What Are the Best Places to Invest in Airbnb in Northern Ireland, United Kingdom?

Source: AirROI Reviewed by Jun Zhou , Founder @ AirROI

Updated: 2026-05-04

The short-term rental market in Northern Ireland, United Kingdom spans 30 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 Northern Ireland, United Kingdom across four dimensions: market depth (active listings), revenue, nightly rate (ADR), and occupancy rate. Belfast, Northern Ireland leads by market size with 1,454 active listings and $1,976/month revenue. Across all ranked markets, average occupancy is 38.1% with $1,810/month in average revenue and $206/night ADR. 30 of 30 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.

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Top Airbnb Markets in Northern Ireland, United Kingdom 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 Northern Ireland, United Kingdom attract the highest volume of travelers and offer the most reliable benchmarking data for pricing and revenue projections. Belfast, Northern Ireland leads with 1,454 active short-term rental listings and $1,976/month in average revenue.

#	Market	Active Listings (TTM)	Revenue/mo	ADR	Occupancy	Regulation
1	Belfast, Northern Ireland	1,454	$1,976	$179	43.9%	Low
2	Portrush, Northern Ireland	317	$2,093	$247	37.6%	Low
3	Portstewart, Northern Ireland	275	$1,785	$242	37.6%	Low
4	Derry/Londonderry, Northern Ireland	261	$1,691	$173	41.4%	Low
5	Causeway Coast and Glens, Northern Ireland	165	$2,195	$288	35.8%	Low
6	Newcastle, Northern Ireland	143	$1,919	$212	36.4%	Low
7	Ballycastle, Northern Ireland	136	$2,613	$229	42.4%	Low
8	Bangor, Northern Ireland	107	$1,722	$172	41.1%	Low
9	Fermanagh and Omagh, Northern Ireland	105	$2,170	$241	36.5%	Low
10	Bushmills, Northern Ireland	82	$2,176	$198	41.9%	Low
11	Enniskillen, Northern Ireland	77	$1,897	$211	36.6%	Low
12	Newry, Northern Ireland	73	$2,113	$200	38.1%	Low
13	Coleraine, Northern Ireland	72	$1,351	$255	35.3%	Low
14	Portballintrae, Northern Ireland	71	$2,121	$229	40.8%	Low
15	Lisburn, Northern Ireland	45	$1,324	$243	32.8%	Low
16	Castlerock, Northern Ireland	42	$1,845	$204	45.1%	Low
17	Donaghadee, Northern Ireland	41	$1,831	$165	44.0%	Low
18	Cushendall, Northern Ireland	40	$1,248	$176	31.5%	Low
19	Mid Ulster, Northern Ireland	40	$1,814	$173	38.6%	Low
20	Rostrevor, Northern Ireland	40	$1,784	$229	31.7%	Low
21	Armagh, Northern Ireland	36	$1,299	$153	36.8%	Low
22	Newtownabbey, Northern Ireland	36	$2,195	$180	49.3%	Low
23	Limavady, Northern Ireland	33	$2,575	$233	44.6%	Low
24	Armoy, Northern Ireland	31	$1,209	$239	27.4%	Low
25	Fermanagh, Northern Ireland	30	$2,018	$263	33.0%	Low
26	Dungiven, Northern Ireland	29	$1,161	$191	25.7%	Low
27	Holywood, Northern Ireland	28	$1,883	$172	47.4%	Low
28	Carrickfergus, Northern Ireland	27	$1,454	$158	39.0%	Low
29	Omagh, Northern Ireland	27	$1,132	$133	35.1%	Low
30	Kilkeel, Northern Ireland	25	$1,692	$202	35.3%	Low

Most Profitable Airbnb Markets in Northern Ireland, United Kingdom by Revenue

The most profitable Airbnb cities in Northern Ireland, United Kingdom are those where hosts earn the highest average monthly revenue per listing — the single most telling indicator of a market's income potential. Ballycastle, Northern Ireland leads with $2,613/month at $229 ADR and 42.4% occupancy. Whether you are evaluating your first STR investment or benchmarking an existing property, these top-earning Airbnb markets show where vacation rentals generate the greatest short-term rental income.

