azuay	1,661	$364	$57	28.3%	Low
3	Guayaquil, Guayas	1,549	$283	$51	26.7%	Low
4	Salinas, Santa Elena Province	683	$401	$112	18.3%	Low
5	Tonsupa, Esmeraldas	642	$338	$101	18.5%	Low
6	Manta, Manabí	623	$379	$85	22.6%	Low
7	Baños de Agua Santa, Tungurahua	521	$358	$71	20.1%	Low
8	Santa Elena, Santa Elena Province	404	$489	$162	16.2%	Low
9	Puerto Ayora, Galápagos	380	$663	$95	32.5%	Low
10	General Villamil Playas, Guayas	366	$324	$126	13.8%	Low
11	Parroquia Salango, Manabí	264	$476	$97	22.2%	Low
12	Montañita, Santa Elena Province	253	$433	$90	22.6%	Low
13	Tonchigüe, Esmeraldas	237	$731	$163	20.7%	Low
14	Loja, Loja	217	$170	$32	25.1%	Low
15	Parroquia Puerto Baquerizo Moreno, Galápagos	208	$565	$67	34.5%	Low
16	Olón, Santa Elena Province	172	$590	$148	21.6%	Low
17	Machala, El Oro	159	$145	$40	20.1%	Low
18	Riobamba, Chimborazo	152	$128	$35	22.0%	Low
19	Ambato, Tungurahua	133	$167	$35	22.9%	Low
20	Puerto López, Manabí	129	$199	$58	17.5%	Low
21	Ibarra, Imbabura	127	$187	$44	22.8%	Low
22	Puerto Villamil, Galápagos	123	$721	$97	27.8%	Low
23	Mindo, Pichincha	115	$416	$83	21.2%	Low
24	Atacames, Esmeraldas	102	$128	$75	14.0%	Low
25	La Aurora, Guayas	97	$370	$78	29.1%	Low
26	Samborondón, Guayas	92	$509	$79	32.6%	Low
27	Cumbaya, Pichincha	92	$633	$78	36.3%	Low
28	Otavalo, Imbabura	81	$158	$44	18.3%	Low
29	Tena, Napo	81	$192	$54	19.9%	Low
30	Santo Domingo de los Tsachilas, Santo Domingo de los Tsáchilas	80	$196	$51	21.5%	Low
31	Crucita, Manabí	77	$448	$134	15.1%	Low
32	Tumbaco, Pichincha	76	$319	$68	26.9%	Low
33	Cojimíes, Manabí	75	$846	$213	19.3%	Low
34	Portoviejo, Manabí	72	$155	$55	20.7%	Low
35	Charapotó, Manabí	64	$448	$154	15.8%	Low
36	La Libertad, Santa Elena Province	64	$344	$106	14.4%	Low
37	Canoa, Manabí	60	$429	$118	19.4%	Low
38	Ayangue, Santa Elena Province	58	$755	$149	17.9%	Low
39	Puyo, Pastaza	57	$154	$45	19.4%	Low
40	Cotacachi, Imbabura	52	$228	$41	29.2%	Low
41	Baños, Tungurahua	52	$301	$61	22.5%	Low
42	Jama, Manabí	51	$1,158	$193	24.0%	Low
43	Santa Marianita, Manabí	51	$285	$109	16.3%	Low
44	Vilcabamba, Loja	50	$124	$48	19.7%	Low
45	Parroquia Jaramijó, Manabí	50	$250	$83	16.3%	Low
46	Pedernales, Manabí	50	$542	$131	18.3%	Low
47	Pedro Vicente Maldonado, Pichincha	49	$357	$112	14.0%	Low
48	Montecristi, Manabí	44	$275	$106	16.7%	Low
49	Sangolquí, Pichincha	44	$174	$49	23.9%	Low
50	Atuntaqui, Imbabura	42	$215	$60	17.8%	Low
51	Manglaralto, Santa Elena Province	41	$402	$89	23.6%	Low
52	La Entrada, Santa Elena Province	38	$900	$209	22.1%	Low
53	Latacunga, Cotopaxi	37	$147	$41	21.7%	Low
54	Comuna Miraflores, Pichincha	36	$167	$38	26.7%	Low
55	Tababela, Pichincha	36	$257	$88	17.9%	Low
56	José Luis Tamayo, Santa Elena Province	36	$196	$99	12.7%	Low
57	Ulba, Tungurahua	35	$377	$92	18.6%	Low
58	Malacatos, Loja	34	$251	$117	14.2%	Low
59	Bahía de Caráquez, Manabí	34	$260	$111	17.4%	Low
60	Puerto Cayo, Manabí	34	$257	$102	15.8%	Low
61	Muisne, Esmeraldas	32	$105	$39	21.2%	Low
62	Curia, Santa Elena Province	30	$1,385	$247	21.2%	Low
63	Playas, Guayas	26	$350	$132	15.0%	Low
64	Conocoto, Pichincha	26	$151	$39	21.6%	Low
65	Puerto Misahuallí, Napo	25	$200	$80	15.7%	Low
66	Patate, Tungurahua	25	$298	$127	13.0%	Low
67	Baños, Azuay	24	$440	$91	23.7%	Low
68	San Lorenzo, Manabí	23	$350	$105	18.3%	Low
69	El Condado, Pichincha	23	$160	$48	21.8%	Low
70	Puerto Baquerizo Moreno, Islas Galápagos	22	$476	$61	32.5%	Low
71	Parroquia Manglaralto, Santa Elena Province	22	$1,073	$229	18.9%	Low
72	Turi, Azuay	21	$376	$68	22.4%	Low
73	Machalilla, Manabí	21	$140	$55	12.4%	Low
74	Puerto Quito, Pichincha	21	$311	$120	15.8%	Low
75	Santa Isabel, Azuay	20	$718	$195	16.9%	Low
76	Yaruquí, Pichincha	20	$503	$142	20.3%	Low
77	Macas, Morona Santiago	19	$178	$54	19.1%	Low

