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

Source: AirROI Reviewed by Jun Zhou , Founder @ AirROI
Updated:

The short-term rental market in India spans 100 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 India across four dimensions: market depth (active listings), revenue, nightly rate (ADR), and occupancy rate. Bengaluru, Karnataka leads by market size with 3,145 active listings and $237/month revenue. Across all ranked markets, average occupancy is 26.2% with $395/month in average revenue and $71/night ADR. 74 of 100 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.

Top Airbnb Markets in India 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 India attract the highest volume of travelers and offer the most reliable benchmarking data for pricing and revenue projections. Bengaluru, Karnataka leads with 3,145 active short-term rental listings and $237/month in average revenue.

#MarketActive Listings (TTM)Revenue/moADROccupancyRegulation
1Bengaluru, Karnataka3,145$237$3730.6%Low
2Mumbai, Maharashtra2,268$533$7133.0%Low
3New Delhi, Delhi1,926$366$5629.3%Low
4Hyderabad, Telangana1,211$253$4427.8%Low
5Jaipur Municipal Corporation, Rajasthan1,092$257$5722.9%Low
6Gurugram, Haryana1,089$271$6421.7%Low
7Pune, Maharashtra1,012$228$3929.4%Low
8Candolim, Goa979$552$8331.6%High
9Chennai, Tamil Nadu901$348$5330.8%Low
10Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh643$231$4724.1%Low
11Kolkata, West Bengal637$295$3933.0%Low
12Dehradun, Uttarakhand622$184$4522.7%Low
13Calangute, Goa613$591$8931.7%Moderate
14Udaipur, Rajasthan561$343$8123.0%Low
15Rishikesh, Uttarakhand515$220$5821.9%Low
16Puducherry, Puducherry495$414$6027.8%Low
17Lonavala, Maharashtra473$932$21420.0%Low
18Dadri, Uttar Pradesh429$223$4626.1%Low
19Arpora, Goa425$692$9031.7%Moderate
20Mysuru, Karnataka407$188$3924.0%Low
21Guwahati, Assam401$119$2621.9%Low
22Gurugram District, Haryana358$263$7022.9%Low
23Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala313$225$4425.6%Low
24Shimla, Himachal Pradesh310$304$9620.1%Low
25Kodaikanal, Tamil Nadu299$436$10422.2%Low
26Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh295$219$4522.4%Low
27Ernakulam, Kerala291$373$5230.7%Low
28Anjuna, Goa290$905$12230.0%Moderate
29Assagao, Goa287$1,374$18932.8%High
30Badem, Goa284$1,148$17229.8%High
31Delhi, Delhi277$211$4026.4%Low
32Baga, Goa268$730$10330.3%High
33Kochi, Kerala260$222$4726.8%Low
34Panaji, Goa249$363$6728.7%High
35Dispur, Assam247$101$2420.8%Low
36Manali, Himachal Pradesh242$279$7322.0%Low
37Madikeri, Karnataka234$310$6421.4%Low
38Shillong, Meghalaya228$265$4627.0%Low
39Vythiri, Kerala220$382$8319.9%Low
