Santa Cruz Airbnb Market Analysis 2025: Short Term Rental Data & Vacation Rental Statistics in Madeira, Portugal

Source: AirROI
Last updated: 2025-07-01

Is Airbnb profitable in Santa Cruz in 2025? Explore comprehensive Airbnb analytics for Santa Cruz, Madeira, Portugal to uncover income potential. This 2025 STR market report for Santa Cruz, based on AirROI data from July 2024 to June 2025, reveals key trends in the market of 536 active listings.

Whether you're considering an Airbnb investment in Santa Cruz, optimizing your existing vacation rental, or exploring rental arbitrage opportunities, understanding the Santa Cruz 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 Santa Cruz Airbnb Performance Metrics Overview

Avg. Daily Rate (ADR)(?)
$187
The average rental revenue earned for an occupied room per day in Santa Cruz.
Occupancy Rate(?)
57.8%
High demand. Good booking frequency.
Median Annual Revenue(?)
$34,043
Typical annual income for an Airbnb listing in Santa Cruz. Factors like property type, size, and location influence actual earnings.
Revenue Growth YoY(?)
21.3%
Strong growth (21.3%) vs. last year.
Peak Revenue Month(?)
August
The month with the highest average earnings, indicating peak season in Santa Cruz.
Lowest Revenue Month(?)
November
The month with the lowest average earnings, indicating the low season in Santa Cruz.
STR Regulation Level(?)
Low
Fewer regulations, offering more operational flexibility.
Active Airbnb Listings(?)
536
Total number of active short-term rentals listed.

Monthly Airbnb Revenue Variations & Income Potential in Santa Cruz (2025)

Understanding the monthly revenue variations for Airbnb listings in Santa Cruz 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 Santa Cruz is typically August, while November often presents the lowest earnings, highlighting opportunities for strategic pricing adjustments during shoulder and low seasons. Explore the typical Airbnb income in Santa Cruz across different performance tiers:

  • Best-in-class properties (Top 10%) achieve $7,820+ monthly, often utilizing dynamic pricing and superior guest experiences.
  • Strong performing properties (Top 25%) earn $3,618 or more, indicating effective management and desirable locations/amenities.
  • Typical properties (Median) generate around $2,379 per month, representing the average market performance.
  • Entry-level properties (Bottom 25%) see earnings around $1,464, often with potential for optimization.

Average Monthly Airbnb Earnings Trend in Santa Cruz

Santa Cruz Airbnb Occupancy Rate Trends (2025)

Maximize your bookings by understanding the Santa Cruz STR occupancy trends. Seasonal demand shifts significantly influence how often properties are booked. Typically, Augustsees the highest demand (peak season occupancy), while November 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 Santa Cruz:

  • Best-in-class properties (Top 10%) achieve 93%+ occupancy, indicating high desirability and potentially optimized availability.
  • Strong performing properties (Top 25%) maintain 84% or higher occupancy, suggesting good market fit and guest satisfaction.
  • Typical properties (Median) have an occupancy rate around 68%.
  • Entry-level properties (Bottom 25%) average 43% occupancy, potentially facing higher vacancy.

Average Monthly Occupancy Rate Trend in Santa Cruz

Average Daily Rate (ADR) Airbnb Trends in Santa Cruz (2025)

Effective short term rental pricing strategy in Santa Cruz involves understanding monthly ADR fluctuations. The Average Daily Rate (ADR) for Airbnb in Santa Cruz typically peaks in April and dips lowest during November. 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 $353+ per night, often due to premium features or locations.
  • Strong performing properties (Top 25%) achieve nightly rates of $185 or more.
  • Typical properties (Median) charge around $121 per night.
  • Entry-level properties (Bottom 25%) earn around $87 per night.

Average Daily Rate (ADR) Trend by Month in Santa Cruz

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Airbnb Seasonality Analysis & Trends in Santa Cruz (2025)

Peak Season (August, April, May)
  • Revenue averages $5,034 per month
  • Occupancy rates average 74.3%
  • Daily rates average $203
Shoulder Season
  • Revenue averages $3,639 per month
  • Occupancy maintains around 61.4%
  • Daily rates hold near $178
Low Season (January, February, November)
  • Revenue drops to average $2,437 per month
  • Occupancy decreases to average 50.2%
  • Daily rates adjust to average $158

Seasonality Insights for Santa Cruz

  • The Airbnb seasonality in Santa Cruz 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 Santa Cruz's highest earning potential, with monthly revenues capable of climbing to $5,101, occupancy reaching a high of 76.6%, and ADRs peaking at $219.
  • 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 $2,257, occupancy could drop to 47.8%, and ADRs may adjust down to $151.
  • 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 Santa Cruz.