Most Profitable Airbnb Markets in Ecuador by Revenue

The most profitable Airbnb cities in Ecuador are those where hosts earn the highest average monthly revenue per listing — the single most telling indicator of a market's income potential. Curia, Santa Elena Province leads with $1,385/month at $247 ADR and 21.2% occupancy. Whether you are evaluating your first STR investment or benchmarking an existing property, these top-earning Airbnb markets show where vacation rentals generate the greatest short-term rental income.

#	Market	Revenue/mo	Active Listings (TTM)	ADR	Occupancy	Regulation
1	Curia, Santa Elena Province	$1,385	30	$247	21.2%	Low
2	Jama, Manabí	$1,158	51	$193	24.0%	Low
3	Parroquia Manglaralto, Santa Elena Province	$1,073	22	$229	18.9%	Low
4	La Entrada, Santa Elena Province	$900	38	$209	22.1%	Low
5	Cojimíes, Manabí	$846	75	$213	19.3%	Low
6	Ayangue, Santa Elena Province	$755	58	$149	17.9%	Low
7	Tonchigüe, Esmeraldas	$731	237	$163	20.7%	Low
8	Puerto Villamil, Galápagos	$721	123	$97	27.8%	Low
9	Santa Isabel, Azuay	$718	20	$195	16.9%	Low
10	Puerto Ayora, Galápagos	$663	380	$95	32.5%	Low
11	Cumbaya, Pichincha	$633	92	$78	36.3%	Low
12	Olón, Santa Elena Province	$590	172	$148	21.6%	Low
13	Parroquia Puerto Baquerizo Moreno, Galápagos	$565	208	$67	34.5%	Low
14	Pedernales, Manabí	$542	50	$131	18.3%	Low
15	Samborondón, Guayas	$509	92	$79	32.6%	Low
16	Yaruquí, Pichincha	$503	20	$142	20.3%	Low
17	Santa Elena, Santa Elena Province	$489	404	$162	16.2%	Low
18	Parroquia Salango, Manabí	$476	264	$97	22.2%	Low
19	Puerto Baquerizo Moreno, Islas Galápagos	$476	22	$61	32.5%	Low
20	Charapotó, Manabí	$448	64	$154	15.8%	Low
21	Crucita, Manabí	$448	77	$134	15.1%	Low
22	Baños, Azuay	$440	24	$91	23.7%	Low
23	Montañita, Santa Elena Province	$433	253	$90	22.6%	Low
24	Canoa, Manabí	$429	60	$118	19.4%	Low
25	Mindo, Pichincha	$416	115	$83	21.2%	Low
26	Manglaralto, Santa Elena Province	$402	41	$89	23.6%	Low
27	Salinas, Santa Elena Province	$401	683	$112	18.3%	Low
28	Manta, Manabí	$379	623	$85	22.6%	Low
29	Ulba, Tungurahua	$377	35	$92	18.6%	Low
30	Turi, Azuay	$376	21	$68	22.4%	Low
31	La Aurora, Guayas	$370	97	$78	29.1%	Low
32	Cuenca, Azuay	$364	1,661	$57	28.3%	Low