#	Market	Revenue/mo	Active Listings (TTM)	ADR	Occupancy	Regulation
1	Ballycastle, Northern Ireland	$2,613	136	$229	42.4%	Low
2	Limavady, Northern Ireland	$2,575	33	$233	44.6%	Low
3	Causeway Coast and Glens, Northern Ireland	$2,195	165	$288	35.8%	Low
4	Newtownabbey, Northern Ireland	$2,195	36	$180	49.3%	Low
5	Bushmills, Northern Ireland	$2,176	82	$198	41.9%	Low
6	Fermanagh and Omagh, Northern Ireland	$2,170	105	$241	36.5%	Low
7	Portballintrae, Northern Ireland	$2,121	71	$229	40.8%	Low
8	Newry, Northern Ireland	$2,113	73	$200	38.1%	Low
9	Portrush, Northern Ireland	$2,093	317	$247	37.6%	Low
10	Fermanagh, Northern Ireland	$2,018	30	$263	33.0%	Low
11	Belfast, Northern Ireland	$1,976	1,454	$179	43.9%	Low
12	Newcastle, Northern Ireland	$1,919	143	$212	36.4%	Low
13	Enniskillen, Northern Ireland	$1,897	77	$211	36.6%	Low
14	Holywood, Northern Ireland	$1,883	28	$172	47.4%	Low
15	Castlerock, Northern Ireland	$1,845	42	$204	45.1%	Low
16	Donaghadee, Northern Ireland	$1,831	41	$165	44.0%	Low
17	Mid Ulster, Northern Ireland	$1,814	40	$173	38.6%	Low
18	Portstewart, Northern Ireland	$1,785	275	$242	37.6%	Low
19	Rostrevor, Northern Ireland	$1,784	40	$229	31.7%	Low
20	Bangor, Northern Ireland	$1,722	107	$172	41.1%	Low
21	Kilkeel, Northern Ireland	$1,692	25	$202	35.3%	Low
22	Derry/Londonderry, Northern Ireland	$1,691	261	$173	41.4%	Low
23	Carrickfergus, Northern Ireland	$1,454	27	$158	39.0%	Low
24	Coleraine, Northern Ireland	$1,351	72	$255	35.3%	Low
25	Lisburn, Northern Ireland	$1,324	45	$243	32.8%	Low
26	Armagh, Northern Ireland	$1,299	36	$153	36.8%	Low
27	Cushendall, Northern Ireland	$1,248	40	$176	31.5%	Low
28	Armoy, Northern Ireland	$1,209	31	$239	27.4%	Low
29	Dungiven, Northern Ireland	$1,161	29	$191	25.7%	Low
30	Omagh, Northern Ireland	$1,132	27	$133	35.1%	Low

Most Expensive Airbnb Markets in Northern Ireland, United Kingdom 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. Causeway Coast and Glens, Northern Ireland commands the highest Airbnb nightly rate in Northern Ireland, United Kingdom at $288/night, generating $2,195/month at 35.8% occupancy. Markets with premium nightly pricing typically feature high-demand destinations where travelers pay a significant premium over hotel alternatives.

#	Market	ADR	Active Listings (TTM)	Revenue/mo	Occupancy	Regulation
1	Causeway Coast and Glens, Northern Ireland	$288	165	$2,195	35.8%	Low
2	Fermanagh, Northern Ireland	$263	30	$2,018	33.0%	Low
3	Coleraine, Northern Ireland	$255	72	$1,351	35.3%	Low
4	Portrush, Northern Ireland	$247	317	$2,093	37.6%	Low
5	Lisburn, Northern Ireland	$243	45	$1,324	32.8%	Low
6	Portstewart, Northern Ireland	$242	275	$1,785	37.6%	Low
7	Fermanagh and Omagh, Northern Ireland	$241	105	$2,170	36.5%	Low
8	Armoy, Northern Ireland	$239	31	$1,209	27.4%	Low
9	Limavady, Northern Ireland	$233	33	$2,575	44.6%	Low
10	Portballintrae, Northern Ireland	$229	71	$2,121	40.8%	Low
11	Rostrevor, Northern Ireland	$229	40	$1,784	31.7%	Low
12	Ballycastle, Northern Ireland	$229	136	$2,613	42.4%	Low
13	Newcastle, Northern Ireland	$212	143	$1,919	36.4%	Low
14	Enniskillen, Northern Ireland	$211	77	$1,897	36.6%	Low
15	Castlerock, Northern Ireland	$204	42	$1,845	45.1%	Low
16	Kilkeel, Northern Ireland	$202	25	$1,692	35.3%	Low
17	Newry, Northern Ireland	$200	73	$2,113	38.1%	Low
18	Bushmills, Northern Ireland	$198	82	$2,176	41.9%	Low
19	Dungiven, Northern Ireland	$191	29	$1,161	25.7%	Low
20	Newtownabbey, Northern Ireland	$180	36	$2,195	49.3%	Low
21	Belfast, Northern Ireland	$179	1,454	$1,976	43.9%	Low
22	Cushendall, Northern Ireland	$176	40	$1,248	31.5%	Low
23	Derry/Londonderry, Northern Ireland	$173	261	$1,691	41.4%	Low
24	Mid Ulster, Northern Ireland	$173	40	$1,814	38.6%	Low
25	Holywood, Northern Ireland	$172	28	$1,883	47.4%	Low
26	Bangor, Northern Ireland	$172	107	$1,722	41.1%	Low
27	Donaghadee, Northern Ireland	$165	41	$1,831	44.0%	Low
28	Carrickfergus, Northern Ireland	$158	27	$1,454	39.0%	Low
29	Armagh, Northern Ireland	$153	36	$1,299	36.8%	Low
30	Omagh, Northern Ireland	$133	27	$1,132	35.1%	Low

Highest Occupancy Airbnb Markets in Northern Ireland, United Kingdom

Airbnb occupancy rate measures the percentage of available nights actually booked — the most telling indicator of short-term rental demand in a market. Belfast, Northern Ireland leads Northern Ireland, United Kingdom with 43.9% occupancy, $1,976/month revenue, and 1,454 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 100+ listings to ensure statistical reliability.

