What Are the Best Places to Invest in Airbnb in Costa Rica?

Source: AirROI Reviewed by Jun Zhou , Founder @ AirROI

Updated: 2026-08-08

The short-term rental market in Costa Rica 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 Costa Rica across four dimensions: market depth (active listings), revenue, nightly rate (ADR), and occupancy rate. Jacó, Puntarenas Province leads by market size with 2,050 active listings and $2,097/month revenue. Across all ranked markets, average occupancy is 32.5% with $1,289/month in average revenue and $176/night ADR. 100 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.

Explore Live Market Data

Top Airbnb Markets in Costa Rica 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 Costa Rica attract the highest volume of travelers and offer the most reliable benchmarking data for pricing and revenue projections. Jacó, Puntarenas Province leads with 2,050 active short-term rental listings and $2,097/month in average revenue.

#	Market	Active Listings (TTM)	Revenue/mo	ADR	Occupancy	Regulation
1	Jacó, Puntarenas Province	2,050	$2,097	$308	31.1%	Low
2	Cahuita, Limón Province	1,886	$1,337	$154	33.6%	Low
3	Cóbano, Puntarenas Province	1,555	$2,436	$291	35.9%	Low
4	La Fortuna, Alajuela Province	1,516	$1,590	$150	38.3%	Low
5	Tamarindo, Provincia de Guanacaste	1,420	$3,741	$395	40.0%	Low
6	Sardinal, Provincia de Guanacaste	1,271	$2,066	$248	34.9%	Low
7	Quepos, Puntarenas Province	1,206	$2,572	$258	38.3%	Low
8	Bahía Ballena, Puntarenas Province	1,151	$2,117	$252	34.6%	Low
9	Nosara, Provincia de Guanacaste	912	$3,268	$429	39.0%	Low
10	Cabo Velas, Provincia Guanacaste	816	$3,445	$394	36.8%	Low
11	Tempate, Provincia de Guanacaste	629	$3,020	$414	34.3%	Low
12	Sámara, Provincia de Guanacaste	610	$1,693	$193	39.2%	Low
13	Parrita, Puntarenas Province	544	$1,447	$214	29.2%	Low
14	Monteverde, Puntarenas Province	527	$1,416	$134	36.8%	Low
15	San José, San Jose Province	424	$480	$74	35.8%	Low
16	Peñas Blancas, Alajuela Province	403	$1,747	$160	37.6%	Low
17	Veintisiete de Abril, Provincia Guanacaste	402	$1,506	$246	30.2%	Low
18	Mata Redonda, San Jose Province	385	$628	$70	38.9%	Low
19	Puerto Jiménez, Puntarenas Province	289	$1,013	$156	27.8%	Low
20	Tárcoles, Puntarenas Province	285	$1,780	$262	27.4%	Low