33	Baños de Agua Santa, Tungurahua	$358	521	$71	20.1%	Low
34	Pedro Vicente Maldonado, Pichincha	$357	49	$112	14.0%	Low
35	San Lorenzo, Manabí	$350	23	$105	18.3%	Low
36	Playas, Guayas	$350	26	$132	15.0%	Low
37	La Libertad, Santa Elena Province	$344	64	$106	14.4%	Low
38	Tonsupa, Esmeraldas	$338	642	$101	18.5%	Low
39	General Villamil Playas, Guayas	$324	366	$126	13.8%	Low
40	Tumbaco, Pichincha	$319	76	$68	26.9%	Low
41	Quito, Pichincha	$318	2,862	$46	32.5%	Low
42	Puerto Quito, Pichincha	$311	21	$120	15.8%	Low
43	Baños, Tungurahua	$301	52	$61	22.5%	Low
44	Patate, Tungurahua	$298	25	$127	13.0%	Low
45	Santa Marianita, Manabí	$285	51	$109	16.3%	Low
46	Guayaquil, Guayas	$283	1,549	$51	26.7%	Low
47	Montecristi, Manabí	$275	44	$106	16.7%	Low
48	Bahía de Caráquez, Manabí	$260	34	$111	17.4%	Low
49	Tababela, Pichincha	$257	36	$88	17.9%	Low
50	Puerto Cayo, Manabí	$257	34	$102	15.8%	Low
51	Malacatos, Loja	$251	34	$117	14.2%	Low
52	Parroquia Jaramijó, Manabí	$250	50	$83	16.3%	Low
53	Cotacachi, Imbabura	$228	52	$41	29.2%	Low
54	Atuntaqui, Imbabura	$215	42	$60	17.8%	Low
55	Puerto Misahuallí, Napo	$200	25	$80	15.7%	Low
56	Puerto López, Manabí	$199	129	$58	17.5%	Low
57	Santo Domingo de los Tsachilas, Santo Domingo de los Tsáchilas	$196	80	$51	21.5%	Low
58	José Luis Tamayo, Santa Elena Province	$196	36	$99	12.7%	Low
59	Tena, Napo	$192	81	$54	19.9%	Low
60	Ibarra, Imbabura	$187	127	$44	22.8%	Low
61	Macas, Morona Santiago	$178	19	$54	19.1%	Low
62	Sangolquí, Pichincha	$174	44	$49	23.9%	Low
63	Loja, Loja	$170	217	$32	25.1%	Low
64	Comuna Miraflores, Pichincha	$167	36	$38	26.7%	Low
65	Ambato, Tungurahua	$167	133	$35	22.9%	Low
66	El Condado, Pichincha	$160	23	$48	21.8%	Low
67	Otavalo, Imbabura	$158	81	$44	18.3%	Low
68	Portoviejo, Manabí	$155	72	$55	20.7%	Low
69	Puyo, Pastaza	$154	57	$45	19.4%	Low
70	Conocoto, Pichincha	$151	26	$39	21.6%	Low
71	Latacunga, Cotopaxi	$147	37	$41	21.7%	Low
72	Machala, El Oro	$145	159	$40	20.1%	Low
73	Machalilla, Manabí	$140	21	$55	12.4%	Low
74	Atacames, Esmeraldas	$128	102	$75	14.0%	Low
75	Riobamba, Chimborazo	$128	152	$35	22.0%	Low
76	Vilcabamba, Loja	$124	50	$48	19.7%	Low
77	Muisne, Esmeraldas	$105	32	$39	21.2%	Low

