San Mateo Airbnb Market Analysis 2025: Short Term Rental Data & Vacation Rental Statistics in Alajuela Province, Costa Rica
Is Airbnb profitable in San Mateo in 2025? Explore comprehensive Airbnb analytics for San Mateo, Alajuela Province, Costa Rica to uncover income potential. This 2025 STR market report for San Mateo, based on AirROI data from September 2024 to August 2025, reveals key trends in the niche market of 34 active listings.
Whether you're considering an Airbnb investment in San Mateo, optimizing your existing vacation rental, or exploring rental arbitrage opportunities, understanding the San Mateo Airbnb data is crucial. Leveraging the low regulation environment is key to maximizing your short term rental income potential. Let's dive into the specifics.
Key San Mateo Airbnb Performance Metrics Overview
Monthly Airbnb Revenue Variations & Income Potential in San Mateo (2025)
Understanding the monthly revenue variations for Airbnb listings in San Mateo is key to maximizing your short term rental income potential. Seasonality significantly impacts earnings. Our analysis, based on data from the past 12 months, shows that the peak revenue month for STRs in San Mateo is typically March, while May often presents the lowest earnings, highlighting opportunities for strategic pricing adjustments during shoulder and low seasons. Explore the typical Airbnb income in San Mateo across different performance tiers:
- Best-in-class properties (Top 10%) achieve $4,711+ monthly, often utilizing dynamic pricing and superior guest experiences.
- Strong performing properties (Top 25%) earn $2,411 or more, indicating effective management and desirable locations/amenities.
- Typical properties (Median) generate around $1,287 per month, representing the average market performance.
- Entry-level properties (Bottom 25%) see earnings around $592, often with potential for optimization.
Average Monthly Airbnb Earnings Trend in San Mateo
San Mateo Airbnb Occupancy Rate Trends (2025)
Maximize your bookings by understanding the San Mateo STR occupancy trends. Seasonal demand shifts significantly influence how often properties are booked. Typically, Februarysees the highest demand (peak season occupancy), while May experiences the lowest (low season). Effective strategies, like adjusting minimum stays or offering promotions, can boost occupancy during slower periods. Here's how different property tiers perform in San Mateo:
- Best-in-class properties (Top 10%) achieve 76%+ occupancy, indicating high desirability and potentially optimized availability.
- Strong performing properties (Top 25%) maintain 53% or higher occupancy, suggesting good market fit and guest satisfaction.
- Typical properties (Median) have an occupancy rate around 32%.
- Entry-level properties (Bottom 25%) average 16% occupancy, potentially facing higher vacancy.
Average Monthly Occupancy Rate Trend in San Mateo
Average Daily Rate (ADR) Airbnb Trends in San Mateo (2025)
Effective short term rental pricing strategy in San Mateo involves understanding monthly ADR fluctuations. The Average Daily Rate (ADR) for Airbnb in San Mateo typically peaks in June and dips lowest during October. Leveraging Airbnb dynamic pricing tools or strategies based on this seasonality can significantly boost revenue. Here's a look at the typical nightly rates achieved:
- Best-in-class properties (Top 10%) command rates of $261+ per night, often due to premium features or locations.
- Strong performing properties (Top 25%) achieve nightly rates of $207 or more.
- Typical properties (Median) charge around $141 per night.
- Entry-level properties (Bottom 25%) earn around $96 per night.
Average Daily Rate (ADR) Trend by Month in San Mateo
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Airbnb Seasonality Analysis & Trends in San Mateo (2025)
Peak Season (March, February, January)
- Revenue averages $2,863 per month
- Occupancy rates average 50.0%
- Daily rates average $167
Shoulder Season
- Revenue averages $1,863 per month
- Occupancy maintains around 35.6%
- Daily rates hold near $166
Low Season (May, July, November)
- Revenue drops to average $1,339 per month
- Occupancy decreases to average 26.8%
- Daily rates adjust to average $166
Seasonality Insights for San Mateo
- The Airbnb seasonality in San Mateo shows highly seasonal trends requiring careful strategy. While the sections above show seasonal averages, it's also insightful to look at the extremes:
- During the high season, the absolute peak month showcases San Mateo's highest earning potential, with monthly revenues capable of climbing to $3,023, occupancy reaching a high of 58.3%, and ADRs peaking at $170.
- Conversely, the slowest single month of the year, typically falling within the low season, marks the market's lowest point. In this month, revenue might dip to $1,244, occupancy could drop to 22.8%, and ADRs may adjust down to $161.
- Understanding both the seasonal averages and these monthly peaks and troughs in revenue, occupancy, and ADR is crucial for maximizing your Airbnb profit potential in San Mateo.
Seasonal Strategies for Maximizing Profit
- Peak Season: Maximize revenue through premium pricing and potentially longer minimum stays. Ensure high availability.