21	Alajuela, Alajuela Province	279	$540	$69	36.4%	Low
22	Santa Cruz, Provincia de Guanacaste	232	$1,402	$244	29.9%	Low
23	Carmen, San Jose Province	227	$599	$75	35.0%	Low
24	Paquera, Puntarenas Province	225	$1,082	$178	28.2%	Low
25	Pavas, San Jose Province	225	$641	$74	37.4%	Low
26	Puerto Cortés, Puntarenas Province	219	$1,022	$164	28.8%	Low
27	Puntarenas, Puntarenas Province	217	$1,270	$176	31.7%	Low
28	Savegre, Puntarenas Province	200	$2,012	$271	32.9%	Low
29	San Rafael, San Jose Province	186	$757	$106	35.4%	Low
30	Pavón, Puntarenas Province	185	$817	$168	29.5%	Low
31	Liberia, Provincia de Guanacaste	183	$604	$104	28.6%	Low
32	Puerto Viejo de Talamanca, Limón Province	177	$1,032	$141	34.7%	Low
33	San José, San José	177	$481	$65	39.1%	Low
34	Playa Langosta, Provincia de Guanacaste	176	$4,330	$516	38.4%	Low
35	Cuajiniquil, Provincia de Guanacaste	174	$1,459	$223	28.9%	Low
36	Uvita, Puntarenas Province	173	$1,547	$205	37.9%	Low
37	Coco, Guanacaste Province	159	$1,490	$191	40.9%	Low
38	Bahía Drake, Puntarenas Province	158	$948	$123	31.6%	Low
39	San Isidro de El General, San Jose Province	153	$322	$70	24.5%	Low
40	San Pedro, San Jose Province	145	$371	$63	32.0%	Low
41	Jaco, Provincia de Puntarenas	141	$1,249	$187	34.5%	Low
42	Barú, San Jose Province	137	$935	$153	28.9%	Low
43	San Antonio, San Jose Province	126	$828	$110	31.0%	Low
44	Pinilla, Guanacaste Province	117	$5,024	$572	33.0%	Low
45	Talamanca, Limón	113	$978	$155	32.7%	Low
46	Catedral, San Jose Province	109	$443	$65	30.6%	Low
47	Ulloa, Heredia Province	108	$572	$79	37.4%	Low
48	Puerto Carrillo, Provincia de Guanacaste	106	$1,552	$211	33.5%	Low
49	La Cruz, Provincia de Guanacaste	103	$599	$130	24.7%	Low
50	Merced, San Jose Province	101	$552	$71	31.8%	Low
51	Curridabat, San Jose Province	98	$549	$61	40.1%	Low
52	Quesada, Alajuela Province	95	$442	$105	22.4%	Low
53	Villarreal, Provincia de Guanacaste	95	$1,274	$191	32.3%	Low
54	Uruca, San Jose Province	95	$713	$88	37.7%	Low
55	Puerto Viejo de Talamanca, Limón	92	$1,019	$175	34.2%	Low
56	Arenal, Provincia Guanacaste	90	$989	$160	25.8%	Low
57	Rivas, San Jose Province	89	$536	$116	23.7%	Low
58	Limón, Limón Province	87	$347	$98	23.7%	Low
59	Monte Verde, Provincia de Puntarenas	87	$1,065	$145	39.7%	Low
60	San Ramon, Provincia de Alajuela	83	$482	$97	27.6%	Low