Most Expensive Airbnb Markets in Ecuador by Nightly Rate

The average daily rate (ADR) measures how much guests pay per night in each market, making it the clearest indicator of a city's short-term rental pricing power. Curia, Santa Elena Province commands the highest Airbnb nightly rate in Ecuador at $247/night, generating $1,385/month at 21.2% occupancy. Markets with premium nightly pricing typically feature high-demand destinations where travelers pay a significant premium over hotel alternatives.

#	Market	ADR	Active Listings (TTM)	Revenue/mo	Occupancy	Regulation
1	Curia, Santa Elena Province	$247	30	$1,385	21.2%	Low
2	Parroquia Manglaralto, Santa Elena Province	$229	22	$1,073	18.9%	Low
3	Cojimíes, Manabí	$213	75	$846	19.3%	Low
4	La Entrada, Santa Elena Province	$209	38	$900	22.1%	Low
5	Santa Isabel, Azuay	$195	20	$718	16.9%	Low
6	Jama, Manabí	$193	51	$1,158	24.0%	Low
7	Tonchigüe, Esmeraldas	$163	237	$731	20.7%	Low
8	Santa Elena, Santa Elena Province	$162	404	$489	16.2%	Low
9	Charapotó, Manabí	$154	64	$448	15.8%	Low
10	Ayangue, Santa Elena Province	$149	58	$755	17.9%	Low
11	Olón, Santa Elena Province	$148	172	$590	21.6%	Low
12	Yaruquí, Pichincha	$142	20	$503	20.3%	Low
13	Crucita, Manabí	$134	77	$448	15.1%	Low
14	Playas, Guayas	$132	26	$350	15.0%	Low
15	Pedernales, Manabí	$131	50	$542	18.3%	Low
16	Patate, Tungurahua	$127	25	$298	13.0%	Low
17	General Villamil Playas, Guayas	$126	366	$324	13.8%	Low
18	Puerto Quito, Pichincha	$120	21	$311	15.8%	Low
19	Canoa, Manabí	$118	60	$429	19.4%	Low
20	Malacatos, Loja	$117	34	$251	14.2%	Low
21	Salinas, Santa Elena Province	$112	683	$401	18.3%	Low
22	Pedro Vicente Maldonado, Pichincha	$112	49	$357	14.0%	Low
23	Bahía de Caráquez, Manabí	$111	34	$260	17.4%	Low
24	Santa Marianita, Manabí	$109	51	$285	16.3%	Low
25	Montecristi, Manabí	$106	44	$275	16.7%	Low
26	La Libertad, Santa Elena Province	$106	64	$344	14.4%	Low
27	San Lorenzo, Manabí	$105	23	$350	18.3%	Low
28	Puerto Cayo, Manabí	$102	34	$257	15.8%	Low
29	Tonsupa, Esmeraldas	$101	642	$338	18.5%	Low
30	José Luis Tamayo, Santa Elena Province	$99	36	$196	12.7%	Low
31	Parroquia Salango, Manabí	$97	264	$476	22.2%	Low
32	Puerto Villamil, Galápagos	$97	123	$721	27.8%	Low
33	Puerto Ayora, Galápagos	$95	380	$663	32.5%	Low
34	Ulba, Tungurahua	$92	35	$377	18.6%	Low
35	Baños, Azuay	$91	24	$440	23.7%	Low
36	Montañita, Santa Elena Province	$90	253	$433	22.6%	Low
37	Manglaralto, Santa Elena Province	$89	41	$402	23.6%	Low
