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 3,219 active listings and $221/month revenue. Across all ranked markets, average occupancy is 26.6% with $307/month in average revenue and $63/night ADR. 83 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 3,219 active short-term rental listings and $221/month in average revenue.

#MarketActive Listings (TTM)Revenue/moADROccupancyRegulation
1Bengaluru, Karnataka3,219$221$4029.5%Low
2Mumbai, Maharashtra3,047$446$6933.3%Low
3New Delhi, Delhi2,683$301$5429.4%Low
4Hyderabad, Telangana1,998$197$4327.3%Low
5Gurugram, Haryana1,828$199$5823.0%Low
6Bangalore Urban, Karnataka1,491$174$4131.9%Low
7Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh1,344$191$4526.5%Low
8Chennai, Tamil Nadu1,337$294$5430.3%Low
9Candolim, Goa1,190$506$8132.9%High
10Jaipur Municipal Corporation, Rajasthan1,062$246$5923.0%Low
11Kolkata, West Bengal983$236$3832.6%Low
12Jaipur, Rajasthan982$187$5623.9%Low
13Pune, Maharashtra955$209$4227.9%Low
14Dehradun, Uttarakhand920$166$4622.0%Low
15Udaipur, Rajasthan853$296$8323.4%Low
16Guwahati, Assam825$93$2622.9%Low
17Puducherry, Puducherry793$321$6226.3%Low
18Calangute, Goa774$515$8332.2%Moderate
19Pune City, Maharashtra713$131$3527.8%Low
20Rishikesh, Uttarakhand700$204$5623.0%Low
21Lonavala, Maharashtra658$711$18919.9%Low
22Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala620$179$4127.1%Low
23Noida, Uttar Pradesh543$119$4622.4%Low
24Kochi, Kerala541$226$4830.0%Low
25Arpora, Goa539$609$9132.1%Moderate
26Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh515$176$4224.4%Low
27Delhi, Delhi513$187$4826.2%Low
28Anjuna, Goa444$775$12030.9%Moderate
29Kodaikanal, Tamil Nadu424$340$9221.5%Low
30Greater Noida, Uttar Pradesh421$141$5222.3%Low
31Mysuru, Karnataka386$184$3923.9%Low
32Ernakulam, Kerala382$318$5330.4%Low
33Assagao, Goa380$1,222$18733.0%Moderate
34Dadri, Uttar Pradesh380$215$4726.6%Low
35Manali, Himachal Pradesh371$229$6522.9%Low
36Shimla, Himachal Pradesh365$285$8720.8%Low
37Puri, Odisha363$234$3831.3%Low
38Indore, Madhya Pradesh362$126$3721.8%Low
39Siolim, Goa353$529$7437.6%Low
40Varkala, Kerala336$381$7028.7%Low
41Shillong, Meghalaya319$242$4627.8%Low
42Madikeri, Karnataka315$242$6120.4%Low
43Gurugram District, Haryana313$262$7622.8%Low
44Ghaziabad, Uttar Pradesh296$106$3123.1%Low
45Nashik, Maharashtra295$273$7821.8%Low
46Sahibzada Ajit Singh Nagar, Punjab295$159$4125.4%Low
47Ujjain, Madhya Pradesh292$158$3424.3%Low
48Jodhpur, Rajasthan285$184$5623.2%Low
49Vagator, Goa282$970$14430.7%Moderate
50Baga, Goa279$690$11030.5%High
51Benaulim, Goa268$544$6936.5%Moderate
52Morjim, Goa265$376$7529.3%Moderate
53Srinagar, Jammu and Kashmir265$210$7821.9%Low
54Badem, Goa264$1,137$17429.7%High
55Panaji, Goa264$353$6628.7%High
56Darjeeling, West Bengal262$190$4026.0%Low
57Jibhi, Himachal Pradesh259$185$5719.8%Low
58Vrindavan, Uttar Pradesh257$154$3427.9%Low
59Mussoorie, Uttarakhand254$495$11624.6%Low
60Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh244$168$4624.5%Low
61Thane, Maharashtra244$258$4831.7%Low
62Mandrem, Goa241$284$6130.8%Low
63Dharamshala, Himachal Pradesh239$222$5424.6%Low
64Agra, Uttar Pradesh239$134$4119.1%Low
65Amritsar, Punjab233$173$4822.5%Low
66Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation, Odisha232$145$3525.9%Low
67Mysore, Karnataka229$162$4727.2%Low