61	Colorado, Cantón Pococí	82	$511	$76	27.5%	Low
62	Heredia, Heredia Province	82	$426	$76	37.2%	Low
63	Nicoya, Provincia de Guanacaste	82	$1,068	$197	30.5%	Low
64	San Carlos, Provincia de Alajuela	80	$1,329	$171	37.3%	Low
65	Osa, Provincia de Puntarenas	78	$1,235	$191	34.5%	Low
66	Sierra, Provincia de Guanacaste	77	$1,741	$140	40.5%	Low
67	Monterrey, Alajuela Province	76	$1,770	$142	40.6%	Low
68	Playa Grande, Guanacaste Province	76	$4,235	$411	44.6%	Low
69	Sabana Redonda, Alajuela Province	73	$928	$123	25.9%	Low
70	Potrero, Guanacaste Province	71	$2,155	$274	40.0%	Low
71	Copey, San Jose Province	71	$953	$121	27.5%	Low
72	Villareal, Guanacaste Province	70	$848	$200	29.1%	Low
73	Hospital, San Jose Province	68	$497	$66	33.1%	Low
74	Desamparados, Alajuela Province	67	$392	$60	32.5%	Low
75	San Isidro, Alajuela Province	67	$997	$152	31.6%	Low
76	Herradura, Puntarenas Province	67	$1,333	$239	30.1%	Low
77	Turrialba, Cartago Province	66	$365	$88	20.9%	Low
78	Puerto Carrillo, Provincia Guanacaste	65	$2,120	$242	31.3%	Low
79	Bijagua, Alajuela Province	64	$697	$100	27.2%	Low
80	Tronadora, Provincia de Guanacaste	63	$914	$184	26.5%	Low
81	Playa Flamingo, Provincia de Guanacaste	60	$4,277	$509	45.6%	Low
82	Santa Ana, San Jose Province	60	$1,024	$106	39.6%	Low
83	Playa Avellana, Guanacaste Province	59	$2,150	$262	34.9%	Low
84	La Asunción, Heredia Province	55	$748	$142	22.5%	Low
85	Río Segundo, Alajuela Province	52	$523	$57	35.8%	Low
86	La Tigra, Alajuela Province	50	$829	$118	26.9%	Low
87	Playa Avellanas, Guanacaste Province	50	$1,873	$291	36.2%	Low
88	Atenas, Alajuela Province	49	$904	$127	37.5%	Low
89	San Pablo, Heredia Province	48	$398	$81	29.6%	Low
90	San Isidro, Cartago Province	47	$435	$99	20.7%	Low
91	Concepción, Alajuela Province	45	$898	$158	27.2%	Low
92	San Mateo, Alajuela Province	43	$771	$181	27.2%	Low
93	Guápiles, Limón Province	43	$502	$117	24.6%	Low
94	Colón, San Jose Province	42	$832	$92	28.3%	Low
95	Tilarán, Provincia de Guanacaste	41	$675	$114	27.3%	Low
96	Lagunillas, Puntarenas Province	41	$1,495	$246	26.6%	Low
97	Playa Hermosa, Puntarenas Province	41	$1,851	$312	31.2%	Low
98	Naranjito, Puntarenas Province	40	$960	$152	27.3%	Low
99	San Rafael, Alajuela Province	39	$512	$102	30.2%	Low
100	Grecia, Alajuela Province	38	$503	$81	33.0%	Low