- Low Season: Offer competitive pricing, special promotions (e.g., extended stay discounts), and flexible cancellation policies. Target off-season travelers like remote workers or budget-conscious guests.
- Shoulder Seasons: Implement dynamic pricing that balances peak and low rates. Target weekend travelers or specific events. Offer slightly more flexible terms than peak season.
- Regularly analyze your own performance against these San Mateo seasonality benchmarks and adjust your pricing and availability strategy accordingly.
Best Areas for Airbnb Investment in San Mateo (2025)
Exploring the top neighborhoods for short-term rentals in San Mateo? This section highlights key areas, outlining why they are attractive for hosts and guests, along with notable local attractions. Consider these locations based on your target guest profile and investment strategy.
| Neighborhood / Area | Why Host Here? (Target Guests & Appeal) | Key Attractions & Landmarks |
|---|---|---|
| La Fortuna | Famous for Arenal Volcano, hot springs, and abundant nature. Popular destination for adventure tourism with activities like hiking, zip-lining, and wildlife watching. | Arenal Volcano, La Fortuna Waterfall, Tabacón Hot Springs, Mistico Arenal Hanging Bridges Park, Lake Arenal |
| Monteverde | Known for its cloud forests and ecotourism. Attracts nature lovers and adventurers looking for unique wildlife experiences and biodiversity. | Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve, Zip Line Canopy Tour, Monteverde Butterfly Gardens, Santa Elena Cloud Forest Reserve, Coffee Tours |
| San José | Costa Rica's capital with rich culture, museums, and vibrant nightlife. Great place for those looking to explore urban attractions and local cuisine. | National Museum of Costa Rica, Teatro Nacional de Costa Rica, Pre-Columbian Gold Museum, Barrio Escalante, Mercado Central |
| Jaco Beach | Popular beach destination known for surfing, nightlife, and beautiful sunsets. Ideal for beach lovers and those looking for an active lifestyle. | Jaco Beach, Herradura Beach, Carara National Park, Rainforest Adventures Jaco, Jaco Walk |
| Tamarindo | Charming beach town popular for surfing, vibrant nightlife, and scuba diving. Attracts tourists looking for a laid-back beach atmosphere with many amenities. | Tamarindo Beach, Langosta Beach, Las Baulas National Marine Park, Nightlife in Tamarindo, Snorkeling and diving tours |
| Quepos/Manuel Antonio | Home to Manuel Antonio National Park, this area offers stunning beaches and lush rainforest. Great for eco-tourism and beachcombing. | Manuel Antonio National Park, Playa Espadilla, Damas Island Mangrove Tours, Quepos Marina, Cerro Chino Trail |
| Guanacaste | Known for its beautiful beaches and national parks, offering a mix of relaxation and adventure. Popular for resorts and eco-adventures. | Papagayo Peninsula, Rincón de la Vieja National Park, Playa Conchal, Liberia City, Offshore fishing tours |
| Atenas | Famous for its perfect climate and stunning views. A tranquil retreat away from the busier tourist centers, ideal for those seeking peace and natural beauty. | Atenas Central Park, Iglesia de Atenas, Local Farmer's Markets, Viewpoints over Central Valley, Café de Atenas |
Understanding Airbnb License Requirements & STR Laws in San Mateo (2025)
While San Mateo, Alajuela Province, Costa Rica currently shows low STR regulations, specific Airbnb license requirements might still exist or change. Always verify the latest short term rental regulations and Airbnb license requirements directly with local government authorities for San Mateo to ensure full compliance before hosting.
(Source: AirROI data, 2025, finding no licensed listings among those analyzed)
Top Performing Airbnb Properties in San Mateo (2025)
Benchmark your potential! Explore examples of top-performing Airbnb properties in San Mateobased on Trailing Twelve Month (TTM) revenue. Analyze their characteristics, revenue, occupancy rate, and ADR to understand what drives success in this market.
Finca Lero-Lero
Entire Place • 4 bedrooms
Labrador Eco Lodge
Entire Place • 6 bedrooms
Vista Maderal- Luxury Villa, Pool, & Amazing Views
Entire Place • 3 bedrooms
House in the Air
Entire Place • 2 bedrooms
Nirvana House Close to the Airport and the Beaches
Entire Place • 3 bedrooms
Villa Los Emues
Entire Place • 3 bedrooms
Note: Performance varies based on location, size, amenities, seasonality, and management quality. Data reflects the past 12 months.