40Jibhi, Himachal Pradesh217$194$5520.9%Low
41Benaulim, Goa213$576$6736.4%High
42Vagator, Goa210$1,050$14129.9%Moderate
43Indore, Madhya Pradesh209$165$3522.7%Low
44Varkala, Kerala203$446$6428.9%Low
45Jaipur, Rajasthan200$414$8323.7%Low
46Puri, Odisha199$241$3429.3%Low
47Udhagamandalam, Tamil Nadu197$514$9521.3%Low
48Nashik, Maharashtra195$362$9122.0%Low
49Srinagar, Jammu and Kashmir191$211$8918.4%Low
50Panchgani, Maharashtra188$583$15319.5%Low
51Morjim, Goa183$466$7429.4%High
52Dharamshala, Himachal Pradesh181$249$5225.2%Low
53Mussoorie, Uttarakhand181$584$12225.0%Low
54Jodhpur, Rajasthan179$211$5422.6%Low
55Darjeeling, West Bengal175$197$4024.6%Low
56Bidhannagar, West Bengal174$211$3626.7%Low
57Gangtok, Sikkim173$194$4623.0%Low
58Greater Noida, Uttar Pradesh172$256$8221.3%Low
59Siolim, Goa163$670$6938.6%Moderate
60Colva, Goa157$586$6833.8%High
61New Town, West Bengal156$229$5922.2%Low
62Oxel, Goa152$813$9038.6%High
63Amritsar, Punjab151$178$4819.9%Low
64Agra, Uttar Pradesh147$151$4117.5%Low
65Mandrem, Goa145$323$6628.6%Moderate
66Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh143$127$3323.0%Low
67Noida, Uttar Pradesh139$208$6122.3%Low
68Alappuzha, Kerala136$273$7020.8%Low
69Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation, Odisha136$171$3425.8%Low
70Nainital, Uttarakhand135$382$8322.8%Low
71Thane, Maharashtra132$298$4330.6%Low
72Mapusa, Goa129$848$12829.3%High
73Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh128$201$4422.4%Low
74Tiruporur, Tamil Nadu126$690$13423.3%Low
75Marna, Goa125$1,176$15931.7%High
76Ghaziabad, Uttar Pradesh124$157$3121.8%Low
77Ahmedabad, Gujarat122$379$6629.1%Low
78Ujjain, Madhya Pradesh121$195$3324.8%Low
79Tungarli, Maharashtra119$703$14520.3%Low
80Nagpur, Maharashtra118$185$3026.1%Low
81Arambol, Goa117$172$5625.5%Moderate
82Sahibzada Ajit Singh Nagar, Punjab116$234$3925.5%Low
83Shahdara, Uttar Pradesh116$101$3121.4%Low
84Varca, Goa115$538$5836.1%Moderate
85Navi Mumbai, Maharashtra114$287$5426.3%Low
86Alibag, Maharashtra113$891$16522.4%Low
87Chandigarh, Chandigarh112$334$5327.5%Low
88Sinquerim, Goa107$1,110$11238.6%High
89Dabolim, Goa105$397$5232.2%High
90Mangaluru, Karnataka103$304$4530.7%Low
91Jaisalmer, Rajasthan103$154$5621.1%Low
92Fatrade, Goa102$560$6434.9%High
93Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu100$193$4125.2%Low
94Majorda, Goa96$394$6030.1%High
95Vadodara, Gujarat95$240$4128.9%Low
96Chikkamagaluru, Karnataka95$249$6818.2%Low
97Tiruvannamalai, Tamil Nadu95$164$2729.9%Low
98Agonda, Goa94$216$4527.9%Moderate
99Kolamb, Goa94$338$6628.4%Moderate
100Nagoa, Goa92$966$20724.0%Moderate