Most Profitable Airbnb Markets in Costa Rica by Revenue

The most profitable Airbnb cities in Costa Rica are those where hosts earn the highest average monthly revenue per listing — the single most telling indicator of a market's income potential. Pinilla, Guanacaste Province leads with $5,024/month at $572 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.

#	Market	Revenue/mo	Active Listings (TTM)	ADR	Occupancy	Regulation
1	Pinilla, Guanacaste Province	$5,024	117	$572	33.0%	Low
2	Playa Langosta, Provincia de Guanacaste	$4,330	176	$516	38.4%	Low
3	Playa Flamingo, Provincia de Guanacaste	$4,277	60	$509	45.6%	Low
4	Playa Grande, Guanacaste Province	$4,235	76	$411	44.6%	Low
5	Tamarindo, Provincia de Guanacaste	$3,741	1,420	$395	40.0%	Low
6	Cabo Velas, Provincia Guanacaste	$3,445	816	$394	36.8%	Low
7	Nosara, Provincia de Guanacaste	$3,268	912	$429	39.0%	Low
8	Tempate, Provincia de Guanacaste	$3,020	629	$414	34.3%	Low
9	Quepos, Puntarenas Province	$2,572	1,206	$258	38.3%	Low
10	Cóbano, Puntarenas Province	$2,436	1,555	$291	35.9%	Low
11	Potrero, Guanacaste Province	$2,155	71	$274	40.0%	Low
12	Playa Avellana, Guanacaste Province	$2,150	59	$262	34.9%	Low
13	Puerto Carrillo, Provincia Guanacaste	$2,120	65	$242	31.3%	Low
14	Bahía Ballena, Puntarenas Province	$2,117	1,151	$252	34.6%	Low
15	Jacó, Puntarenas Province	$2,097	2,050	$308	31.1%	Low
16	Sardinal, Provincia de Guanacaste	$2,066	1,271	$248	34.9%	Low
17	Savegre, Puntarenas Province	$2,012	200	$271	32.9%	Low
18	Playa Avellanas, Guanacaste Province	$1,873	50	$291	36.2%	Low
19	Playa Hermosa, Puntarenas Province	$1,851	41	$312	31.2%	Low
20	Tárcoles, Puntarenas Province	$1,780	285	$262	27.4%	Low
21	Monterrey, Alajuela Province	$1,770	76	$142	40.6%	Low
22	Peñas Blancas, Alajuela Province	$1,747	403	$160	37.6%	Low
23	Sierra, Provincia de Guanacaste	$1,741	77	$140	40.5%	Low
24	Sámara, Provincia de Guanacaste	$1,693	610	$193	39.2%	Low
25	La Fortuna, Alajuela Province	$1,590	1,516	$150	38.3%	Low
26	Puerto Carrillo, Provincia de Guanacaste	$1,552	106	$211	33.5%	Low
27	Uvita, Puntarenas Province	$1,547	173	$205	37.9%	Low
28	Veintisiete de Abril, Provincia Guanacaste	$1,506	402	$246	30.2%	Low
29	Lagunillas, Puntarenas Province	$1,495	41	$246	26.6%	Low
30	Coco, Guanacaste Province	$1,490	159	$191	40.9%	Low
31	Cuajiniquil, Provincia de Guanacaste	$1,459	174	$223	28.9%	Low
32	Parrita, Puntarenas Province	$1,447	544	$214	29.2%	Low
33	Monteverde, Puntarenas Province	$1,416	527	$134	36.8%	Low
34	Santa Cruz, Provincia de Guanacaste	$1,402	232	$244	29.9%	Low
35	Cahuita, Limón Province	$1,337	1,886	$154	33.6%	Low
36	Herradura, Puntarenas Province	$1,333	67	$239	30.1%	Low
37	San Carlos, Provincia de Alajuela	$1,329	80	$171	37.3%	Low
38	Villarreal, Provincia de Guanacaste	$1,274	95	$191	32.3%	Low
39	Puntarenas, Puntarenas Province	$1,270	217	$176	31.7%	Low
40	Jaco, Provincia de Puntarenas	$1,249	141	$187	34.5%	Low
41	Osa, Provincia de Puntarenas	$1,235	78	$191	34.5%	Low
42	Paquera, Puntarenas Province	$1,082	225	$178	28.2%	Low
43	Nicoya, Provincia de Guanacaste	$1,068	82	$197	30.5%	Low
44	Monte Verde, Provincia de Puntarenas	$1,065	87	$145	39.7%	Low