38	Tababela, Pichincha	$88	36	$257	17.9%	Low
39	Manta, Manabí	$85	623	$379	22.6%	Low
40	Parroquia Jaramijó, Manabí	$83	50	$250	16.3%	Low
41	Mindo, Pichincha	$83	115	$416	21.2%	Low
42	Puerto Misahuallí, Napo	$80	25	$200	15.7%	Low
43	Samborondón, Guayas	$79	92	$509	32.6%	Low
44	Cumbaya, Pichincha	$78	92	$633	36.3%	Low
45	La Aurora, Guayas	$78	97	$370	29.1%	Low
46	Atacames, Esmeraldas	$75	102	$128	14.0%	Low
47	Baños de Agua Santa, Tungurahua	$71	521	$358	20.1%	Low
48	Tumbaco, Pichincha	$68	76	$319	26.9%	Low
49	Turi, Azuay	$68	21	$376	22.4%	Low
50	Parroquia Puerto Baquerizo Moreno, Galápagos	$67	208	$565	34.5%	Low
51	Puerto Baquerizo Moreno, Islas Galápagos	$61	22	$476	32.5%	Low
52	Baños, Tungurahua	$61	52	$301	22.5%	Low
53	Atuntaqui, Imbabura	$60	42	$215	17.8%	Low
54	Puerto López, Manabí	$58	129	$199	17.5%	Low
55	Cuenca, Azuay	$57	1,661	$364	28.3%	Low
56	Machalilla, Manabí	$55	21	$140	12.4%	Low
57	Portoviejo, Manabí	$55	72	$155	20.7%	Low
58	Macas, Morona Santiago	$54	19	$178	19.1%	Low
59	Tena, Napo	$54	81	$192	19.9%	Low
60	Guayaquil, Guayas	$51	1,549	$283	26.7%	Low
61	Santo Domingo de los Tsachilas, Santo Domingo de los Tsáchilas	$51	80	$196	21.5%	Low
62	Sangolquí, Pichincha	$49	44	$174	23.9%	Low
63	Vilcabamba, Loja	$48	50	$124	19.7%	Low
64	El Condado, Pichincha	$48	23	$160	21.8%	Low
65	Quito, Pichincha	$46	2,862	$318	32.5%	Low
66	Puyo, Pastaza	$45	57	$154	19.4%	Low
67	Otavalo, Imbabura	$44	81	$158	18.3%	Low
68	Ibarra, Imbabura	$44	127	$187	22.8%	Low
69	Latacunga, Cotopaxi	$41	37	$147	21.7%	Low
70	Cotacachi, Imbabura	$41	52	$228	29.2%	Low
71	Machala, El Oro	$40	159	$145	20.1%	Low
72	Conocoto, Pichincha	$39	26	$151	21.6%	Low
73	Muisne, Esmeraldas	$39	32	$105	21.2%	Low
74	Comuna Miraflores, Pichincha	$38	36	$167	26.7%	Low
75	Riobamba, Chimborazo	$35	152	$128	22.0%	Low
76	Ambato, Tungurahua	$35	133	$167	22.9%	Low
77	Loja, Loja	$32	217	$170	25.1%	Low

Highest Occupancy Airbnb Markets in Ecuador

Airbnb occupancy rate measures the percentage of available nights actually booked — the most telling indicator of short-term rental demand in a market. Quito, Pichincha leads Ecuador with 32.5% occupancy, $318/month revenue, and 2,862 active listings. Markets with the highest STR occupancy rates reflect strong, sustained guest demand — a critical signal for investors evaluating where properties will stay consistently booked year-round. This ranking is filtered to markets with 300+ listings to ensure statistical reliability.