Most Profitable Airbnb Markets in India by Revenue

The most profitable Airbnb cities in India are those where hosts earn the highest average monthly revenue per listing — the single most telling indicator of a market's income potential. Assagao, Goa leads with $1,374/month at $189 ADR and 32.8% 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.

#MarketRevenue/moActive Listings (TTM)ADROccupancyRegulation
1Assagao, Goa$1,374287$18932.8%High
2Marna, Goa$1,176125$15931.7%High
3Badem, Goa$1,148284$17229.8%High
4Sinquerim, Goa$1,110107$11238.6%High
5Vagator, Goa$1,050210$14129.9%Moderate
6Nagoa, Goa$96692$20724.0%Moderate
7Lonavala, Maharashtra$932473$21420.0%Low
8Anjuna, Goa$905290$12230.0%Moderate
9Alibag, Maharashtra$891113$16522.4%Low
10Mapusa, Goa$848129$12829.3%High
11Oxel, Goa$813152$9038.6%High
12Baga, Goa$730268$10330.3%High
13Tungarli, Maharashtra$703119$14520.3%Low
14Arpora, Goa$692425$9031.7%Moderate
15Tiruporur, Tamil Nadu$690126$13423.3%Low
16Siolim, Goa$670163$6938.6%Moderate
17Calangute, Goa$591613$8931.7%Moderate
18Colva, Goa$586157$6833.8%High
19Mussoorie, Uttarakhand$584181$12225.0%Low
20Panchgani, Maharashtra$583188$15319.5%Low
21Benaulim, Goa$576213$6736.4%High
22Fatrade, Goa$560102$6434.9%High
23Candolim, Goa$552979$8331.6%High
24Varca, Goa$538115$5836.1%Moderate
25Mumbai, Maharashtra$5332,268$7133.0%Low
26Udhagamandalam, Tamil Nadu$514197$9521.3%Low
27Morjim, Goa$466183$7429.4%High
28Varkala, Kerala$446203$6428.9%Low
29Kodaikanal, Tamil Nadu$436299$10422.2%Low
30Puducherry, Puducherry$414495$6027.8%Low
31Jaipur, Rajasthan$414200$8323.7%Low
32Dabolim, Goa$397105$5232.2%High
33Majorda, Goa$39496$6030.1%High
34Vythiri, Kerala$382220$8319.9%Low
35Nainital, Uttarakhand$382135$8322.8%Low
36Ahmedabad, Gujarat$379122$6629.1%Low
37Ernakulam, Kerala$373291$5230.7%Low
38New Delhi, Delhi$3661,926$5629.3%Low
39Panaji, Goa$363249$6728.7%High
40Nashik, Maharashtra$362195$9122.0%Low
41Chennai, Tamil Nadu$348901$5330.8%Low
42Udaipur, Rajasthan$343561$8123.0%Low
43Kolamb, Goa$33894$6628.4%Moderate
44Chandigarh, Chandigarh$334112$5327.5%Low
45Mandrem, Goa$323145$6628.6%Moderate
46Madikeri, Karnataka$310234$6421.4%Low
47Shimla, Himachal Pradesh$304310$9620.1%Low
48Mangaluru, Karnataka$304103$4530.7%Low
49Thane, Maharashtra$298132$4330.6%Low
50Kolkata, West Bengal$295637$3933.0%Low
51Navi Mumbai, Maharashtra$287114$5426.3%Low
52Manali, Himachal Pradesh$279242$7322.0%Low
53Alappuzha, Kerala$273136$7020.8%Low
54Gurugram, Haryana$2711,089$6421.7%Low
55Shillong, Meghalaya$265228$4627.0%Low
56Gurugram District, Haryana$263358$7022.9%Low
57Jaipur Municipal Corporation, Rajasthan$2571,092$5722.9%Low
58Greater Noida, Uttar Pradesh$256172$8221.3%Low
59Hyderabad, Telangana$2531,211$4427.8%Low
60Chikkamagaluru, Karnataka$24995$6818.2%Low
61Dharamshala, Himachal Pradesh$249181$5225.2%Low
62Puri, Odisha$241199$3429.3%Low
63Vadodara, Gujarat$24095$4128.9%Low
64Bengaluru, Karnataka$2373,145$3730.6%Low
65Sahibzada Ajit Singh Nagar, Punjab$234116$3925.5%Low
66Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh$231643$4724.1%Low
67New Town, West Bengal$229156$5922.2%Low
68Pune, Maharashtra$2281,012$3929.4%Low
69Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala$225313$4425.6%Low
70Dadri, Uttar Pradesh$223429$4626.1%Low
71Kochi, Kerala$222260$4726.8%Low
72Rishikesh, Uttarakhand$220515$5821.9%Low
73Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh$219295$4522.4%Low
74Agonda, Goa$21694$4527.9%Moderate
75Bidhannagar, West Bengal$211174$3626.7%Low
76Delhi, Delhi$211277$4026.4%Low
77Srinagar, Jammu and Kashmir$211191$8918.4%Low
78Jodhpur, Rajasthan$211179$5422.6%Low
79Noida, Uttar Pradesh$208139$6122.3%Low
80Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh$201128$4422.4%Low
81Darjeeling, West Bengal$197175$4024.6%Low
82Ujjain, Madhya Pradesh$195121$3324.8%Low
83Gangtok, Sikkim$194173$4623.0%Low
84Jibhi, Himachal Pradesh$194217$5520.9%Low
85Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu$193100$4125.2%Low
86Mysuru, Karnataka$188407$3924.0%Low
87Nagpur, Maharashtra$185118$3026.1%Low
88Dehradun, Uttarakhand$184622$4522.7%Low
89Amritsar, Punjab$178151$4819.9%Low
90Arambol, Goa$172117$5625.5%Moderate
91Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation, Odisha$171136$3425.8%Low
92Indore, Madhya Pradesh$165209$3522.7%Low
93Tiruvannamalai, Tamil Nadu$16495$2729.9%Low
94Ghaziabad, Uttar Pradesh$157124$3121.8%Low
95Jaisalmer, Rajasthan$154103$5621.1%Low
96Agra, Uttar Pradesh$151147$4117.5%Low
97Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh$127143$3323.0%Low
98Guwahati, Assam$119401$2621.9%Low
99Dispur, Assam$101247$2420.8%Low
100Shahdara, Uttar Pradesh$101116$3121.4%Low

