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 3,074 active listings and $249/month revenue. Across all ranked markets, average occupancy is 26.7% with $346/month in average revenue and $69/night ADR. 81 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 3,074 active short-term rental listings and $249/month in average revenue.

#MarketActive Listings (TTM)Revenue/moADROccupancyRegulation
1Bengaluru, Karnataka3,074$249$4030.6%Low
2Mumbai, Maharashtra2,789$499$7233.6%Low
3New Delhi, Delhi2,427$336$5629.8%Low
4Hyderabad, Telangana1,742$217$4428.2%Low
5Gurugram, Haryana1,620$225$6123.0%Low
6Chennai, Tamil Nadu1,199$316$5531.1%Low
7Bangalore Urban, Karnataka1,157$150$4231.8%Low
8Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh1,136$206$4627.0%Low
9Candolim, Goa1,115$549$8632.6%High
10Jaipur Municipal Corporation, Rajasthan1,083$265$6022.8%Low
11Pune, Maharashtra1,008$235$4229.3%Low
12Dehradun, Uttarakhand871$175$4823.0%Low
13Kolkata, West Bengal852$265$3933.0%Low
14Udaipur, Rajasthan763$316$8523.7%Low
15Guwahati, Assam721$99$2623.2%Low
16Calangute, Goa713$561$8931.9%Moderate
17Jaipur, Rajasthan699$219$6324.6%Low
18Puducherry, Puducherry667$370$6727.0%Low
19Rishikesh, Uttarakhand645$219$5922.9%Low
20Lonavala, Maharashtra620$811$20520.8%Low
21Arpora, Goa512$653$9832.1%Moderate
22Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala507$192$4326.9%Low
23Pune City, Maharashtra487$116$3428.9%Low
24Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh473$182$4423.8%Low
25Delhi, Delhi446$192$4626.7%Low
26Dadri, Uttar Pradesh416$229$4826.4%Low
27Noida, Uttar Pradesh411$136$5222.8%Low
28Kodaikanal, Tamil Nadu406$363$9921.7%Low
29Kochi, Kerala405$220$4829.3%Low
30Mysuru, Karnataka403$195$4124.3%Low
31Anjuna, Goa389$864$13431.2%Moderate
32Shimla, Himachal Pradesh356$290$9420.4%Low
33Ernakulam, Kerala353$355$5530.8%Low
34Gurugram District, Haryana342$267$7522.6%Low
35Assagao, Goa340$1,324$20133.2%Moderate
36Greater Noida, Uttar Pradesh339$161$5722.7%Low
37Indore, Madhya Pradesh322$147$3923.1%Low
38Manali, Himachal Pradesh315$253$7222.2%Low
39Puri, Odisha310$240$4031.4%Low
40Madikeri, Karnataka295$273$6520.9%Low
41Siolim, Goa287$569$8337.9%Low
42Badem, Goa279$1,186$17830.1%High
43Baga, Goa276$744$11230.6%High
44Shillong, Meghalaya271$262$4727.9%Low
45Varkala, Kerala263$425$7028.9%Low
46Nashik, Maharashtra263$303$8122.3%Low
47Vagator, Goa259$1,030$14931.0%Moderate
48Jibhi, Himachal Pradesh258$193$5921.3%Low
49Panaji, Goa255$374$7029.6%High
50Ujjain, Madhya Pradesh251$163$3425.2%Low
51Ghaziabad, Uttar Pradesh249$111$3221.8%Low
52Benaulim, Goa248$565$7036.2%High
53Jodhpur, Rajasthan247$190$5523.0%Low
54Dispur, Assam244$104$2520.7%Low
55Srinagar, Jammu and Kashmir238$210$8320.2%Low
56Darjeeling, West Bengal238$183$4125.8%Low
57Dharamshala, Himachal Pradesh237$228$5424.8%Low
58Sahibzada Ajit Singh Nagar, Punjab234$180$4325.6%Low
59Morjim, Goa231$429$7929.6%Moderate
60Mussoorie, Uttarakhand231$532$12125.6%Low
61Panchgani, Maharashtra222$535$14920.2%Low
62Vythiri, Kerala216$387$8619.4%Low
63Vrindavan, Uttar Pradesh216$161$3528.6%Low
64Agra, Uttar Pradesh211$143$4218.8%Low
65Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh206$121$3524.5%Low
66Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation, Odisha206$156$3627.2%Low
67Gangtok, Sikkim204$191$4623.7%Low
68Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh199$184$4724.2%Low
69Mandrem, Goa197$314$7329.8%Low
70Amritsar, Punjab197$174$4821.5%Low
71Thane, Maharashtra196$277$4832.1%Low
72Alappuzha, Kerala189$249$6822.5%Low
73Udhagamandalam, Tamil Nadu189$486$9320.2%Low
74Zirakpur, Punjab176$101$3621.4%Low
75Colva, Goa172$599$7634.1%High
76New Town, West Bengal170$225$6022.7%Low
77Navi Mumbai, Maharashtra169$250$5528.4%Low
78Bidhannagar, West Bengal169$220$3826.5%Low
79Ahmedabad, Gujarat163$327$6530.0%Low
80Arambol, Goa159$172$5426.9%Moderate
81Nagpur, Maharashtra158$169$3526.2%Low
82Nainital, Uttarakhand157$372$8423.9%Low
83Tirupati, Andhra Pradesh154$114$3520.7%Low
84Chandigarh, Chandigarh150$318$5329.2%Low
85Oxel, Goa150$830$9238.1%High
86Pimpri-Chinchwad, Maharashtra146$142$3328.5%Low
87Mapusa, Goa144$799$13429.5%High
88Mysore, Karnataka144$137$5025.5%Low
89Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu144$160$4224.8%Low
90Tiruvannamalai, Tamil Nadu142$140$3128.0%Low
91Varca, Goa136$601$7938.1%Moderate
92Patna, Bihar134$122$3025.0%Low
93Canacona, Goa134$441$7037.8%Moderate
94Alibag, Maharashtra134$884$17223.0%Low
95Dabolim, Goa126$400$5733.6%High
96Kozhikode, Kerala125$282$6027.8%Low
97Marna, Goa124$1,199$16231.9%High
98Tiruporur, Tamil Nadu122$688$13722.5%Low
99Jaisalmer, Rajasthan121$153$6120.9%Low
100Bhimtal, Uttarakhand117$440$12820.0%Low

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 $1,324/month at $201 ADR and 33.2% 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.

#MarketRevenue/moActive Listings (TTM)ADROccupancyRegulation
1Assagao, Goa$1,324340$20133.2%Moderate
2Marna, Goa$1,199124$16231.9%High
3Badem, Goa$1,186279$17830.1%High
4Vagator, Goa$1,030259$14931.0%Moderate
5Alibag, Maharashtra$884134$17223.0%Low
6Anjuna, Goa$864389$13431.2%Moderate
7Oxel, Goa$830150$9238.1%High
8Lonavala, Maharashtra$811620$20520.8%Low
9Mapusa, Goa$799144$13429.5%High
10Baga, Goa$744276$11230.6%High
11Tiruporur, Tamil Nadu$688122$13722.5%Low
12Arpora, Goa$653512$9832.1%Moderate
13Varca, Goa$601136$7938.1%Moderate
14Colva, Goa$599172$7634.1%High
15Siolim, Goa$569287$8337.9%Low
16Benaulim, Goa$565248$7036.2%High
17Calangute, Goa$561713$8931.9%Moderate
18Candolim, Goa$5491,115$8632.6%High
19Panchgani, Maharashtra$535222$14920.2%Low
20Mussoorie, Uttarakhand$532231$12125.6%Low
21Mumbai, Maharashtra$4992,789$7233.6%Low
22Udhagamandalam, Tamil Nadu$486189$9320.2%Low
23Canacona, Goa$441134$7037.8%Moderate
24Bhimtal, Uttarakhand$440117$12820.0%Low
25Morjim, Goa$429231$7929.6%Moderate
26Varkala, Kerala$425263$7028.9%Low
27Dabolim, Goa$400126$5733.6%High
28Vythiri, Kerala$387216$8619.4%Low
29Panaji, Goa$374255$7029.6%High
30Nainital, Uttarakhand$372157$8423.9%Low
31Puducherry, Puducherry$370667$6727.0%Low
32Kodaikanal, Tamil Nadu$363406$9921.7%Low
33Ernakulam, Kerala$355353$5530.8%Low
34New Delhi, Delhi$3362,427$5629.8%Low
35Ahmedabad, Gujarat$327163$6530.0%Low
36Chandigarh, Chandigarh$318150$5329.2%Low
37Chennai, Tamil Nadu$3161,199$5531.1%Low
38Udaipur, Rajasthan$316763$8523.7%Low
39Mandrem, Goa$314197$7329.8%Low
40Nashik, Maharashtra$303263$8122.3%Low
41Shimla, Himachal Pradesh$290356$9420.4%Low
42Kozhikode, Kerala$282125$6027.8%Low
43Thane, Maharashtra$277196$4832.1%Low
44Madikeri, Karnataka$273295$6520.9%Low
45Gurugram District, Haryana$267342$7522.6%Low