#	Market	Occupancy	Active Listings (TTM)	Revenue/mo	ADR	Regulation
1	Quito, Pichincha	32.5%	2,862	$318	$46	Low
2	Puerto Ayora, Galápagos	32.5%	380	$663	$95	Low
3	Cuenca, Azuay	28.3%	1,661	$364	$57	Low
4	Guayaquil, Guayas	26.7%	1,549	$283	$51	Low
5	Manta, Manabí	22.6%	623	$379	$85	Low
6	Baños de Agua Santa, Tungurahua	20.1%	521	$358	$71	Low
7	Tonsupa, Esmeraldas	18.5%	642	$338	$101	Low
8	Salinas, Santa Elena Province	18.3%	683	$401	$112	Low
9	Santa Elena, Santa Elena Province	16.2%	404	$489	$162	Low
10	General Villamil Playas, Guayas	13.8%	366	$324	$126	Low

How to Choose an Airbnb Investment Market in Ecuador

No single ranking tells the full story. The best Airbnb market for a given investor depends on their capital, risk tolerance, operating model, and income goals. The four ranking dimensions on this page — market depth, revenue, ADR, and occupancy — serve different investor profiles.

If you prioritize predictable cash flow, start with the occupancy rankings. Markets where occupancy exceeds 55% offer consistent bookings and lower vacancy risk. High-occupancy markets may not have the highest nightly rates, but their revenue stability makes them better suited for mortgage-backed investments where monthly debt coverage matters more than peak earnings.

If you're targeting maximum income per property, use the revenue rankings. Revenue is the product of nightly rate and occupancy — it captures the combined effect of both. The highest-revenue Airbnb markets in Ecuador tend to be destination cities where travelers stay longer and pay a premium for entire-home listings.

If you're evaluating luxury or premium positioning, the ADR rankings show where guests are willing to pay top dollar per night. High-ADR markets reward property upgrades, professional photography, and amenity investments. However, a high nightly rate with low occupancy may generate less income than a moderately priced listing that stays booked consistently.

If you want the deepest market data, the active listings rankings identify cities with the largest short-term rental supply. More listings mean more comparable properties for pricing, more data points for revenue projections, and typically a more liquid resale market if your investment thesis changes.

In all cases, check the regulation column before committing capital. A profitable market with high regulation may require permits, annual caps on rental days, or costly compliance steps that erode returns. Markets with low regulation offer faster time-to-market but may tighten rules as STR supply grows.

Short-Term Rental Regulation in Ecuador

Understanding the regulatory environment is critical for any Airbnb investment in Ecuador. Regulation affects licensing costs, annual operating limits, tax obligations, and the long-term viability of a short-term rental strategy.

Across the 77 markets ranked on this page: 77 have a low regulation profile (generally operator-friendly with minimal licensing requirements), 0 have medium regulation (some permit or registration requirements), and 0 have high regulation (strict licensing, annual rental day caps, or active enforcement). Markets with low regulation offer the lowest barrier to entry, while high-regulation markets may still be profitable — but require careful compliance planning and often limit the number of properties a single operator can manage.

AirROI classifies regulation as a market-level signal based on available ordinance data and platform registration patterns. This is not legal advice — always verify current local ordinances, as short-term rental rules can change rapidly, especially in high-growth markets where municipalities are actively responding to STR expansion.