68Panchgani, Maharashtra229$497$13819.8%Low
69Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh226$112$3424.7%Low
70Alappuzha, Kerala225$241$6622.7%Low
71Vythiri, Kerala222$368$8519.3%Low
72Zirakpur, Punjab222$101$3521.4%Low
73Dispur, Assam219$96$2520.0%Low
74Gangtok, Sikkim206$206$4524.7%Low
75Navi Mumbai, Maharashtra200$244$5329.0%Low
76Canacona, Goa198$393$6538.5%Low
77Ahmedabad, Gujarat198$286$6030.9%Low
78Udhagamandalam, Tamil Nadu194$436$9620.1%Low
79Colva, Goa193$551$7434.1%Moderate
80Tiruvannamalai, Tamil Nadu186$121$3028.6%Low
81Arambol, Goa183$150$4627.8%Moderate
82Nagpur, Maharashtra177$161$3427.0%Low
83Kozhikode, Kerala175$261$6025.6%Low
84New Town, West Bengal174$214$6023.7%Low
85Tirupati, Andhra Pradesh172$111$3519.4%Low
86Bidhannagar, West Bengal170$204$3726.5%Low
87Pimpri-Chinchwad, Maharashtra167$129$3028.1%Low
88Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu163$146$3823.4%Low
89Nainital, Uttarakhand160$363$8224.0%Low
90Chandigarh, Chandigarh157$308$5328.9%Low
91Varca, Goa156$567$7038.3%Moderate
92Alibag, Maharashtra156$707$15321.7%Low
93Patna, Bihar153$116$2925.3%Low
94Ooty, Tamil Nadu149$361$9123.9%Low
95Oxel, Goa146$764$9037.0%High
96Mapusa, Goa144$775$12529.5%High
97Dabolim, Goa137$366$5334.1%High
98Jaisalmer, Rajasthan133$146$5822.0%Low
99Agonda, Goa128$217$4529.5%Low
100Vadodara, Gujarat127$217$4430.7%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 $1,222/month at $187 ADR and 33.0% 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$1,222380$18733.0%Moderate
2Badem, Goa$1,137264$17429.7%High
3Vagator, Goa$970282$14430.7%Moderate
4Mapusa, Goa$775144$12529.5%High
5Anjuna, Goa$775444$12030.9%Moderate
6Oxel, Goa$764146$9037.0%High
7Lonavala, Maharashtra$711658$18919.9%Low
8Alibag, Maharashtra$707156$15321.7%Low
9Baga, Goa$690279$11030.5%High
10Arpora, Goa$609539$9132.1%Moderate
11Varca, Goa$567156$7038.3%Moderate
12Colva, Goa$551193$7434.1%Moderate
13Benaulim, Goa$544268$6936.5%Moderate
14Siolim, Goa$529353$7437.6%Low
15Calangute, Goa$515774$8332.2%Moderate
16Candolim, Goa$5061,190$8132.9%High
17Panchgani, Maharashtra$497229$13819.8%Low
18Mussoorie, Uttarakhand$495254$11624.6%Low
19Mumbai, Maharashtra$4463,047$6933.3%Low
20Udhagamandalam, Tamil Nadu$436194$9620.1%Low
21Canacona, Goa$393198$6538.5%Low
22Varkala, Kerala$381336$7028.7%Low
23Morjim, Goa$376265$7529.3%Moderate
24Vythiri, Kerala$368222$8519.3%Low
25Dabolim, Goa$366137$5334.1%High
26Nainital, Uttarakhand$363160$8224.0%Low
27Ooty, Tamil Nadu$361149$9123.9%Low
28Panaji, Goa$353264$6628.7%High
29Kodaikanal, Tamil Nadu$340424$9221.5%Low
30Puducherry, Puducherry$321793$6226.3%Low
31Ernakulam, Kerala$318382$5330.4%Low
32Chandigarh, Chandigarh$308157$5328.9%Low
33New Delhi, Delhi$3012,683$5429.4%Low
34Udaipur, Rajasthan$296853$8323.4%Low
35Chennai, Tamil Nadu$2941,337$5430.3%Low
36Ahmedabad, Gujarat$286198$6030.9%Low
37Shimla, Himachal Pradesh$285365$8720.8%Low
38Mandrem, Goa$284241$6130.8%Low
39Nashik, Maharashtra$273295$7821.8%Low
40Gurugram District, Haryana$262313$7622.8%Low
41Kozhikode, Kerala$261175$6025.6%Low
42Thane, Maharashtra$258244$4831.7%Low
43Jaipur Municipal Corporation, Rajasthan$2461,062$5923.0%Low
44Navi Mumbai, Maharashtra$244200$5329.0%Low
45Madikeri, Karnataka$242315$6120.4%Low
46Shillong, Meghalaya$242319$4627.8%Low
47Alappuzha, Kerala$241225$6622.7%Low