Most Expensive Airbnb Markets in India 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. Lonavala, Maharashtra commands the highest Airbnb nightly rate in India at $214/night, generating $932/month at 20.0% occupancy. Markets with premium nightly pricing typically feature high-demand destinations where travelers pay a significant premium over hotel alternatives.

#MarketADRActive Listings (TTM)Revenue/moOccupancyRegulation
1Lonavala, Maharashtra$214473$93220.0%Low
2Nagoa, Goa$20792$96624.0%Moderate
3Assagao, Goa$189287$1,37432.8%High
4Badem, Goa$172284$1,14829.8%High
5Alibag, Maharashtra$165113$89122.4%Low
6Marna, Goa$159125$1,17631.7%High
7Panchgani, Maharashtra$153188$58319.5%Low
8Tungarli, Maharashtra$145119$70320.3%Low
9Vagator, Goa$141210$1,05029.9%Moderate
10Tiruporur, Tamil Nadu$134126$69023.3%Low
11Mapusa, Goa$128129$84829.3%High
12Mussoorie, Uttarakhand$122181$58425.0%Low
13Anjuna, Goa$122290$90530.0%Moderate
14Sinquerim, Goa$112107$1,11038.6%High
15Kodaikanal, Tamil Nadu$104299$43622.2%Low
16Baga, Goa$103268$73030.3%High
17Shimla, Himachal Pradesh$96310$30420.1%Low
18Udhagamandalam, Tamil Nadu$95197$51421.3%Low
19Nashik, Maharashtra$91195$36222.0%Low
20Oxel, Goa$90152$81338.6%High
21Arpora, Goa$90425$69231.7%Moderate
22Srinagar, Jammu and Kashmir$89191$21118.4%Low
23Calangute, Goa$89613$59131.7%Moderate
24Vythiri, Kerala$83220$38219.9%Low
25Nainital, Uttarakhand$83135$38222.8%Low
26Candolim, Goa$83979$55231.6%High
27Jaipur, Rajasthan$83200$41423.7%Low
28Greater Noida, Uttar Pradesh$82172$25621.3%Low
29Udaipur, Rajasthan$81561$34323.0%Low
30Morjim, Goa$74183$46629.4%High
31Manali, Himachal Pradesh$73242$27922.0%Low
32Mumbai, Maharashtra$712,268$53333.0%Low
33Alappuzha, Kerala$70136$27320.8%Low
34Gurugram District, Haryana$70358$26322.9%Low
35Siolim, Goa$69163$67038.6%Moderate
36Chikkamagaluru, Karnataka$6895$24918.2%Low
37Colva, Goa$68157$58633.8%High
38Panaji, Goa$67249$36328.7%High
39Benaulim, Goa$67213$57636.4%High
40Ahmedabad, Gujarat$66122$37929.1%Low
41Mandrem, Goa$66145$32328.6%Moderate
42Kolamb, Goa$6694$33828.4%Moderate
43Madikeri, Karnataka$64234$31021.4%Low
44Varkala, Kerala$64203$44628.9%Low
45Gurugram, Haryana$641,089$27121.7%Low
46Fatrade, Goa$64102$56034.9%High
47Noida, Uttar Pradesh$61139$20822.3%Low
48Puducherry, Puducherry$60495$41427.8%Low
49Majorda, Goa$6096$39430.1%High
50New Town, West Bengal$59156$22922.2%Low
51Rishikesh, Uttarakhand$58515$22021.9%Low
52Varca, Goa$58115$53836.1%Moderate
53Jaipur Municipal Corporation, Rajasthan$571,092$25722.9%Low