How We Rank the Best Airbnb Investment Markets in Ecuador

This page ranks Airbnb markets in Ecuador across four dimensions that matter most to short-term rental investors and operators: market depth (active listings), revenue potential (monthly income per listing), pricing power (average daily rate), and booking demand (occupancy rate). Each ranking uses the same underlying dataset but sorts by a different metric, giving you multiple lenses to evaluate where to invest in Airbnb in Ecuador.

No single metric tells the full story. A market with high ADR but low occupancy may underperform one with moderate pricing and strong demand. Revenue captures the combined effect of rate and occupancy, while active listings signal whether a market has enough depth for reliable benchmarking and a liquid resale environment. We include regulation data alongside every ranking so you can weigh compliance risk before committing capital.

Ranking Methodology & Data Sources

Active Listings (TTM): The count of active short-term rental listings in each market over the trailing twelve months — a proxy for market maturity, data reliability, and investor confidence in Ecuador.
Monthly Revenue: Average gross revenue per listing per month — the bottom-line metric for evaluating Airbnb profitability in Ecuador and projecting cash flow.
Average Daily Rate (ADR): The mean nightly booking price across all active listings — the clearest measure of a market's short-term rental pricing power.
Occupancy Rate: Percentage of available nights booked — the demand signal that determines how much of your nightly rate converts to actual income. Occupancy rankings are filtered to markets with 300+ listings to exclude small markets with unreliable averages.
Regulation: An indicator of the local regulatory climate in Ecuador, from low (operator-friendly) to high (strict licensing and enforcement) — essential for assessing compliance risk.

All data is sourced from AirROI's proprietary analytics pipeline, which tracks 20,000,000+ properties across 190+ countries. Metrics are recalculated on a rolling basis using trailing twelve-month aggregates from active listings. For full methodology, see the data methodology page.

Frequently Asked Questions About the Best Airbnb Markets in Ecuador

These quick answers summarize the most common investor and operator questions using AirROI's latest market data for Ecuador.

What are the best places to invest in Airbnb in Ecuador?

Quito, Pichincha leads this ranking for Ecuador with 2,862 active listings — the largest market by depth. Markets are ranked by listing count because deeper markets offer more comparable data, more pricing benchmarks, and a more predictable operating environment for investors. Each row also shows revenue, ADR, occupancy, and regulation so investors can evaluate based on what matters most to them.

Which market has the highest Airbnb revenue in Ecuador?

Curia, Santa Elena Province posts the highest average monthly revenue in this ranking at $1,385. Revenue leaders often combine healthy rates, solid occupancy, and enough listing scale to support repeatable operations rather than one-off outliers.

Which market has the strongest Airbnb occupancy in Ecuador?

Cumbaya, Pichincha has the highest occupancy rate in this comparison at 36.3%. High occupancy can signal resilient demand, but investors still need to balance it against nightly rates, regulation, and supply depth before deciding where to buy or operate.

Which Airbnb markets in Ecuador have the lowest regulation?

Quito (Pichincha), Cuenca (Azuay), Guayaquil (Guayas) currently show low regulation profiles in this ranking. Lower regulation can reduce compliance costs and time-to-market for new hosts, but investors should always verify local ordinances before purchasing — rules can change quickly as short-term rental markets grow.

Is short-term rental investing still profitable in Ecuador in 2026?

The markets ranked here average 20.9% occupancy, and the top performer posts $1,385 in monthly revenue. Profitability depends on property acquisition cost, local operating expenses, and regulation compliance — but the data shows active, performing markets exist across Ecuador for well-researched investors.

How often are AirROI's top Airbnb market rankings updated?

AirROI updates these rankings using the latest market snapshot available in the dataset, which for this page is anchored to 2026. Rankings should be treated as current market intelligence rather than permanent truths because pricing, demand, regulation, and supply can all shift over time.

What metrics should I use to evaluate Airbnb investments in Ecuador?

The most important metrics for comparing short-term rental markets are active listing count (market depth and data reliability), occupancy rate (demand consistency), average daily rate (pricing power), monthly revenue (income potential), and regulation level (compliance cost and risk). This ranking sorts by market depth first; use the other columns to filter for the profile that fits your investment strategy.