48Kolkata, West Bengal$236983$3832.6%Low
49Puri, Odisha$234363$3831.3%Low
50Manali, Himachal Pradesh$229371$6522.9%Low
51Kochi, Kerala$226541$4830.0%Low
52Dharamshala, Himachal Pradesh$222239$5424.6%Low
53Bengaluru, Karnataka$2213,219$4029.5%Low
54Agonda, Goa$217128$4529.5%Low
55Vadodara, Gujarat$217127$4430.7%Low
56Dadri, Uttar Pradesh$215380$4726.6%Low
57New Town, West Bengal$214174$6023.7%Low
58Srinagar, Jammu and Kashmir$210265$7821.9%Low
59Pune, Maharashtra$209955$4227.9%Low
60Gangtok, Sikkim$206206$4524.7%Low
61Rishikesh, Uttarakhand$204700$5623.0%Low
62Bidhannagar, West Bengal$204170$3726.5%Low
63Gurugram, Haryana$1991,828$5823.0%Low
64Hyderabad, Telangana$1971,998$4327.3%Low
65Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh$1911,344$4526.5%Low
66Darjeeling, West Bengal$190262$4026.0%Low
67Jaipur, Rajasthan$187982$5623.9%Low
68Delhi, Delhi$187513$4826.2%Low
69Jibhi, Himachal Pradesh$185259$5719.8%Low
70Mysuru, Karnataka$184386$3923.9%Low
71Jodhpur, Rajasthan$184285$5623.2%Low
72Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala$179620$4127.1%Low
73Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh$176515$4224.4%Low
74Bangalore Urban, Karnataka$1741,491$4131.9%Low
75Amritsar, Punjab$173233$4822.5%Low
76Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh$168244$4624.5%Low
77Dehradun, Uttarakhand$166920$4622.0%Low
78Mysore, Karnataka$162229$4727.2%Low
79Nagpur, Maharashtra$161177$3427.0%Low
80Sahibzada Ajit Singh Nagar, Punjab$159295$4125.4%Low
81Ujjain, Madhya Pradesh$158292$3424.3%Low
82Vrindavan, Uttar Pradesh$154257$3427.9%Low
83Arambol, Goa$150183$4627.8%Moderate
84Jaisalmer, Rajasthan$146133$5822.0%Low
85Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu$146163$3823.4%Low
86Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation, Odisha$145232$3525.9%Low
87Greater Noida, Uttar Pradesh$141421$5222.3%Low
88Agra, Uttar Pradesh$134239$4119.1%Low
89Pune City, Maharashtra$131713$3527.8%Low
90Pimpri-Chinchwad, Maharashtra$129167$3028.1%Low
91Indore, Madhya Pradesh$126362$3721.8%Low
92Tiruvannamalai, Tamil Nadu$121186$3028.6%Low
93Noida, Uttar Pradesh$119543$4622.4%Low
94Patna, Bihar$116153$2925.3%Low
95Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh$112226$3424.7%Low
96Tirupati, Andhra Pradesh$111172$3519.4%Low
97Ghaziabad, Uttar Pradesh$106296$3123.1%Low
98Zirakpur, Punjab$101222$3521.4%Low
99Dispur, Assam$96219$2520.0%Low
100Guwahati, Assam$93825$2622.9%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 $189/night, generating $711/month at 19.9% 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$189658$71119.9%Low
2Assagao, Goa$187380$1,22233.0%Moderate
3Badem, Goa$174264$1,13729.7%High
4Alibag, Maharashtra$153156$70721.7%Low
5Vagator, Goa$144282$97030.7%Moderate
6Panchgani, Maharashtra$138229$49719.8%Low
7Mapusa, Goa$125144$77529.5%High
8Anjuna, Goa$120444$77530.9%Moderate
9Mussoorie, Uttarakhand$116254$49524.6%Low
10Baga, Goa$110279$69030.5%High
11Udhagamandalam, Tamil Nadu$96194$43620.1%Low
12Kodaikanal, Tamil Nadu$92424$34021.5%Low
13Ooty, Tamil Nadu$91149$36123.9%Low
14Arpora, Goa$91539$60932.1%Moderate
15Oxel, Goa$90146$76437.0%High
16Shimla, Himachal Pradesh$87365$28520.8%Low
17Vythiri, Kerala$85222$36819.3%Low
18Udaipur, Rajasthan$83853$29623.4%Low
19Calangute, Goa$83774$51532.2%Moderate
20Nainital, Uttarakhand$82160$36324.0%Low