#	Market	Occupancy	Active Listings (TTM)	Revenue/mo	ADR	Regulation
1	Belfast, Northern Ireland	43.9%	1,454	$1,976	$179	Low
2	Ballycastle, Northern Ireland	42.4%	136	$2,613	$229	Low
3	Derry/Londonderry, Northern Ireland	41.4%	261	$1,691	$173	Low
4	Bangor, Northern Ireland	41.1%	107	$1,722	$172	Low
5	Portstewart, Northern Ireland	37.6%	275	$1,785	$242	Low
6	Portrush, Northern Ireland	37.6%	317	$2,093	$247	Low
7	Fermanagh and Omagh, Northern Ireland	36.5%	105	$2,170	$241	Low
8	Newcastle, Northern Ireland	36.4%	143	$1,919	$212	Low
9	Causeway Coast and Glens, Northern Ireland	35.8%	165	$2,195	$288	Low

How to Choose an Airbnb Investment Market in Northern Ireland, United Kingdom

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 Northern Ireland, United Kingdom 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 Northern Ireland, United Kingdom

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

Across the 30 markets ranked on this page: 30 have a low regulation profile (generally operator-friendly with minimal licensing requirements), 0 have medium regulation (some permit or registration requirements), and 0 have high regulation (strict licensing, annual rental day caps, or active enforcement). Markets with low regulation offer the lowest barrier to entry, while high-regulation markets may still be profitable — but require careful compliance planning and often limit the number of properties a single operator can manage.

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

How We Rank the Best Airbnb Investment Markets in Northern Ireland, United Kingdom

This page ranks Airbnb markets in Northern Ireland, United Kingdom 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 Northern Ireland, United Kingdom.

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 Northern Ireland, United Kingdom.
Monthly Revenue: Average gross revenue per listing per month — the bottom-line metric for evaluating Airbnb profitability in Northern Ireland, United Kingdom 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 100+ listings to exclude small markets with unreliable averages.
Regulation: An indicator of the local regulatory climate in Northern Ireland, United Kingdom, 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 Northern Ireland, United Kingdom

These quick answers summarize the most common investor and operator questions using AirROI's latest market data for Northern Ireland, United Kingdom.

What are the best places to invest in Airbnb in Northern Ireland, United Kingdom?

Belfast, Northern Ireland leads this ranking for Northern Ireland, United Kingdom with 1,454 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 Northern Ireland, United Kingdom?

Ballycastle, Northern Ireland posts the highest average monthly revenue in this ranking at $2,613. 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 Northern Ireland, United Kingdom?

Newtownabbey, Northern Ireland has the highest occupancy rate in this comparison at 49.3%. High occupancy can signal resilient demand, but investors still need to balance it against nightly rates, regulation, and supply depth before deciding where to buy or operate.

Which market has the highest Airbnb nightly rate in Northern Ireland, United Kingdom?

Causeway Coast and Glens, Northern Ireland commands the highest average daily rate at $288 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 Northern Ireland, United Kingdom have the lowest regulation?

Belfast (Northern Ireland), Portrush (Northern Ireland), Portstewart (Northern Ireland) 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 Northern Ireland, United Kingdom in 2026?

The markets ranked here average 38.1% occupancy, and the top performer posts $2,613 in monthly revenue. Profitability depends on property acquisition cost, local operating expenses, and regulation compliance — but the data shows active, performing markets exist across Northern Ireland, United Kingdom 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 Northern Ireland, United Kingdom?

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 Northern Ireland, United Kingdom?

First-time investors in Northern Ireland, United Kingdom 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 Northern Ireland, United Kingdom?

Across the markets ranked here, the average occupancy rate in Northern Ireland, United Kingdom is 38.1%. 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 Northern Ireland, United Kingdom?

Regulation is one of the most overlooked risks in short-term rental investing. In Northern Ireland, United Kingdom, 30 of 30 ranked markets have low regulation, 0 have medium, and 0 have high. High-regulation markets often require permits, limit annual rental days, or impose occupancy taxes — all of which reduce net returns. Low-regulation markets offer faster time-to-market and lower compliance costs, but rules can tighten as STR supply grows.

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

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

How many Airbnb listings does a market need to be investable in Northern Ireland, United Kingdom?

Markets with fewer than 100 active listings can show volatile averages that do not predict future performance. The median market in this Northern Ireland, United Kingdom ranking has about 45 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 Northern Ireland, United Kingdom?

Seasonal markets in Northern Ireland, United Kingdom 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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