Airbnb market data · 202612 months to October 2026
San Carlos, Panama Airbnb Market Data: Revenue, Occupancy & Trends
The average Airbnb in San Carlos brought in US$12,163 over the 12 months through October 2026, across just 26 active listings, so a single property can move that figure.
The short answer
San Carlos Airbnb Market at a Glance
Both rates and bookings run ahead of the Chiriquí average. Listings averaged $139 a night and were booked on 36% of available nights, against $105 and 33% for the Chiriquí average.
Timing matters: in February, the best month, the average listing earned about three times as much as in August, the slowest. With only 26 active listings, a few bookings can reorder the months.
With 26 active listings, San Carlos is the ninth-largest of 13 Chiriquí markets AirROI tracks.
Browse the live San Carlos Airbnb market See Every San Carlos ListingRevenue
How Much Do Airbnb Hosts Make in San Carlos?
Gross bookings per San Carlos listing averaged $12,163 over the 12 months to October 2026 (Chiriquí average: $9,166), before cleaning, platform and management costs and taxes.
The average San Carlos listing brought in $2,700 in February, its best month, and $914 in August, its slowest. The three strongest months bring in 39% of a full year's revenue, where an even calendar would give any three months 25%.
Across San Carlos's 26 active listings, monthly revenue by tier:
- Best-in-class properties (top 10%) earn $3,480+ a month, about 2.7 times the typical property.
- Strong performers (top 25%) earn $2,170 or more, roughly $880 a month above the median.
- Typical properties (median) earn about $1,290 a month.
- Entry-level properties (bottom 25%) earn $593 or less, about half of the median.
These are monthly figures for listings active in each month. The annual average above also counts listings that operated for only part of the year, so it runs below twelve times these figures.
February earned about three times what August did
Average revenue per active listing, by month, October 2025 to September 2026
San Carlos Airbnb Data by Month
Latest 12 months in the October 2026 data. October's figures are still coming in, so the rows run to September.
February 2026 led on revenue and bookings; nightly rates peaked in December 2025.
| Month | Avg. Revenue | Occupancy | Avg. Nightly Rate | RevPAR | Booking Lead Time | Avg. Length of Stay |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 2025 | $938 | 27.2% | $136 | $30 | 29 days | 3.3 nights |
| Nov 2025 | $1,582 | 38.9% | $138 | $53 | 33 days | 2 nights |
| Dec 2025 | $1,636 | 33.8% | $139 | $53 | 27 days | 3.3 nights |
| Jan 2026 | $2,395 | 53.7% | $136 | $77 | 25 days | 4.8 nights |
| Feb 2026 | $2,704 | 55.2% | $138 | $97 | 43 days | 8.2 nights |
| Mar 2026 | $2,320 | 47.5% | $135 | $75 | 11 days | 4.5 nights |
| Apr 2026 | $1,176 | 25.7% | $138 | $39 | 12 days | 3.4 nights |
| May 2026 | $1,652 | 36.6% | $133 | $53 | 9 days | 2.9 nights |
| Jun 2026 | $1,147 | 32.0% | $131 | $38 | 16 days | 6.8 nights |
| Jul 2026 | $1,454 | 43.4% | $125 | $47 | 33 days | 7.6 nights |
| Aug 2026 | $914 | 26.7% | $123 | $29 | 16 days | 3.6 nights |
| Sep 2026 | $1,151 | 34.2% | $123 | $38 | 16 days | 2.5 nights |
Averages per active listing in each month. Highlighted: the highest-revenue month of the 12. RevPAR is the month's revenue spread over its nights, booked or not. Booking lead time is the days between booking and check-in, and length of stay the nights per booking, for stays in that month.
The typical San Carlos listing earns about $1,290 a month, but one property can land well above or below that. The Airbnb calculator gives a range for a specific address, built from the comparable listings around it.
Profit
Is an Airbnb in San Carlos Profitable?
Yes, when it's run well. The average San Carlos Airbnb took in $12,163 in the 12 months to October 2026, and run by its owner at everyday costs, about $700 a month of that is left after running costs, so a home that costs less than that to own or rent makes money. A listing in the top quarter leaves about $1,180 a month.
Cleaning it yourself keeps the $630 a year guests pay in cleaning fees, for about $750 a month. Handing the listing to a co-host at about 10% of nightly bookings still leaves about $600 a month.
These amounts come before housing costs. Where the mortgage or rent is less each month, the difference is profit; a home owned outright keeps it all after property tax, home insurance and any building or condo fees.