46Jaipur Municipal Corporation, Rajasthan$2651,083$6022.8%Low
47Kolkata, West Bengal$265852$3933.0%Low
48Shillong, Meghalaya$262271$4727.9%Low
49Manali, Himachal Pradesh$253315$7222.2%Low
50Navi Mumbai, Maharashtra$250169$5528.4%Low
51Bengaluru, Karnataka$2493,074$4030.6%Low
52Alappuzha, Kerala$249189$6822.5%Low
53Puri, Odisha$240310$4031.4%Low
54Pune, Maharashtra$2351,008$4229.3%Low
55Dadri, Uttar Pradesh$229416$4826.4%Low
56Dharamshala, Himachal Pradesh$228237$5424.8%Low
57New Town, West Bengal$225170$6022.7%Low
58Gurugram, Haryana$2251,620$6123.0%Low
59Kochi, Kerala$220405$4829.3%Low
60Bidhannagar, West Bengal$220169$3826.5%Low
61Jaipur, Rajasthan$219699$6324.6%Low
62Rishikesh, Uttarakhand$219645$5922.9%Low
63Hyderabad, Telangana$2171,742$4428.2%Low
64Srinagar, Jammu and Kashmir$210238$8320.2%Low
65Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh$2061,136$4627.0%Low
66Mysuru, Karnataka$195403$4124.3%Low
67Jibhi, Himachal Pradesh$193258$5921.3%Low
68Delhi, Delhi$192446$4626.7%Low
69Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala$192507$4326.9%Low
70Gangtok, Sikkim$191204$4623.7%Low
71Jodhpur, Rajasthan$190247$5523.0%Low
72Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh$184199$4724.2%Low
73Darjeeling, West Bengal$183238$4125.8%Low
74Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh$182473$4423.8%Low
75Sahibzada Ajit Singh Nagar, Punjab$180234$4325.6%Low
76Dehradun, Uttarakhand$175871$4823.0%Low
77Amritsar, Punjab$174197$4821.5%Low
78Arambol, Goa$172159$5426.9%Moderate
79Nagpur, Maharashtra$169158$3526.2%Low
80Ujjain, Madhya Pradesh$163251$3425.2%Low
81Greater Noida, Uttar Pradesh$161339$5722.7%Low
82Vrindavan, Uttar Pradesh$161216$3528.6%Low
83Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu$160144$4224.8%Low
84Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation, Odisha$156206$3627.2%Low
85Jaisalmer, Rajasthan$153121$6120.9%Low
86Bangalore Urban, Karnataka$1501,157$4231.8%Low
87Indore, Madhya Pradesh$147322$3923.1%Low
88Agra, Uttar Pradesh$143211$4218.8%Low
89Pimpri-Chinchwad, Maharashtra$142146$3328.5%Low
90Tiruvannamalai, Tamil Nadu$140142$3128.0%Low
91Mysore, Karnataka$137144$5025.5%Low
92Noida, Uttar Pradesh$136411$5222.8%Low
93Patna, Bihar$122134$3025.0%Low
94Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh$121206$3524.5%Low
95Pune City, Maharashtra$116487$3428.9%Low
96Tirupati, Andhra Pradesh$114154$3520.7%Low
97Ghaziabad, Uttar Pradesh$111249$3221.8%Low
98Dispur, Assam$104244$2520.7%Low
99Zirakpur, Punjab$101176$3621.4%Low
100Guwahati, Assam$99721$2623.2%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 $205/night, generating $811/month at 20.8% 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$205620$81120.8%Low
2Assagao, Goa$201340$1,32433.2%Moderate
3Badem, Goa$178279$1,18630.1%High
4Alibag, Maharashtra$172134$88423.0%Low
5Marna, Goa$162124$1,19931.9%High
6Vagator, Goa$149259$1,03031.0%Moderate
7Panchgani, Maharashtra$149222$53520.2%Low
8Tiruporur, Tamil Nadu$137122$68822.5%Low
9Mapusa, Goa$134144$79929.5%High
10Anjuna, Goa$134389$86431.2%Moderate
11Bhimtal, Uttarakhand$128117$44020.0%Low
12Mussoorie, Uttarakhand$121231$53225.6%Low
13Baga, Goa$112276$74430.6%High
14Kodaikanal, Tamil Nadu$99406$36321.7%Low
15Arpora, Goa$98512$65332.1%Moderate
16Shimla, Himachal Pradesh$94356$29020.4%Low