45	Puerto Viejo de Talamanca, Limón Province	$1,032	177	$141	34.7%	Low
46	Santa Ana, San Jose Province	$1,024	60	$106	39.6%	Low
47	Puerto Cortés, Puntarenas Province	$1,022	219	$164	28.8%	Low
48	Puerto Viejo de Talamanca, Limón	$1,019	92	$175	34.2%	Low
49	Puerto Jiménez, Puntarenas Province	$1,013	289	$156	27.8%	Low
50	San Isidro, Alajuela Province	$997	67	$152	31.6%	Low
51	Arenal, Provincia Guanacaste	$989	90	$160	25.8%	Low
52	Talamanca, Limón	$978	113	$155	32.7%	Low
53	Naranjito, Puntarenas Province	$960	40	$152	27.3%	Low
54	Copey, San Jose Province	$953	71	$121	27.5%	Low
55	Bahía Drake, Puntarenas Province	$948	158	$123	31.6%	Low
56	Barú, San Jose Province	$935	137	$153	28.9%	Low
57	Sabana Redonda, Alajuela Province	$928	73	$123	25.9%	Low
58	Tronadora, Provincia de Guanacaste	$914	63	$184	26.5%	Low
59	Atenas, Alajuela Province	$904	49	$127	37.5%	Low
60	Concepción, Alajuela Province	$898	45	$158	27.2%	Low
61	Villareal, Guanacaste Province	$848	70	$200	29.1%	Low
62	Colón, San Jose Province	$832	42	$92	28.3%	Low
63	La Tigra, Alajuela Province	$829	50	$118	26.9%	Low
64	San Antonio, San Jose Province	$828	126	$110	31.0%	Low
65	Pavón, Puntarenas Province	$817	185	$168	29.5%	Low
66	San Mateo, Alajuela Province	$771	43	$181	27.2%	Low
67	San Rafael, San Jose Province	$757	186	$106	35.4%	Low
68	La Asunción, Heredia Province	$748	55	$142	22.5%	Low
69	Uruca, San Jose Province	$713	95	$88	37.7%	Low
70	Bijagua, Alajuela Province	$697	64	$100	27.2%	Low
71	Tilarán, Provincia de Guanacaste	$675	41	$114	27.3%	Low
72	Pavas, San Jose Province	$641	225	$74	37.4%	Low
73	Mata Redonda, San Jose Province	$628	385	$70	38.9%	Low
74	Liberia, Provincia de Guanacaste	$604	183	$104	28.6%	Low
75	La Cruz, Provincia de Guanacaste	$599	103	$130	24.7%	Low
76	Carmen, San Jose Province	$599	227	$75	35.0%	Low
77	Ulloa, Heredia Province	$572	108	$79	37.4%	Low
78	Merced, San Jose Province	$552	101	$71	31.8%	Low
79	Curridabat, San Jose Province	$549	98	$61	40.1%	Low
80	Alajuela, Alajuela Province	$540	279	$69	36.4%	Low
81	Rivas, San Jose Province	$536	89	$116	23.7%	Low
82	Río Segundo, Alajuela Province	$523	52	$57	35.8%	Low
83	San Rafael, Alajuela Province	$512	39	$102	30.2%	Low
84	Colorado, Cantón Pococí	$511	82	$76	27.5%	Low
85	Grecia, Alajuela Province	$503	38	$81	33.0%	Low
86	Guápiles, Limón Province	$502	43	$117	24.6%	Low
87	Hospital, San Jose Province	$497	68	$66	33.1%	Low
88	San Ramon, Provincia de Alajuela	$482	83	$97	27.6%	Low
89	San José, San José	$481	177	$65	39.1%	Low
90	San José, San Jose Province	$480	424	$74	35.8%	Low
91	Catedral, San Jose Province	$443	109	$65	30.6%	Low
92	Quesada, Alajuela Province	$442	95	$105	22.4%	Low
93	San Isidro, Cartago Province	$435	47	$99	20.7%	Low
94	Heredia, Heredia Province	$426	82	$76	37.2%	Low
95	San Pablo, Heredia Province	$398	48	$81	29.6%	Low
96	Desamparados, Alajuela Province	$392	67	$60	32.5%	Low
97	San Pedro, San Jose Province	$371	145	$63	32.0%	Low
98	Turrialba, Cartago Province	$365	66	$88	20.9%	Low
99	Limón, Limón Province	$347	87	$98	23.7%	Low
100	San Isidro de El General, San Jose Province	$322	153	$70	24.5%	Low