San Carlos Airbnb Income, Expenses and Profit per Year
| Line | Average listing | Top-quarter listing |
|---|---|---|
| Money in | ||
| Nightly bookings | $11,533 | $19,390 |
| Cleaning fees guests pay5% of San Carlos bookings | $630 | $1,060 |
| Gross bookings | $12,163 | $20,450 |
| Running costs | ||
| Airbnb's feeAbout 15%: 15.5% for the 92% of San Carlos listings on Simplified Pricing, 3% for the rest | −$1,770 | −$2,970 |
| Cleaning and laundryPaid for by the cleaning fee; $0 if you clean yourself | −$630 | −$1,060 |
| Utilities and internetAbout 5% of bookings | −$610 | −$1,020 |
| Guest suppliesToiletries, coffee, paper goods: about 2% | −$240 | −$410 |
| Repairs and upkeepIncluding linens and small replacements: about 3% | −$360 | −$610 |
| Short-term rental insuranceOne policy, on top of Airbnb's free AirCover | −$120 | −$120 |
| Permit and registrationWhere one is required | −$60 | −$60 |
| Management$0 when you run it; co-hosts charge from about 10% of nightly bookings | $0 | $0 |
| Pricing and messaging toolsOptional; Airbnb's own tools are free | $0 | $0 |
| Lodging taxesAdded to the guest's bill and passed on | $0 | $0 |
| Total running costsAbout 26% of bookings, plus cleaning paid for by the cleaning fee | −$3,790 | −$6,250 |
| Left for housing costs, then profit | $8,373about $700 a month | $14,200about $1,180 a month |
| Housing costs | ||
| Mortgage or rent, property tax, home insurance, building or condo fees | Depend on the home | |
Estimate Your Own San Carlos Airbnb Profit
The estimate starts from San Carlos's average listing, run by its owner. Change how the listing performs, who runs it and who cleans to see what is left for the mortgage or rent.
To work out the profit on one San Carlos home, with its price, its mortgage or rent and your own costs, use the Airbnb profit calculator. It starts from the comparable listings around the address.
How San Carlos's Top Earners Get There
- More nights booked. The busiest quarter of San Carlos listings are booked on 55% or more of their nights, against 34% for the median listing. Ten more booked nights a year at the median rate of $105 adds about $1,070 in bookings.
- Prices that follow demand. Ranked by price, the top quarter charge $185 a night or more, against a median of $105. That is a separate ranking from the busiest quarter, so the two marks don't multiply into one listing's takings. For the average listing, a 10% higher rate on the nights it already books adds about $1,150 a year.
- Open for the busy months. February brought the average listing about $2,700, against $914 in August, so a calendar that is open and full in the busy months carries the year.
- Reviews that stand out. San Carlos listings average 4.82 stars, and 58% carry Airbnb's Guest Favorite badge, which guests can filter for.
What a listing keeps comes down to the figures this page measures: nightly rate, nights booked and the months it's open. A listing at the top-quarter mark takes in about $1,700 a month, against $1,010 for the average one.
Occupancy
What Is the Airbnb Occupancy Rate in San Carlos?
San Carlos listings were booked on 36% of the nights they were open over the past year, 3 percentage points above the Chiriquí average (33%) and 2 points below the Panama average (38%). Occupancy swings from 26% in April to 55% in February.
Across San Carlos's 26 active listings, the share of open nights booked by tier:
- Best-in-class properties (top 10%) are booked 73%+ of open nights, 39 points above the median.
- Strong performers (top 25%) fill 55% or more, roughly four nights a week.
- Typical properties (median) fill about 34% of open nights.
- Entry-level properties (bottom 25%) fill 20% or less, under two nights a week.
February was the busiest month in San Carlos, April the quietest
Share of open nights booked, by month, October 2025 to September 2026
The 12-month rate of 36% averages each listing's whole year, slow months included; each month here counts only the listings booked in it.
Nightly rates
How Much Does an Airbnb Cost per Night in San Carlos?
The average nightly rate in San Carlos, known as ADR (average daily rate), was $139 over the past year, about 32% above the Chiriquí average of $105 and about 13% below the Panama average of $160. Rates peak in February and December at about $140 and bottom out in August and September at about $125.
Across San Carlos's 26 active listings, nightly rates by tier:
- Best-in-class properties (top 10%) charge $255+ a night, about 2.4 times the median.
- Strong performers (top 25%) charge $185 or more, about $80 above the median.
- Typical properties (median) charge about $105 a night.
- Entry-level properties (bottom 25%) charge $71 or less, about two-thirds of the median.