54Arambol, Goa$56117$17225.5%Moderate
55Jaisalmer, Rajasthan$56103$15421.1%Low
56New Delhi, Delhi$561,926$36629.3%Low
57Jibhi, Himachal Pradesh$55217$19420.9%Low
58Jodhpur, Rajasthan$54179$21122.6%Low
59Navi Mumbai, Maharashtra$54114$28726.3%Low
60Chennai, Tamil Nadu$53901$34830.8%Low
61Chandigarh, Chandigarh$53112$33427.5%Low
62Dharamshala, Himachal Pradesh$52181$24925.2%Low
63Dabolim, Goa$52105$39732.2%High
64Ernakulam, Kerala$52291$37330.7%Low
65Amritsar, Punjab$48151$17819.9%Low
66Kochi, Kerala$47260$22226.8%Low
67Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh$47643$23124.1%Low
68Shillong, Meghalaya$46228$26527.0%Low
69Gangtok, Sikkim$46173$19423.0%Low
70Dadri, Uttar Pradesh$46429$22326.1%Low
71Mangaluru, Karnataka$45103$30430.7%Low
72Agonda, Goa$4594$21627.9%Moderate
73Dehradun, Uttarakhand$45622$18422.7%Low
74Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh$45295$21922.4%Low
75Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh$44128$20122.4%Low
76Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala$44313$22525.6%Low
77Hyderabad, Telangana$441,211$25327.8%Low
78Thane, Maharashtra$43132$29830.6%Low
79Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu$41100$19325.2%Low
80Vadodara, Gujarat$4195$24028.9%Low
81Agra, Uttar Pradesh$41147$15117.5%Low
82Darjeeling, West Bengal$40175$19724.6%Low
83Delhi, Delhi$40277$21126.4%Low
84Pune, Maharashtra$391,012$22829.4%Low
85Sahibzada Ajit Singh Nagar, Punjab$39116$23425.5%Low
86Kolkata, West Bengal$39637$29533.0%Low
87Mysuru, Karnataka$39407$18824.0%Low
88Bengaluru, Karnataka$373,145$23730.6%Low
89Bidhannagar, West Bengal$36174$21126.7%Low
90Indore, Madhya Pradesh$35209$16522.7%Low
91Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation, Odisha$34136$17125.8%Low
92Puri, Odisha$34199$24129.3%Low
93Ujjain, Madhya Pradesh$33121$19524.8%Low
94Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh$33143$12723.0%Low
95Shahdara, Uttar Pradesh$31116$10121.4%Low
96Ghaziabad, Uttar Pradesh$31124$15721.8%Low
97Nagpur, Maharashtra$30118$18526.1%Low
98Tiruvannamalai, Tamil Nadu$2795$16429.9%Low
99Guwahati, Assam$26401$11921.9%Low
100Dispur, Assam$24247$10120.8%Low

Highest Occupancy Airbnb Markets in India

Airbnb occupancy rate measures the percentage of available nights actually booked — the most telling indicator of short-term rental demand in a market. Mumbai, Maharashtra leads India with 33.0% occupancy, $533/month revenue, and 2,268 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.