Top Performing Airbnb Hosts in San Mateo (2025)
Learn from the best! This table showcases top-performing Airbnb hosts in San Mateo based on the number of properties managed and estimated total revenue over the past year. Analyze their scale and performance metrics.
| Host Name | Properties | Grossing Revenue | Stay Reviews | Avg Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alejandra | 2 | $63,293 | 9 | 4.88/5.0 |
| Andrew | 1 | $56,641 | 31 | 5.00/5.0 |
| Marcela | 4 | $55,193 | 43 | 4.84/5.0 |
| Oren | 1 | $46,939 | 31 | 4.97/5.0 |
| Mauricio | 1 | $29,882 | 230 | 4.88/5.0 |
| Jose | 1 | $29,021 | 170 | 4.58/5.0 |
| Trudy | 1 | $25,785 | 8 | 4.63/5.0 |
| Marco | 1 | $21,648 | 2 | Not Rated |
| Teresa | 1 | $21,453 | 2 | Not Rated |
| Víctor | 1 | $19,026 | 48 | 4.94/5.0 |
Analyzing the strategies of top hosts, such as their property selection, pricing, and guest communication, can offer valuable lessons for optimizing your own Airbnb operations in San Mateo.
Dive Deeper: Advanced San Mateo STR Market Data (2025)
Ready to unlock more insights? AirROI provides access to advanced metrics and comprehensive Airbnb data for San Mateo. Explore detailed analytics beyond this report to refine your investment strategy, optimize pricing, and maximize your vacation rental profits.
Explore Advanced MetricsSan Mateo Short-Term Rental Market Composition (2025): Property & Room Types
Room Type Distribution
Property Type Distribution
Market Composition Insights for San Mateo
- The San Mateo Airbnb market composition is heavily skewed towards Entire Home/Apt listings, which make up 88.2% of the 34 active rentals. This indicates strong guest preference for privacy and space.
- Looking at the property type distribution in San Mateo, House properties are the most common (61.8%), reflecting the local real estate landscape.
- Houses represent a significant 61.8% portion, catering likely to families or larger groups.
- The presence of 11.8% Hotel/Boutique listings indicates integration with traditional hospitality.
San Mateo Airbnb Room Capacity Analysis (2025): Bedroom Distribution
Distribution of Listings by Number of Bedrooms
Room Capacity Insights for San Mateo
- The dominant room capacity in San Mateo is 1 bedroom listings, making up 41.2% of the market. This suggests a strong demand for properties suitable for couples or solo travelers.
- Together, 1 bedroom and 3 bedrooms properties represent 67.7% of the active Airbnb listings in San Mateo, indicating a high concentration in these sizes.
- A significant 47.0% of listings offer 3+ bedrooms, catering to larger groups and families seeking more space in San Mateo.
San Mateo Vacation Rental Guest Capacity Trends (2025)
Distribution of Listings by Guest Capacity
Guest Capacity Insights for San Mateo
- The most common guest capacity trend in San Mateo vacation rentals is listings accommodating 8+ guests (38.2%). This suggests the primary traveler segment is likely larger groups.
- Properties designed for 8+ guests and 4 guests dominate the San Mateo STR market, accounting for 67.6% of listings.
- 50.0% of properties accommodate 6+ guests, serving the market segment for larger families or group travel in San Mateo.
- On average, properties in San Mateo are equipped to host 5.5 guests.
San Mateo Airbnb Booking Patterns (2025): Available vs. Booked Days
Available Days Distribution
Booked Days Distribution
Booking Pattern Insights for San Mateo
- The most common availability pattern in San Mateo falls within the 271-366 days range, representing 55.9% of listings. This suggests many properties have significant open periods on their calendars.
- Approximately 88.3% of listings show high availability (181+ days open annually), indicating potential for increased bookings or specific owner usage patterns.
- For booked days, the 91-180 days range is most frequent in San Mateo (35.3%), reflecting common guest stay durations or potential owner blocking patterns.
- A notable 11.8% of properties secure long booking periods (181+ days booked per year), highlighting successful long-term rental strategies or significant owner usage.
San Mateo Airbnb Minimum Stay Requirements Analysis
Distribution of Listings by Minimum Night Requirement
1 Night
13 listings
41.9% of total
2 Nights
6 listings
19.4% of total
4-6 Nights
6 listings
19.4% of total
7-29 Nights
3 listings
9.7% of total
30+ Nights
3 listings
9.7% of total
Key Insights
- The most prevalent minimum stay requirement in San Mateo is 1 Night, adopted by 41.9% of listings. This highlights the market's preference for shorter, flexible bookings.
- A strong majority (61.3%) of the San Mateo Airbnb data shows acceptance of very short stays (1-2 nights), indicating a dynamic, high-turnover market.
Recommendations
- Align with the market by considering a 1 Night minimum stay, as 41.9% of San Mateo hosts use this setting.
- Explore offering discounts for stays of 30+ nights to attract the 9.7% of the market seeking extended stays.
- Adjust minimum nights based on seasonality – potentially shorter during low season and longer during peak demand periods in San Mateo.