December rates ran 13% above August's
Average nightly rate (ADR), by month, October 2025 to September 2026
The 12-month ADR of $139 averages each listing's own rate across its whole year; the monthly points average listings month by month, so the two differ.
What Is the RevPAR for Airbnb in San Carlos?
RevPAR, or revenue per available night, divides a listing's income by every night it was open to book, so it rises with both price and bookings. In San Carlos it averaged $53 over the past year, from about $29 in August to about $97 in February.
Across San Carlos's 26 active listings, RevPAR by tier:
- Best-in-class properties (top 10%) earn $122+ per open night, about 2.7 times the median.
- Strong performers (top 25%) earn $70 or more, about $25 a night above the median.
- Typical properties (median) earn about $46 per open night.
- Entry-level properties (bottom 25%) earn $22 or less, about half of the median.
February RevPAR was about 3.3 times August's
Revenue per open night (RevPAR), by month, October 2025 to September 2026
Seasonality
Best and Worst Months for Airbnb in San Carlos
With only 26 active listings, the monthly pattern in San Carlos is noisy, since a few long or pricey stays can lift a month; revenue peaked in February and bottomed out in August.
How Far in Advance Do Guests Book Airbnb in San Carlos?
Guests book San Carlos stays 19 days ahead on average (about three weeks), so many trips are booked close to arrival. February stays are booked furthest out, about 43 days ahead, and May stays closest to arrival, about 9 days. A typical February booking is made in early January.
February stays are booked furthest ahead
Average days between booking and check-in, by month of stay, October 2025 to September 2026
The 12-month figure of 19 days averages each listing's year as a whole; each month here averages only the listings with stays in it.
Permits
Airbnb Permits and Registration in San Carlos
None of the 26 active listings in San Carlos display a registration, permit or license number. That doesn't mean no rules apply: some places don't ask hosts to show a number on the listing, and listing data doesn't capture every scheme.
Registration, permit, zoning and tourist-tax rules vary by address and change often, so confirm them with the local authority before buying or listing in San Carlos.
Neighborhoods
Best Neighborhoods for Airbnb in San Carlos
AirROI's area guide picks San Carlitos, San Carlos Centro and Sabana Bonita as the parts of San Carlos that draw short-term rental guests. The picks reflect guest appeal, not earnings data or permit eligibility, so check local permit rules for a specific address before buying.
| Area | Who it suits | Landmarks nearby |
|---|---|---|
| San Carlitos | This residential sector borders the urban expansion of David and contains gated communities preferred by visiting professionals, contract workers, and relocating families seeking quiet lodging near regional highways. | Residencial Las Colinas, Residencial Hacienda del Lago, Cancha Manuel Quintero Villarreal, Via Boquete corridor |
| San Carlos Centro | The administrative core accommodates travellers seeking direct road access through the corregimiento and visitors attending local sports tournaments or civic functions. | Estadio de San Carlos, Junta Comunal de San Carlos, Centro Educativo Basico General de San Carlos |
| Sabana Bonita | A semi-rural farming settlement on the periphery that attracts guests looking for secluded countryside rentals and agritourism bases near the foothills. | Cerro Santa Cruz, Cerros Picos de Loro, Camino Principal a Sabana Bonita |
Area descriptions are AI-assisted from public sources and are not checked against zoning.
Nearby markets
San Carlos vs. Nearby Airbnb Markets
Of the eight nearby markets in the table, all within 63 km, El Chirú (44 km away, 78 listings) earned the most per listing, about 87% more than San Carlos. None of them fills more nights than San Carlos (36%); the busiest, Las Lajas, reached 33%.
| Market | Listings | Avg. annual revenue | Avg. nightly rate | Occupancy |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Las Lajas 10 km | 62 | $12,331 | $154 | 33% |
| El Chirú 44 km | 78 | $22,743 | $347 | 28% |
| Rio Hato 46 km | 167 | $13,399 | $229 | 27% |
| Farallon 47 km | 186 | $11,734 | $203 | 25% |
| El Valle 50 km | 160 | $13,638 | $167 | 32% |
| Bijao 53 km | 33 | $9,012 | $197 | 22% |
| Distrito San Carlos 63 km | 265 | $15,966 | $225 | 27% |
| San Carlos District 63 km | 61 | $12,319 | $239 | 25% |
Other Airbnb Markets in Chiriquí
- Alto Boquete Airbnb data 220 listings
- Bajo Boquete Airbnb data 161 listings
- David Airbnb data 105 listings
- Los Naranjos Airbnb data 72 listings
- Jaramillo Airbnb data 50 listings
- Boca Chica Airbnb data 32 listings
- David Sur Airbnb data 30 listings
See all 13 Chiriquí Airbnb markets
Markets Similar to San Carlos
Markets elsewhere in Panama with a similar nightly rate and occupancy to San Carlos:
- Bocas del Toro Province Airbnb data Panama · $144/night · 33.5%
- Nueva Gorgona Airbnb data Panama · $159/night · 34.9%
FAQ
San Carlos Airbnb FAQ
How much do Airbnb hosts make in San Carlos?