Most Expensive Airbnb Markets in Costa Rica 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. Pinilla, Guanacaste Province commands the highest Airbnb nightly rate in Costa Rica at $572/night, generating $5,024/month at 33.0% 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	Pinilla, Guanacaste Province	$572	117	$5,024	33.0%	Low
2	Playa Langosta, Provincia de Guanacaste	$516	176	$4,330	38.4%	Low
3	Playa Flamingo, Provincia de Guanacaste	$509	60	$4,277	45.6%	Low
4	Nosara, Provincia de Guanacaste	$429	912	$3,268	39.0%	Low
5	Tempate, Provincia de Guanacaste	$414	629	$3,020	34.3%	Low
6	Playa Grande, Guanacaste Province	$411	76	$4,235	44.6%	Low
7	Tamarindo, Provincia de Guanacaste	$395	1,420	$3,741	40.0%	Low
8	Cabo Velas, Provincia Guanacaste	$394	816	$3,445	36.8%	Low
9	Playa Hermosa, Puntarenas Province	$312	41	$1,851	31.2%	Low
10	Jacó, Puntarenas Province	$308	2,050	$2,097	31.1%	Low
11	Playa Avellanas, Guanacaste Province	$291	50	$1,873	36.2%	Low
12	Cóbano, Puntarenas Province	$291	1,555	$2,436	35.9%	Low
13	Potrero, Guanacaste Province	$274	71	$2,155	40.0%	Low
14	Savegre, Puntarenas Province	$271	200	$2,012	32.9%	Low
15	Tárcoles, Puntarenas Province	$262	285	$1,780	27.4%	Low
16	Playa Avellana, Guanacaste Province	$262	59	$2,150	34.9%	Low
17	Quepos, Puntarenas Province	$258	1,206	$2,572	38.3%	Low
18	Bahía Ballena, Puntarenas Province	$252	1,151	$2,117	34.6%	Low
19	Sardinal, Provincia de Guanacaste	$248	1,271	$2,066	34.9%	Low
20	Veintisiete de Abril, Provincia Guanacaste	$246	402	$1,506	30.2%	Low
21	Lagunillas, Puntarenas Province	$246	41	$1,495	26.6%	Low
22	Santa Cruz, Provincia de Guanacaste	$244	232	$1,402	29.9%	Low
23	Puerto Carrillo, Provincia Guanacaste	$242	65	$2,120	31.3%	Low
24	Herradura, Puntarenas Province	$239	67	$1,333	30.1%	Low
25	Cuajiniquil, Provincia de Guanacaste	$223	174	$1,459	28.9%	Low
26	Parrita, Puntarenas Province	$214	544	$1,447	29.2%	Low
27	Puerto Carrillo, Provincia de Guanacaste	$211	106	$1,552	33.5%	Low
28	Uvita, Puntarenas Province	$205	173	$1,547	37.9%	Low
29	Villareal, Guanacaste Province	$200	70	$848	29.1%	Low
30	Nicoya, Provincia de Guanacaste	$197	82	$1,068	30.5%	Low
31	Sámara, Provincia de Guanacaste	$193	610	$1,693	39.2%	Low
32	Coco, Guanacaste Province	$191	159	$1,490	40.9%	Low
33	Villarreal, Provincia de Guanacaste	$191	95	$1,274	32.3%	Low
34	Osa, Provincia de Puntarenas	$191	78	$1,235	34.5%	Low
35	Jaco, Provincia de Puntarenas	$187	141	$1,249	34.5%	Low
36	Tronadora, Provincia de Guanacaste	$184	63	$914	26.5%	Low
37	San Mateo, Alajuela Province	$181	43	$771	27.2%	Low
38	Paquera, Puntarenas Province	$178	225	$1,082	28.2%	Low
39	Puntarenas, Puntarenas Province	$176	217	$1,270	31.7%	Low
40	Puerto Viejo de Talamanca, Limón	$175	92	$1,019	34.2%	Low
41	San Carlos, Provincia de Alajuela	$171	80	$1,329	37.3%	Low
42	Pavón, Puntarenas Province	$168	185	$817	29.5%	Low
43	Puerto Cortés, Puntarenas Province	$164	219	$1,022	28.8%	Low
44	Arenal, Provincia Guanacaste	$160	90	$989	25.8%	Low
45	Peñas Blancas, Alajuela Province	$160	403	$1,747	37.6%	Low