#MarketOccupancyActive Listings (TTM)Revenue/moADRRegulation
1Mumbai, Maharashtra33.0%2,268$533$71Low
2Kolkata, West Bengal33.0%637$295$39Low
3Calangute, Goa31.7%613$591$89Moderate
4Arpora, Goa31.7%425$692$90Moderate
5Candolim, Goa31.6%979$552$83High
6Chennai, Tamil Nadu30.8%901$348$53Low
7Bengaluru, Karnataka30.6%3,145$237$37Low
8Pune, Maharashtra29.4%1,012$228$39Low
9New Delhi, Delhi29.3%1,926$366$56Low
10Hyderabad, Telangana27.8%1,211$253$44Low
11Puducherry, Puducherry27.8%495$414$60Low
12Dadri, Uttar Pradesh26.1%429$223$46Low
13Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala25.6%313$225$44Low
14Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh24.1%643$231$47Low
15Mysuru, Karnataka24.0%407$188$39Low
16Udaipur, Rajasthan23.0%561$343$81Low
17Jaipur Municipal Corporation, Rajasthan22.9%1,092$257$57Low
18Gurugram District, Haryana22.9%358$263$70Low
19Dehradun, Uttarakhand22.7%622$184$45Low
20Guwahati, Assam21.9%401$119$26Low
21Rishikesh, Uttarakhand21.9%515$220$58Low
22Gurugram, Haryana21.7%1,089$271$64Low
23Shimla, Himachal Pradesh20.1%310$304$96Low
24Lonavala, Maharashtra20.0%473$932$214Low

How to Choose an Airbnb Investment Market in India

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 India 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 India

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

Across the 100 markets ranked on this page: 74 have a low regulation profile (generally operator-friendly with minimal licensing requirements), 0 have medium regulation (some permit or registration requirements), and 15 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 India

This page ranks Airbnb markets in India 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 India.

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 India.
  • Monthly Revenue: Average gross revenue per listing per month — the bottom-line metric for evaluating Airbnb profitability in India 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 India, 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 India

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

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

Bengaluru, Karnataka leads this ranking for India with 3,145 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 India?

Assagao, Goa posts the highest average monthly revenue in this ranking at $1,374. 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 India?

Sinquerim, Goa has the highest occupancy rate in this comparison at 38.6%. 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 market has the highest Airbnb nightly rate in India?

Lonavala, Maharashtra commands the highest average daily rate at $214 per night. A high ADR does not automatically translate to the highest revenue — occupancy and seasonality determine how much of that rate converts to realized income.

Which Airbnb markets in India have the lowest regulation?

Bengaluru (Karnataka), Mumbai (Maharashtra), New Delhi (Delhi) 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 India in 2026?

The markets ranked here average 26.2% occupancy, and the top performer posts $1,374 in monthly revenue. Profitability depends on property acquisition cost, local operating expenses, and regulation compliance — but the data shows active, performing markets exist across India 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 India?

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 India?

First-time investors in India 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 India?

Across the markets ranked here, the average occupancy rate in India is 26.2%. 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 India?

Regulation is one of the most overlooked risks in short-term rental investing. In India, 74 of 100 ranked markets have low regulation, 0 have medium, and 15 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 India?

Markets with fewer than 100 active listings can show volatile averages that do not predict future performance. The median market in this India ranking has about 188 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 India?

Seasonal markets in India 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 2026-05-04. Revenue figures are market averages, not projections. For full methodology, see the data methodology page.

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