An active San Carlos Airbnb grossed US$12,163 on average in the 12 months to October 2026, according to AirROI's tracking of 26 active listings. That is before cleaning, management, taxes and financing. Busier, better-run listings do far better: the top quarter took in US$2,170 or more in a typical month.
How much can I make on Airbnb in San Carlos?
It depends most on the home's size, location and how it's run. The middle half of San Carlos listings earn between US$593 and US$2,170 in a typical month, and the top tenth US$3,480 or more. For one home, enter its address and bedroom count in the Airbnb income calculator: it compares the home with similar listings nearby.
What is the average Airbnb occupancy rate in San Carlos?
Listings in San Carlos were booked on 36% of available nights over the past year. That compares with 33% for the Chiriquí average. February was the busiest month.
How much does an Airbnb cost per night in San Carlos?
The average booked night in San Carlos cost US$139 before fees. Half of listings charge between US$71 and US$185, so bedroom count and location move the price more than the average suggests.
Do you need a permit for an Airbnb in San Carlos?
None of the active San Carlos listings display a registration, permit or license number. That doesn't mean no rules apply, so confirm registration, permit and tourist-tax rules with the local authority before buying.
Is Airbnb profitable in San Carlos?
Yes, when it's run well. The average San Carlos Airbnb grossed US$12,163 in the 12 months to October 2026, 33% above the Chiriquí average of US$9,166, though with only 26 active listings a single property can move that figure. Run by its owner, with the cleaning fee covering the cleaner and everyday costs for Airbnb's fee, utilities, supplies, upkeep and insurance, US$8,373 a year (about US$700 a month) is left before the mortgage or rent. A home that costs less than that to own or rent makes a profit, and a listing at the top-quarter mark leaves about US$1,180 a month. Check a specific home in the Airbnb estimator.
When is Airbnb peak season in San Carlos?
February paid best over the past year, at US$2,700 per active listing, and August paid least. The month-by-month table above shows how rates and bookings each move.
What is the Airbnb RevPAR in San Carlos?
Each night a San Carlos listing was open to book earned US$53 on average over the past year, booked or not. That figure, revenue per available night (RevPAR), folds price and occupancy into one number; the top 10% of listings made US$122 or more.
How far in advance do guests book Airbnbs in San Carlos?
San Carlos stays were booked 19 days (about three weeks) before arrival on average over the past year, so a listing can still fill close to the date.
How long do guests stay at Airbnbs in San Carlos?
The average San Carlos Airbnb stay lasted 4.8 nights over the past year. A listing took 18 reservations over the year on average.
How are Airbnbs in San Carlos rated?
Guests rate San Carlos Airbnbs 4.82 out of 5 on average. Guests score location highest and cleanliness lowest.
What are the best neighborhoods for Airbnb in San Carlos?
San Carlitos, San Carlos Centro and Sabana Bonita draw the most short-term rental interest in San Carlos. The neighborhood guide explains what brings guests to each.
How many Airbnbs are there in San Carlos?
AirROI counted 26 active Airbnb listings in San Carlos as of October 2026. The closest tracked market is Las Lajas, 10 km away.
How much are Airbnb cleaning fees in San Carlos?
In San Carlos, about eight in ten listings add a cleaning fee, and the typical fee is about US$25.
How many tourists visit San Carlos, Panama?
All of Panama had 1.5 million international tourist arrivals in 2022, UN Tourism reports, via Our World in Data. AirROI estimates 460 Airbnb stays in San Carlos, Panama in the 12 months to October 2026, which counts bookings and not tourists. See Panama tourism statistics.
Method
About This Data
Figures on this page cover 26 active Airbnb listings in San Carlos from November 2025 to October 2026 (trailing twelve months). AirROI refreshes them monthly from listing-level booking and calendar data covering 20+ million properties worldwide. Money figures are in U.S. dollars. Annual revenue averages every listing active during the period, including those listed for only part of it; monthly figures average the listings active in each month; the tier lists show the spread. Neighborhood descriptions are AI-assisted. See the methodology for definitions.
Need this programmatically? The same metrics are available through the AirROI Airbnb Data API and bulk downloads in the data portal.