46	Concepción, Alajuela Province	$158	45	$898	27.2%	Low
47	Puerto Jiménez, Puntarenas Province	$156	289	$1,013	27.8%	Low
48	Talamanca, Limón	$155	113	$978	32.7%	Low
49	Cahuita, Limón Province	$154	1,886	$1,337	33.6%	Low
50	Barú, San Jose Province	$153	137	$935	28.9%	Low
51	Naranjito, Puntarenas Province	$152	40	$960	27.3%	Low
52	San Isidro, Alajuela Province	$152	67	$997	31.6%	Low
53	La Fortuna, Alajuela Province	$150	1,516	$1,590	38.3%	Low
54	Monte Verde, Provincia de Puntarenas	$145	87	$1,065	39.7%	Low
55	Monterrey, Alajuela Province	$142	76	$1,770	40.6%	Low
56	La Asunción, Heredia Province	$142	55	$748	22.5%	Low
57	Puerto Viejo de Talamanca, Limón Province	$141	177	$1,032	34.7%	Low
58	Sierra, Provincia de Guanacaste	$140	77	$1,741	40.5%	Low
59	Monteverde, Puntarenas Province	$134	527	$1,416	36.8%	Low
60	La Cruz, Provincia de Guanacaste	$130	103	$599	24.7%	Low
61	Atenas, Alajuela Province	$127	49	$904	37.5%	Low
62	Bahía Drake, Puntarenas Province	$123	158	$948	31.6%	Low
63	Sabana Redonda, Alajuela Province	$123	73	$928	25.9%	Low
64	Copey, San Jose Province	$121	71	$953	27.5%	Low
65	La Tigra, Alajuela Province	$118	50	$829	26.9%	Low
66	Guápiles, Limón Province	$117	43	$502	24.6%	Low
67	Rivas, San Jose Province	$116	89	$536	23.7%	Low
68	Tilarán, Provincia de Guanacaste	$114	41	$675	27.3%	Low
69	San Antonio, San Jose Province	$110	126	$828	31.0%	Low
70	Santa Ana, San Jose Province	$106	60	$1,024	39.6%	Low
71	San Rafael, San Jose Province	$106	186	$757	35.4%	Low
72	Quesada, Alajuela Province	$105	95	$442	22.4%	Low
73	Liberia, Provincia de Guanacaste	$104	183	$604	28.6%	Low
74	San Rafael, Alajuela Province	$102	39	$512	30.2%	Low
75	Bijagua, Alajuela Province	$100	64	$697	27.2%	Low
76	San Isidro, Cartago Province	$99	47	$435	20.7%	Low
77	Limón, Limón Province	$98	87	$347	23.7%	Low
78	San Ramon, Provincia de Alajuela	$97	83	$482	27.6%	Low
79	Colón, San Jose Province	$92	42	$832	28.3%	Low
80	Turrialba, Cartago Province	$88	66	$365	20.9%	Low
81	Uruca, San Jose Province	$88	95	$713	37.7%	Low
82	Grecia, Alajuela Province	$81	38	$503	33.0%	Low
83	San Pablo, Heredia Province	$81	48	$398	29.6%	Low
84	Ulloa, Heredia Province	$79	108	$572	37.4%	Low
85	Colorado, Cantón Pococí	$76	82	$511	27.5%	Low
86	Heredia, Heredia Province	$76	82	$426	37.2%	Low
87	Carmen, San Jose Province	$75	227	$599	35.0%	Low
88	Pavas, San Jose Province	$74	225	$641	37.4%	Low
89	San José, San Jose Province	$74	424	$480	35.8%	Low
90	Merced, San Jose Province	$71	101	$552	31.8%	Low
91	San Isidro de El General, San Jose Province	$70	153	$322	24.5%	Low
92	Mata Redonda, San Jose Province	$70	385	$628	38.9%	Low
93	Alajuela, Alajuela Province	$69	279	$540	36.4%	Low
94	Hospital, San Jose Province	$66	68	$497	33.1%	Low
95	San José, San José	$65	177	$481	39.1%	Low
96	Catedral, San Jose Province	$65	109	$443	30.6%	Low
97	San Pedro, San Jose Province	$63	145	$371	32.0%	Low
98	Curridabat, San Jose Province	$61	98	$549	40.1%	Low
99	Desamparados, Alajuela Province	$60	67	$392	32.5%	Low
100	Río Segundo, Alajuela Province	$57	52	$523	35.8%	Low