21Candolim, Goa$811,190$50632.9%High
22Nashik, Maharashtra$78295$27321.8%Low
23Srinagar, Jammu and Kashmir$78265$21021.9%Low
24Gurugram District, Haryana$76313$26222.8%Low
25Morjim, Goa$75265$37629.3%Moderate
26Colva, Goa$74193$55134.1%Moderate
27Siolim, Goa$74353$52937.6%Low
28Varca, Goa$70156$56738.3%Moderate
29Varkala, Kerala$70336$38128.7%Low
30Mumbai, Maharashtra$693,047$44633.3%Low
31Benaulim, Goa$69268$54436.5%Moderate
32Alappuzha, Kerala$66225$24122.7%Low
33Panaji, Goa$66264$35328.7%High
34Manali, Himachal Pradesh$65371$22922.9%Low
35Canacona, Goa$65198$39338.5%Low
36Puducherry, Puducherry$62793$32126.3%Low
37Madikeri, Karnataka$61315$24220.4%Low
38Mandrem, Goa$61241$28430.8%Low
39Ahmedabad, Gujarat$60198$28630.9%Low
40Kozhikode, Kerala$60175$26125.6%Low
41New Town, West Bengal$60174$21423.7%Low
42Jaipur Municipal Corporation, Rajasthan$591,062$24623.0%Low
43Jaisalmer, Rajasthan$58133$14622.0%Low
44Gurugram, Haryana$581,828$19923.0%Low
45Jibhi, Himachal Pradesh$57259$18519.8%Low
46Jodhpur, Rajasthan$56285$18423.2%Low
47Jaipur, Rajasthan$56982$18723.9%Low
48Rishikesh, Uttarakhand$56700$20423.0%Low
49Dharamshala, Himachal Pradesh$54239$22224.6%Low
50New Delhi, Delhi$542,683$30129.4%Low
51Chennai, Tamil Nadu$541,337$29430.3%Low
52Navi Mumbai, Maharashtra$53200$24429.0%Low
53Ernakulam, Kerala$53382$31830.4%Low
54Chandigarh, Chandigarh$53157$30828.9%Low
55Dabolim, Goa$53137$36634.1%High
56Greater Noida, Uttar Pradesh$52421$14122.3%Low
57Kochi, Kerala$48541$22630.0%Low
58Thane, Maharashtra$48244$25831.7%Low
59Delhi, Delhi$48513$18726.2%Low
60Amritsar, Punjab$48233$17322.5%Low
61Mysore, Karnataka$47229$16227.2%Low
62Dadri, Uttar Pradesh$47380$21526.6%Low
63Noida, Uttar Pradesh$46543$11922.4%Low
64Arambol, Goa$46183$15027.8%Moderate
65Shillong, Meghalaya$46319$24227.8%Low
66Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh$46244$16824.5%Low
67Dehradun, Uttarakhand$46920$16622.0%Low
68Agonda, Goa$45128$21729.5%Low
69Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh$451,344$19126.5%Low
70Gangtok, Sikkim$45206$20624.7%Low
71Vadodara, Gujarat$44127$21730.7%Low
72Hyderabad, Telangana$431,998$19727.3%Low
73Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh$42515$17624.4%Low
74Pune, Maharashtra$42955$20927.9%Low
75Agra, Uttar Pradesh$41239$13419.1%Low
76Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala$41620$17927.1%Low
77Sahibzada Ajit Singh Nagar, Punjab$41295$15925.4%Low
78Bangalore Urban, Karnataka$411,491$17431.9%Low
79Darjeeling, West Bengal$40262$19026.0%Low
80Bengaluru, Karnataka$403,219$22129.5%Low
81Mysuru, Karnataka$39386$18423.9%Low
82Puri, Odisha$38363$23431.3%Low
83Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu$38163$14623.4%Low
84Kolkata, West Bengal$38983$23632.6%Low
85Indore, Madhya Pradesh$37362$12621.8%Low
86Bidhannagar, West Bengal$37170$20426.5%Low
87Pune City, Maharashtra$35713$13127.8%Low
88Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation, Odisha$35232$14525.9%Low
89Tirupati, Andhra Pradesh$35172$11119.4%Low
90Zirakpur, Punjab$35222$10121.4%Low
91Ujjain, Madhya Pradesh$34292$15824.3%Low
92Vrindavan, Uttar Pradesh$34257$15427.9%Low
93Nagpur, Maharashtra$34177$16127.0%Low
94Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh$34226$11224.7%Low
95Ghaziabad, Uttar Pradesh$31296$10623.1%Low