17Udhagamandalam, Tamil Nadu$93189$48620.2%Low
18Oxel, Goa$92150$83038.1%High
19Calangute, Goa$89713$56131.9%Moderate
20Candolim, Goa$861,115$54932.6%High
21Vythiri, Kerala$86216$38719.4%Low
22Udaipur, Rajasthan$85763$31623.7%Low
23Nainital, Uttarakhand$84157$37223.9%Low
24Siolim, Goa$83287$56937.9%Low
25Srinagar, Jammu and Kashmir$83238$21020.2%Low
26Nashik, Maharashtra$81263$30322.3%Low
27Morjim, Goa$79231$42929.6%Moderate
28Varca, Goa$79136$60138.1%Moderate
29Colva, Goa$76172$59934.1%High
30Gurugram District, Haryana$75342$26722.6%Low
31Mandrem, Goa$73197$31429.8%Low
32Mumbai, Maharashtra$722,789$49933.6%Low
33Manali, Himachal Pradesh$72315$25322.2%Low
34Benaulim, Goa$70248$56536.2%High
35Varkala, Kerala$70263$42528.9%Low
36Canacona, Goa$70134$44137.8%Moderate
37Panaji, Goa$70255$37429.6%High
38Alappuzha, Kerala$68189$24922.5%Low
39Puducherry, Puducherry$67667$37027.0%Low
40Madikeri, Karnataka$65295$27320.9%Low
41Ahmedabad, Gujarat$65163$32730.0%Low
42Jaipur, Rajasthan$63699$21924.6%Low
43Gurugram, Haryana$611,620$22523.0%Low
44Jaisalmer, Rajasthan$61121$15320.9%Low
45New Town, West Bengal$60170$22522.7%Low
46Kozhikode, Kerala$60125$28227.8%Low
47Jaipur Municipal Corporation, Rajasthan$601,083$26522.8%Low
48Rishikesh, Uttarakhand$59645$21922.9%Low
49Jibhi, Himachal Pradesh$59258$19321.3%Low
50Dabolim, Goa$57126$40033.6%High
51Greater Noida, Uttar Pradesh$57339$16122.7%Low
52New Delhi, Delhi$562,427$33629.8%Low
53Jodhpur, Rajasthan$55247$19023.0%Low
54Chennai, Tamil Nadu$551,199$31631.1%Low
55Ernakulam, Kerala$55353$35530.8%Low
56Navi Mumbai, Maharashtra$55169$25028.4%Low
57Arambol, Goa$54159$17226.9%Moderate
58Dharamshala, Himachal Pradesh$54237$22824.8%Low
59Chandigarh, Chandigarh$53150$31829.2%Low
60Noida, Uttar Pradesh$52411$13622.8%Low
61Mysore, Karnataka$50144$13725.5%Low
62Dadri, Uttar Pradesh$48416$22926.4%Low
63Dehradun, Uttarakhand$48871$17523.0%Low
64Kochi, Kerala$48405$22029.3%Low
65Thane, Maharashtra$48196$27732.1%Low
66Amritsar, Punjab$48197$17421.5%Low
67Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh$47199$18424.2%Low
68Shillong, Meghalaya$47271$26227.9%Low
69Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh$461,136$20627.0%Low
70Delhi, Delhi$46446$19226.7%Low
71Gangtok, Sikkim$46204$19123.7%Low
72Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh$44473$18223.8%Low
73Hyderabad, Telangana$441,742$21728.2%Low
74Sahibzada Ajit Singh Nagar, Punjab$43234$18025.6%Low
75Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala$43507$19226.9%Low
76Bangalore Urban, Karnataka$421,157$15031.8%Low
77Pune, Maharashtra$421,008$23529.3%Low
78Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu$42144$16024.8%Low
79Agra, Uttar Pradesh$42211$14318.8%Low
80Mysuru, Karnataka$41403$19524.3%Low
81Darjeeling, West Bengal$41238$18325.8%Low
82Bengaluru, Karnataka$403,074$24930.6%Low
83Puri, Odisha$40310$24031.4%Low
84Indore, Madhya Pradesh$39322$14723.1%Low
85Kolkata, West Bengal$39852$26533.0%Low
86Bidhannagar, West Bengal$38169$22026.5%Low
87Zirakpur, Punjab$36176$10121.4%Low
88Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation, Odisha$36206$15627.2%Low
89Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh$35206$12124.5%Low
90Nagpur, Maharashtra$35158$16926.2%Low
91Tirupati, Andhra Pradesh$35154$11420.7%Low
92Vrindavan, Uttar Pradesh$35216$16128.6%Low