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 Santa Cruz seasonality benchmarks and adjust your pricing and availability strategy accordingly.

Best Areas for Airbnb Investment in Santa Cruz (2025)

Exploring the top neighborhoods for short-term rentals in Santa Cruz? 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 / AreaWhy Host Here? (Target Guests & Appeal)Key Attractions & Landmarks
Funchal
The capital city of Madeira, known for its beautiful coastal views, botanical gardens, and historic sites. It's a top destination for tourists looking for a mix of relaxation and culture.
Madeira Botanical Garden, CR7 Museum, Funchal Mercado dos Lavradores, Cable Car to Monte, Levadas walking trails
Câmara de Lobos
A picturesque fishing village located close to Funchal, known for its local wine and stunning natural landscapes. It attracts visitors who enjoy authentic Madeira experiences.
Cabo Girão Skywalk, Church of Our Lady of Remedies, Whale watching tours, Madeira Wine Lodge, Scenic coastal walks
Ponta do Sol
The sunniest place on the island, offering stunning sunsets and beautiful beaches. Popular for its relaxing atmosphere and romantic getaways.
Praia da Ponta do Sol, Ponta do Sol promenade, Levada walks, Local restaurants, Sunset viewing points
Santana
Famous for its traditional A-framed houses and lush nature. It's ideal for tourists looking for cultural experiences and outdoor activities.
Santana folk houses, Levada do Caldeirão Verde, Madeira Theme Park, Natural swimming pools, Cultural festivals
Paul do Mar
A charming seaside village known for its strong wave conditions, attracting surfers and nature lovers. A quieter option for an authentic Madeira experience.
Surfing spots, Beachfront restaurants, Levada walks, Natural landscapes, Tranquil atmosphere
Machico
One of the historical towns in Madeira, known for its beautiful beach and the iconic Pico do Facho. It offers rich history and outdoor activities.
Machico beach, Pico do Facho viewpoint, Historical sites, Levada do Caniçal, Diving and snorkeling
Calheta
Home to the only sandy beach in Madeira, known for its marina and water sports. Great for families and beach lovers.
Calheta beach, Calheta Marina, Sugar cane factory, Local art galleries, Boat trips
Monte
A lovely hilltop village offering stunning views over Funchal, home to the famous Monte Palace and tropical gardens. Popular for cable car rides and botanical beauty.
Monte Palace, Tropical Garden, Cable Car rides to Funchal, Church of Our Lady of Monte, Toboggan rides

Understanding Airbnb License Requirements & STR Laws in Santa Cruz (2025)

While Santa Cruz, Madeira, Portugal 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 Santa Cruz to ensure full compliance before hosting.

(Source: AirROI data, 2025, based on 7% licensed listings)

Top Performing Airbnb Properties in Santa Cruz (2025)

Benchmark your potential! Explore examples of top-performing Airbnb properties in Santa Cruzbased on Trailing Twelve Month (TTM) revenue. Analyze their characteristics, revenue, occupancy rate, and ADR to understand what drives success in this market.

Beach House - By Wehost

Beach House - By Wehost

Entire Place • 4 bedrooms

$473,229
Revenue
52.7%
Occupancy
$2310.13
Daily Rate
Reis Magos III by An Island Apart

Reis Magos III by An Island Apart

Entire Place • 3 bedrooms

$289,507
Revenue
90.1%
Occupancy
$887.63
Daily Rate
Reis Magos V by An Island Apart

Reis Magos V by An Island Apart

Entire Place • 4 bedrooms

$266,592
Revenue
84.0%
Occupancy
$979.22
Daily Rate
Reis Magos II by An Island Apart

Reis Magos II by An Island Apart

Entire Place • 2 bedrooms

$263,206
Revenue
94.4%
Occupancy
$732.92
Daily Rate
Casa da Cebola by An Island Apart

Casa da Cebola by An Island Apart

Entire Place • 3 bedrooms

$255,833
Revenue
82.5%
Occupancy
$800.02
Daily Rate
The Balcony - By Wehost

The Balcony - By Wehost

Entire Place • 5 bedrooms

$243,432
Revenue
62.1%
Occupancy
$1020.35
Daily Rate

Note: Performance varies based on location, size, amenities, seasonality, and management quality. Data reflects the past 12 months.