96Pimpri-Chinchwad, Maharashtra$30167$12928.1%Low
97Tiruvannamalai, Tamil Nadu$30186$12128.6%Low
98Patna, Bihar$29153$11625.3%Low
99Guwahati, Assam$26825$9322.9%Low
100Dispur, Assam$25219$9620.0%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. Siolim, Goa leads India with 37.6% occupancy, $529/month revenue, and 353 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
1Siolim, Goa37.6%353$529$74Low
2Mumbai, Maharashtra33.3%3,047$446$69Low
3Assagao, Goa33.0%380$1,222$187Moderate
4Candolim, Goa32.9%1,190$506$81High
5Kolkata, West Bengal32.6%983$236$38Low
6Calangute, Goa32.2%774$515$83Moderate
7Arpora, Goa32.1%539$609$91Moderate
8Bangalore Urban, Karnataka31.9%1,491$174$41Low
9Puri, Odisha31.3%363$234$38Low
10Anjuna, Goa30.9%444$775$120Moderate
11Ernakulam, Kerala30.4%382$318$53Low
12Chennai, Tamil Nadu30.3%1,337$294$54Low
13Kochi, Kerala30.0%541$226$48Low
14Bengaluru, Karnataka29.5%3,219$221$40Low
15New Delhi, Delhi29.4%2,683$301$54Low
16Varkala, Kerala28.7%336$381$70Low
17Pune, Maharashtra27.9%955$209$42Low
18Shillong, Meghalaya27.8%319$242$46Low
19Pune City, Maharashtra27.8%713$131$35Low
20Hyderabad, Telangana27.3%1,998$197$43Low
21Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala27.1%620$179$41Low
22Dadri, Uttar Pradesh26.6%380$215$47Low
23Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh26.5%1,344$191$45Low
24Puducherry, Puducherry26.3%793$321$62Low
25Delhi, Delhi26.2%513$187$48Low
26Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh24.4%515$176$42Low
27Mysuru, Karnataka23.9%386$184$39Low
28Jaipur, Rajasthan23.9%982$187$56Low
29Udaipur, Rajasthan23.4%853$296$83Low
30Gurugram, Haryana23.0%1,828$199$58Low
31Jaipur Municipal Corporation, Rajasthan23.0%1,062$246$59Low
32Rishikesh, Uttarakhand23.0%700$204$56Low
33Manali, Himachal Pradesh22.9%371$229$65Low
34Guwahati, Assam22.9%825$93$26Low
35Gurugram District, Haryana22.8%313$262$76Low
36Noida, Uttar Pradesh22.4%543$119$46Low
37Greater Noida, Uttar Pradesh22.3%421$141$52Low
38Dehradun, Uttarakhand22.0%920$166$46Low
39Indore, Madhya Pradesh21.8%362$126$37Low
40Kodaikanal, Tamil Nadu21.5%424$340$92Low
41Shimla, Himachal Pradesh20.8%365$285$87Low
42Madikeri, Karnataka20.4%315$242$61Low
43Lonavala, Maharashtra19.9%658$711$189Low

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: 83 have a low regulation profile (generally operator-friendly with minimal licensing requirements), 0 have medium regulation (some permit or registration requirements), and 7 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 3,219 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 $1,222. 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?

Canacona, Goa has the highest occupancy rate in this comparison at 38.5%. 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 $189 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 26.6% occupancy, and the top performer posts $1,222 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 26.6%. 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, 83 of 100 ranked markets have low regulation, 0 have medium, and 7 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 279 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 2026-08-08. Revenue figures are market averages, not projections. For full methodology, see the data methodology page.

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