What makes a good Airbnb market for first-time investors in Ecuador?

First-time investors in Ecuador should prioritize markets with high occupancy (55%+) and low regulation, which reduce the risk of empty calendars and compliance surprises. Markets with 200+ active listings also provide better benchmarking data and a more predictable operating environment. Revenue is important, but consistent demand is more forgiving for operators still learning pricing and guest management.

What is a good Airbnb occupancy rate in Ecuador?

Across the markets ranked here, the average occupancy rate in Ecuador is 20.9%. Occupancy above 50% is generally considered healthy for short-term rentals, and above 65% signals strong, sustained demand. However, the best occupancy rate depends on pricing strategy — some hosts maximize revenue by targeting fewer bookings at higher nightly rates rather than maximizing booking volume.

How does regulation affect Airbnb investment returns in Ecuador?

Regulation is one of the most overlooked risks in short-term rental investing. In Ecuador, 77 of 77 ranked markets have low regulation, 0 have medium, and 0 have high. High-regulation markets often require permits, limit annual rental days, or impose occupancy taxes — all of which reduce net returns. Low-regulation markets offer faster time-to-market and lower compliance costs, but rules can tighten as STR supply grows.

What is the difference between ADR and RevPAR for Airbnb investing?

ADR (Average Daily Rate) is the average nightly price guests pay, while RevPAR (Revenue Per Available Rental night) factors in both price and occupancy. A market with $200 ADR and 50% occupancy has $100 RevPAR — the same as a market with $125 ADR and 80% occupancy. RevPAR is a better single-number benchmark for comparing markets because it captures how effectively nightly rates convert to realized income. AirROI's city-level reports include RevPAR with percentile breakdowns for deeper analysis.

How many Airbnb listings does a market need to be investable in Ecuador?

Markets with fewer than 100 active listings can show volatile averages that do not predict future performance. The median market in this Ecuador ranking has about 57 listings. Larger markets (500+) offer more reliable data, more comparable properties for pricing, and typically a more liquid exit if you decide to sell. Smaller markets can still be profitable, but investors should treat the data as directional rather than precise.

How do seasonal and year-round Airbnb markets differ in Ecuador?

Seasonal markets in Ecuador experience dramatic swings in booking demand — often earning 60-70% of annual revenue in just 3-4 peak months. Year-round markets deliver steadier cash flow with lower peak-to-trough variation. Investors who need predictable monthly income should prioritize high-occupancy markets with low seasonal variance, while those comfortable with cash-flow timing can target seasonal markets where peak rates compensate for off-season softness.

About AirROI Market Data

AirROI tracks over 20 million properties across 190+ countries and maintains 15+ years of historical performance data, making it one of the deepest Airbnb and STR intelligence platforms available. The analytics pipeline aggregates listing-level data monthly — revenue, occupancy, nightly rates, RevPAR, guest demographics, booking patterns, and competitive supply — so investors and operators can benchmark any market against its own history and against neighboring destinations.

Real estate investors, property managers, financial institutions, hospitality consultants, and academic researchers rely on AirROI data to underwrite acquisitions, optimize pricing, model macro trends, and conduct peer-reviewed research. Data is available through in-depth market reports, the data portal for bulk downloads, the Airbnb API with 22 endpoints, and an Airbnb MCP Server for AI agents.

All metrics reflect trailing twelve-month aggregates from active listings as of 2026-04-08. Revenue figures are market averages, not projections. For full methodology, see the data methodology page.

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What Other Airbnb Markets Are in Ecuador?

Azuay Chimborazo Cotopaxi El Oro Esmeraldas Galápagos Guayas Imbabura Islas Galápagos Loja Manabí Morona Santiago Napo Pastaza Pichincha Santa Elena Province Santo Domingo de los Tsáchilas Tungurahua