93Ujjain, Madhya Pradesh$34251$16325.2%Low
94Pune City, Maharashtra$34487$11628.9%Low
95Pimpri-Chinchwad, Maharashtra$33146$14228.5%Low
96Ghaziabad, Uttar Pradesh$32249$11121.8%Low
97Tiruvannamalai, Tamil Nadu$31142$14028.0%Low
98Patna, Bihar$30134$12225.0%Low
99Guwahati, Assam$26721$9923.2%Low
100Dispur, Assam$25244$10420.7%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 33.6% occupancy, $499/month revenue, and 2,789 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, Maharashtra33.6%2,789$499$72Low
2Assagao, Goa33.2%340$1,324$201Moderate
3Kolkata, West Bengal33.0%852$265$39Low
4Candolim, Goa32.6%1,115$549$86High
5Arpora, Goa32.1%512$653$98Moderate
6Calangute, Goa31.9%713$561$89Moderate
7Bangalore Urban, Karnataka31.8%1,157$150$42Low
8Puri, Odisha31.4%310$240$40Low
9Anjuna, Goa31.2%389$864$134Moderate
10Chennai, Tamil Nadu31.1%1,199$316$55Low
11Ernakulam, Kerala30.8%353$355$55Low
12Bengaluru, Karnataka30.6%3,074$249$40Low
13New Delhi, Delhi29.8%2,427$336$56Low
14Pune, Maharashtra29.3%1,008$235$42Low
15Kochi, Kerala29.3%405$220$48Low
16Pune City, Maharashtra28.9%487$116$34Low
17Hyderabad, Telangana28.2%1,742$217$44Low
18Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh27.0%1,136$206$46Low
19Puducherry, Puducherry27.0%667$370$67Low
20Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala26.9%507$192$43Low
21Delhi, Delhi26.7%446$192$46Low
22Dadri, Uttar Pradesh26.4%416$229$48Low
23Jaipur, Rajasthan24.6%699$219$63Low
24Mysuru, Karnataka24.3%403$195$41Low
25Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh23.8%473$182$44Low
26Udaipur, Rajasthan23.7%763$316$85Low
27Guwahati, Assam23.2%721$99$26Low
28Indore, Madhya Pradesh23.1%322$147$39Low
29Dehradun, Uttarakhand23.0%871$175$48Low
30Gurugram, Haryana23.0%1,620$225$61Low
31Rishikesh, Uttarakhand22.9%645$219$59Low
32Noida, Uttar Pradesh22.8%411$136$52Low
33Jaipur Municipal Corporation, Rajasthan22.8%1,083$265$60Low
34Greater Noida, Uttar Pradesh22.7%339$161$57Low
35Gurugram District, Haryana22.6%342$267$75Low
36Manali, Himachal Pradesh22.2%315$253$72Low
37Kodaikanal, Tamil Nadu21.7%406$363$99Low
38Lonavala, Maharashtra20.8%620$811$205Low
39Shimla, Himachal Pradesh20.4%356$290$94Low

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: 81 have a low regulation profile (generally operator-friendly with minimal licensing requirements), 0 have medium regulation (some permit or registration requirements), and 10 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 3,074 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 $1,324. 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?

Varca, Goa has the highest occupancy rate in this comparison at 38.1%. 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 $205 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 26.7% occupancy, and the top performer posts $1,324 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 26.7%. 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, 81 of 100 ranked markets have low regulation, 0 have medium, and 10 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 251 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 2026-06-02. Revenue figures are market averages, not projections. For full methodology, see the data methodology page.

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