Highest Occupancy Airbnb Markets in Costa Rica

Airbnb occupancy rate measures the percentage of available nights actually booked — the most telling indicator of short-term rental demand in a market. Tamarindo, Provincia de Guanacaste leads Costa Rica with 40.0% occupancy, $3,741/month revenue, and 1,420 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.

#	Market	Occupancy	Active Listings (TTM)	Revenue/mo	ADR	Regulation
1	Tamarindo, Provincia de Guanacaste	40.0%	1,420	$3,741	$395	Low
2	Sámara, Provincia de Guanacaste	39.2%	610	$1,693	$193	Low
3	Nosara, Provincia de Guanacaste	39.0%	912	$3,268	$429	Low
4	Mata Redonda, San Jose Province	38.9%	385	$628	$70	Low
5	Quepos, Puntarenas Province	38.3%	1,206	$2,572	$258	Low
6	La Fortuna, Alajuela Province	38.3%	1,516	$1,590	$150	Low
7	Peñas Blancas, Alajuela Province	37.6%	403	$1,747	$160	Low
8	Cabo Velas, Provincia Guanacaste	36.8%	816	$3,445	$394	Low
9	Monteverde, Puntarenas Province	36.8%	527	$1,416	$134	Low
10	Cóbano, Puntarenas Province	35.9%	1,555	$2,436	$291	Low
11	San José, San Jose Province	35.8%	424	$480	$74	Low
12	Sardinal, Provincia de Guanacaste	34.9%	1,271	$2,066	$248	Low
13	Bahía Ballena, Puntarenas Province	34.6%	1,151	$2,117	$252	Low
14	Tempate, Provincia de Guanacaste	34.3%	629	$3,020	$414	Low
15	Cahuita, Limón Province	33.6%	1,886	$1,337	$154	Low
16	Jacó, Puntarenas Province	31.1%	2,050	$2,097	$308	Low
17	Veintisiete de Abril, Provincia Guanacaste	30.2%	402	$1,506	$246	Low
18	Parrita, Puntarenas Province	29.2%	544	$1,447	$214	Low

How to Choose an Airbnb Investment Market in Costa Rica

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 Costa Rica 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 Costa Rica

Understanding the regulatory environment is critical for any Airbnb investment in Costa Rica. 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: 100 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 Costa Rica

This page ranks Airbnb markets in Costa Rica 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 Costa Rica.

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

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

What are the best places to invest in Airbnb in Costa Rica?

Jacó, Puntarenas Province leads this ranking for Costa Rica with 2,050 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 Costa Rica?

Pinilla, Guanacaste Province posts the highest average monthly revenue in this ranking at $5,024. 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 Costa Rica?

Playa Flamingo, Provincia de Guanacaste has the highest occupancy rate in this comparison at 45.6%. High occupancy can signal resilient demand, but investors still need to balance it against nightly rates, regulation, and supply depth before deciding where to buy or operate.

Which Airbnb markets in Costa Rica have the lowest regulation?

Jacó (Puntarenas Province), Cahuita (Limón Province), Cóbano (Puntarenas Province) 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 Costa Rica in 2026?

The markets ranked here average 32.5% occupancy, and the top performer posts $5,024 in monthly revenue. Profitability depends on property acquisition cost, local operating expenses, and regulation compliance — but the data shows active, performing markets exist across Costa Rica 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 Costa Rica?

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 Costa Rica?

First-time investors in Costa Rica 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 Costa Rica?

Across the markets ranked here, the average occupancy rate in Costa Rica is 32.5%. 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 Costa Rica?

Regulation is one of the most overlooked risks in short-term rental investing. In Costa Rica, 100 of 100 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 Costa Rica?

Markets with fewer than 100 active listings can show volatile averages that do not predict future performance. The median market in this Costa Rica ranking has about 101 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 Costa Rica?

Seasonal markets in Costa Rica 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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What Other Airbnb Markets Are in Costa Rica?

Alajuela Province Cantón Pococí Cartago Province Guanacaste Province Heredia Province Limón Limón Province Provincia Guanacaste Provincia de Alajuela Provincia de Guanacaste Provincia de Puntarenas Puntarenas Province San Jose Province San José