San Mateo Airbnb Cancellation Policy Trends Analysis (2025)
Flexible
6 listings
20% of total
Moderate
6 listings
20% of total
Firm
13 listings
43.3% of total
Strict
5 listings
16.7% of total
Cancellation Policy Insights for San Mateo
- The prevailing Airbnb cancellation policy trend in San Mateo is Firm, used by 43.3% of listings.
- A majority (60.0%) of hosts in San Mateo utilize Firm or Strict policies, indicating a market where hosts prioritize booking security.
Recommendations for Hosts
- Consider adopting a Firm policy to align with the 43.3% market standard in San Mateo.
- Regularly review your cancellation policy against competitors and market demand shifts in San Mateo.
San Mateo STR Booking Lead Time Analysis (2025)
Average Booking Lead Time by Month
Booking Lead Time Insights for San Mateo
- The overall average booking lead time for vacation rentals in San Mateo is 33 days.
- Guests book furthest in advance for stays during December (average 51 days), likely coinciding with peak travel demand or local events.
- The shortest booking windows occur for stays in May (average 11 days), indicating more last-minute travel plans during this time.
- Seasonally, Winter (40 days avg.) sees the longest lead times, while Spring (23 days avg.) has the shortest, reflecting typical travel planning cycles.
Recommendations for Hosts
- Use the overall average lead time (33 days) as a baseline for your pricing and availability strategy in San Mateo.
- For December stays, consider implementing length-of-stay discounts or slightly higher rates for bookings made less than 51 days out to capitalize on advance planning.
- During May, focus on last-minute booking availability and promotions, as guests book with very short notice (11 days avg.).
- Target marketing efforts for the Winter season well in advance (at least 40 days) to capture early planners.
- Monitor your own booking lead times against these San Mateo averages to identify opportunities for dynamic pricing adjustments.
Popular & Essential Airbnb Amenities in San Mateo (2025)
Amenity Prevalence
Amenity Insights for San Mateo
- Essential amenities in San Mateo that guests expect include: Free parking on premises, Kitchen, Wifi. Lacking these (any) could significantly impact bookings.
- Popular amenities like Pool, Hot water, Essentials are common but not universal. Offering these can provide a competitive edge.
- A pool is a highly desired but not standard amenity, making it a key feature for attracting guests seeking leisure in San Mateo.
Recommendations for Hosts
- Ensure your listing includes all essential amenities for San Mateo: Free parking on premises, Kitchen, Wifi.
- Prioritize adding missing essentials: Kitchen, Wifi.
- Consider adding popular differentiators like Pool or Hot water to increase appeal.
- Highlight unique or less common amenities you offer (e.g., hot tub, dedicated workspace, EV charger) in your listing description and photos.
- Regularly check competitor amenities in San Mateo to stay competitive.
San Mateo Airbnb Guest Demographics & Profile Analysis (2025)
Guest Profile Summary for San Mateo
- The typical guest profile for Airbnb in San Mateo consists of a mix of domestic (54%) and international guests, often arriving from nearby San José, typically belonging to the Post-2000s (Gen Z/Alpha) group (50%), primarily speaking English or Spanish.
- Domestic travelers account for 53.7% of guests.
- Key international markets include Costa Rica (53.7%) and United States (28%).
- Top languages spoken are English (46.5%) followed by Spanish (36.9%).
- A significant demographic segment is the Post-2000s (Gen Z/Alpha) group, representing 50% of guests.
Recommendations for Hosts
- Balance marketing efforts between domestic and international channels based on the guest mix.
- Tailor amenities and listing descriptions to appeal to the dominant Post-2000s (Gen Z/Alpha) demographic (e.g., highlight fast WiFi, smart home features, local guides).
- Highlight unique local experiences or amenities relevant to the primary guest profile.
- Consider seasonal promotions aligned with peak travel times for key origin markets.
Nearby Short-Term Rental Market Comparison
How does the San Mateo Airbnb market stack up against its neighbors? Compare key performance metrics like average monthly revenue, ADR, and occupancy rates in surrounding areas to understand the broader regional STR landscape.
| Market | Active Properties | Monthly Revenue | Daily Rate | Avg. Occupancy |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nacascolo | 31 | $6,822 | $1120.54 | 36% |
| Playa Tamarindo | 21 | $5,804 | $414.57 | 49% |
| Pinilla | 79 | $5,420 | $605.50 | 37% |
| Punta Islita | 28 | $4,716 | $522.44 | 37% |
| Playa Langosta | 168 | $4,684 | $495.40 | 43% |
| Tamarindo | 1,265 | $4,375 | $398.25 | 44% |
| Cabo Velas | 971 | $3,537 | $387.83 | 40% |
| Nosara | 895 | $3,483 | $421.10 | 41% |
| Tempate | 711 | $3,140 | $379.75 | 38% |
| Quepos | 1,142 | $2,795 | $251.26 | 41% |