Top Performing Airbnb Hosts in Santa Cruz (2025)

Learn from the best! This table showcases top-performing Airbnb hosts in Santa Cruz based on the number of properties managed and estimated total revenue over the past year. Analyze their scale and performance metrics.

Host NamePropertiesGrossing RevenueStay ReviewsAvg Rating
An Island23$4,277,06911624.64/5.0
LovelyStay19$898,7365784.73/5.0
OurMadeira6$717,9492464.89/5.0
GuestReady8$689,6884564.61/5.0
Madeira Sun Travel14$492,9823534.71/5.0
Carlota1$473,229674.84/5.0
Atlantic Holiday12$353,2784304.67/5.0
Leonardo10$346,34213474.81/5.0
Holidu5$279,9241114.52/5.0
Sofia4$244,932854.72/5.0

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 Santa Cruz.

Dive Deeper: Advanced Santa Cruz STR Market Data (2025)

Ready to unlock more insights? AirROI provides access to advanced metrics and comprehensive Airbnb data for Santa Cruz. Explore detailed analytics beyond this report to refine your investment strategy, optimize pricing, and maximize your vacation rental profits.

Explore Advanced Metrics

Santa Cruz Short-Term Rental Market Composition (2025): Property & Room Types

Room Type Distribution

Property Type Distribution

Market Composition Insights for Santa Cruz

  • The Santa Cruz Airbnb market composition is heavily skewed towards Entire Home/Apt listings, which make up 92.2% of the 536 active rentals. This indicates strong guest preference for privacy and space.
  • Looking at the property type distribution in Santa Cruz, Apartment/Condo properties are the most common (56.9%), reflecting the local real estate landscape.
  • Houses represent a significant 38.1% portion, catering likely to families or larger groups.
  • Smaller segments like outdoor/unique, hotel/boutique, others (combined 5.1%) offer potential for unique stay experiences.

Santa Cruz Airbnb Room Capacity Analysis (2025): Bedroom Distribution

Distribution of Listings by Number of Bedrooms

Room Capacity Insights for Santa Cruz

  • The dominant room capacity in Santa Cruz is 2 bedrooms listings, making up 38.1% of the market. This suggests a strong demand for properties suitable for couples or solo travelers.
  • Together, 2 bedrooms and 1 bedroom properties represent 67.2% of the active Airbnb listings in Santa Cruz, indicating a high concentration in these sizes.
  • A significant 24.3% of listings offer 3+ bedrooms, catering to larger groups and families seeking more space in Santa Cruz.

Santa Cruz Vacation Rental Guest Capacity Trends (2025)

Distribution of Listings by Guest Capacity

Guest Capacity Insights for Santa Cruz

  • The most common guest capacity trend in Santa Cruz vacation rentals is listings accommodating 4 guests (31.5%). This suggests the primary traveler segment is likely small families or groups.
  • Properties designed for 4 guests and 2 guests dominate the Santa Cruz STR market, accounting for 50.3% of listings.
  • 28.2% of properties accommodate 6+ guests, serving the market segment for larger families or group travel in Santa Cruz.
  • On average, properties in Santa Cruz are equipped to host 4.2 guests.

Santa Cruz Airbnb Booking Patterns (2025): Available vs. Booked Days

Available Days Distribution

Booked Days Distribution

Booking Pattern Insights for Santa Cruz

  • The most common availability pattern in Santa Cruz falls within the 181-270 days range, representing 25.7% of listings. This suggests many properties have significant open periods on their calendars.
  • Approximately 51.4% of listings show high availability (181+ days open annually), indicating potential for increased bookings or specific owner usage patterns.
  • For booked days, the 181-270 days range is most frequent in Santa Cruz (25.4%), reflecting common guest stay durations or potential owner blocking patterns.
  • A notable 50.2% of properties secure long booking periods (181+ days booked per year), highlighting successful long-term rental strategies or significant owner usage.

Santa Cruz Airbnb Minimum Stay Requirements Analysis

Distribution of Listings by Minimum Night Requirement

1 Night (17.2%)

1 Night

88 listings

17.2% of total

2 Nights (4.9%)

2 Nights

25 listings

4.9% of total

3 Nights (14.2%)

3 Nights

73 listings

14.2% of total

4-6 Nights (32.6%)

4-6 Nights

167 listings

32.6% of total

7-29 Nights (3.1%)

7-29 Nights

16 listings

3.1% of total

30+ Nights (28.1%)

30+ Nights

144 listings

28.1% of total

Key Insights

  • The most prevalent minimum stay requirement in Santa Cruz is 4-6 Nights, adopted by 32.6% of listings. This highlights the market's preference for longer commitments.
  • A significant segment (28.1%) caters to monthly stays (30+ nights) in Santa Cruz, pointing to opportunities in the extended-stay market.

Recommendations

  • Align with the market by considering a 4-6 Nights minimum stay, as 32.6% of Santa Cruz hosts use this setting.
  • If feasible, allowing 1-night stays, especially midweek or during low season, could capture last-minute bookings, as only 17.2% currently do.
  • Explore offering discounts for stays of 30+ nights to attract the 28.1% of the market seeking extended stays.
  • Adjust minimum nights based on seasonality – potentially shorter during low season and longer during peak demand periods in Santa Cruz.

Santa Cruz Airbnb Cancellation Policy Trends Analysis (2025)

Super Strict 60 Days

10 listings

1.9% of total

Super Strict 30 Days (7.8%)

Super Strict 30 Days

41 listings

7.8% of total

Flexible (17.6%)

Flexible

92 listings

17.6% of total

Moderate (26.3%)

Moderate

138 listings

26.3% of total

Firm (22.7%)

Firm

119 listings

22.7% of total

Strict (23.7%)

Strict

124 listings

23.7% of total

Cancellation Policy Insights for Santa Cruz

  • The prevailing Airbnb cancellation policy trend in Santa Cruz is Moderate, used by 26.3% of listings.
  • There's a relatively balanced mix between guest-friendly (43.9%) and stricter (46.4%) policies, offering choices for different guest needs.

Recommendations for Hosts

  • Consider adopting a Moderate policy to align with the 26.3% market standard in Santa Cruz.
  • Regularly review your cancellation policy against competitors and market demand shifts in Santa Cruz.

Santa Cruz STR Booking Lead Time Analysis (2025)

Average Booking Lead Time by Month

Booking Lead Time Insights for Santa Cruz

  • The overall average booking lead time for vacation rentals in Santa Cruz is 69 days.
  • Guests book furthest in advance for stays during May (average 85 days), likely coinciding with peak travel demand or local events.
  • The shortest booking windows occur for stays in November (average 55 days), indicating more last-minute travel plans during this time.
  • Seasonally, Summer (77 days avg.) sees the longest lead times, while Winter (65 days avg.) has the shortest, reflecting typical travel planning cycles.

Recommendations for Hosts

  • Use the overall average lead time (69 days) as a baseline for your pricing and availability strategy in Santa Cruz.
  • For May stays, consider implementing length-of-stay discounts or slightly higher rates for bookings made less than 85 days out to capitalize on advance planning.
  • Target marketing efforts for the Summer season well in advance (at least 77 days) to capture early planners.
  • Monitor your own booking lead times against these Santa Cruz averages to identify opportunities for dynamic pricing adjustments.

Popular & Essential Airbnb Amenities in Santa Cruz (2025)

Amenity data is currently unavailable for Santa Cruz.

Santa Cruz Airbnb Guest Demographics & Profile Analysis (2025)

Guest Origin: Domestic vs. International
Top 5 Cities of Origin
Top 5 Countries of Origin
Top 5 Languages Spoken
Guest Age Distribution (Birth Decade)

Guest Profile Summary for Santa Cruz

  • The typical guest profile for Airbnb in Santa Cruz consists of predominantly international visitors (95%), with top international origins including Germany, typically belonging to the Post-2000s (Gen Z/Alpha) group (50%), primarily speaking English or German.
  • Domestic travelers account for 5.0% of guests.
  • Key international markets include France (18.1%) and Germany (17.3%).
  • Top languages spoken are English (41.2%) followed by German (13.5%).
  • A significant demographic segment is the Post-2000s (Gen Z/Alpha) group, representing 50% of guests.

Recommendations for Hosts

  • Focus marketing internationally, particularly towards travelers from Germany.
  • 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 Santa Cruz 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.

MarketActive PropertiesMonthly RevenueDaily RateAvg. Occupancy
Funchal2,226$3,734$228.6360%
Câmara de Lobos128$3,321$213.2562%
Ribeira Brava224$3,295$194.0462%
Ponta do Sol315$3,163$175.4365%
Calheta1,040$2,811$190.2159%
São Vicente277$2,430$140.6262%
Santana163$1,903$143.8157%
Porto Moniz162$1,784$121.1959%
Machico254$1,710$122.5759%
Porto Santo163$1,561$187.7342%

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