Best Countries to Buy Affordable Short-Term Rental in Europe
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Here are the 10 best countries to buy a short-term rental on a budget in Europe. These markets combine affordable property prices with high Airbnb returns.
- Last updated February 24, 2026
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By
Jae Seok An
Europe continues to be one of the most attractive regions in the world for Airbnb investment, but rising property prices in Western markets have pushed many investors to look beyond traditional hotspots. In 2026, a growing number of opportunities can be found in more affordable European countries that still deliver strong short-term rental demand, competitive returns, and long-term growth potential.
In this article, we highlight the 10 best countries in Europe to buy an Airbnb on a budget, using Airbtics data to evaluate performance and affordability. From emerging tourism markets like Albania and Georgia to proven destinations such as Turkey, Romania, Bulgaria, and Hungary, these countries offer lower entry prices while benefiting from strong travel demand, growing infrastructure, and investor-friendly conditions.
Key Takeaways:
- In 2026, Europe offers a number of short-term rental markets that combine relatively affordable property prices with strong Airbnb performance.
- The list of the cheapest countries to buy an Airbnb property for high returns in Europe is headed by Albania, Turkey, Romania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Georgia.
- With the Airbtics Global Airbnb Investment Dataset, you can make data-based STR investment decisions that combine affordable purchase price with strong returns.
8 Reasons to Consider Investing in an Airbnb Property in Europe in 2026
Europe remains one of the top global destinations for short-term rental investing, combining steady travel demand with diverse markets for every budget.
The main factors that continue attracting foreign investors to the European Airbnb market include:
- Strong, year-round tourism demand: Europe consistently attracts both international and domestic travelers, supporting Airbnb bookings beyond peak summer season in many cities and regions.
- Diverse destinations and guest segments: From beach escapes and ski towns to business hubs and cultural capitals, Europe offers multiple STR strategies, including weekend trips, long stays, and seasonal stays.
- Lower entry prices in emerging European markets: While Western Europe is expensive, many countries in Eastern and Southeastern Europe still offer comparatively affordable properties with solid rental potential. That’s why here we focus on the cheapest countries to buy a house to rent out on a short-term rental basis in Europe.
- Stable legal and economic environment: A large share of Europe offers predictable property rights, regulated real estate systems, and mature financial infrastructure, which are all important for foreign investors.
- EU-backed transparency and buyer confidence: In EU countries, standardized regulations and market oversight often make investing more secure, especially for first-time international buyers.
- High-quality infrastructure and connectivity: Europe’s airports, rail networks, and budget airlines make it easy for travelers to move between destinations, strengthening STR demand in secondary markets too.
- Lifestyle and investment appeal: Many investors buy a second home in Europe to generate income while also having a personal vacation home they can use part of the year.
- Potential residency pathways in select countries: Some destinations offer residency or investor-friendly permits (including Golden Visa-style options), adding a long-term benefit beyond rental income.
With those advantages in mind, let’s look at the 10 most affordable countries in Europe where property prices remain budget-friendly while Airbnb performance stays strong.
10 Countries to Start an Airbnb for Under $100k in Europe in 2026
The best Airbnb markets in Europe that combine affordable real estate prices with strong short-term rental return include:
- North Macedonia
- Albania
- Turkey
- Romania
- Bosnia and Herzegovina
- Georgia
- Montenegro
- Serbia
- Bulgaria
- Hungary
Let’s take a look at the average real estate prices and trends in these 10 countries:
10 Most Affordable Real Estate Markets for Airbnb Investors in Europe, January 2026
Country | Average Property Price ($/m2) | Average Property Price ($1/sq ft) | Average Home Price (~65 m2) | Average 1-Bedroom Price (~50 m2) | Average 2-Bedroom Price (~75 m2) | Real Estate Price Trends |
North Macedonia | $1,250/m2 | $116/sq ft | $81,250 | $62,500 | $93,750 | Up steadily |
Albania | $1,600/m2 | $149/sq ft | $104,000 | $80,000 | $120,000 | Up |
Turkey | $1,630/m2 | $151/sq ft | $105,950 | $81,500 | $122,250 | Up fast |
Romania | $1,791/m2 | $166/sq ft | $116,415 | $89,550 | $134,325 | Up strongly |
Bosnia and Herzegovina | $1,980/m2 | $184/sq ft | $128,700 | $99,000 | $148,500 | Up modestly |
Georgia | $2,146/m2 | $199/sq ft | $134,490 | $107,300 | $160,950 | Up fast |
Montenegro | $2,150/m2 | $200/sq ft | $140,000 | $108,000 | $161,000 | Up very fast |
Serbia | $2,396/m2 | $223/sq ft | $155,740 | $119,800 | $179,900 | Flat |
Bulgaria | $2,400/m2 | $223/sq ft | $156,000 | $120,000 | $180,000 | Up strongly |
Hungary | $2,700/m2 | $251 | $176,000 | $135,000 | $203,000 | Up |
Data Sources: Airbtics, The World Bank, Government Websites & More
Being affordable is a key factor for the profitability of an Airbnb market, but there are other metrics that matter too. Let’s see how these countries perform in terms of key Airbnb data points:
Airbnb Performance Metrics in the 10 Cheapest Countries for Properties in Europe, January 2026
Country | Average Airbnb Revenue | Average Airbnb Occupancy Rate | Average Airbnb Daily Rate (ADR) | Active Airbnb Listings |
North Macedonia | $5,513 | 49% | $60 | 3,716 |
Albania | $7,241 | 52% | $89 | 17,610 |
Turkey | $11,515 | 50% | $131 | 87,865 |
Romania | $10,355 | 51% | $103 | 29,541 |
Bosnia and Herzegovina | $8,328 | 49% | $95 | 7,505 |
Georgia | $5,768 | 52% | $80 | 21,515 |
Montenegro | $10,852 | 56% | $122 | 16,405 |
Serbia | $8,373 | 50% | $78 | 12,615 |
Bulgaria | $9,094 | 54% | $100 | 16,212 |
Hungary | $16,709 | 66% | $113 | 20,433 |
Data Sources: Airbtics, The World Bank, Government Websites & More
1. North Macedonia
North Macedonia
North Macedonia stands out as the most budget-friendly market in Europe with steady demand tied to city breaks, lake tourism (especially Ohrid), and regional travel across the Balkans. Lake Ohrid, a UNESCO-listed destination, is a major driver for short-term rental stays and attracts international travelers during peak months.
For foreign investors, the country offers relatively straightforward entry costs and a stable, low-competition STR environment, compared to more saturated Mediterranean markets. It’s ideal for investors aiming for niche destinations with consistent regional Airbnb demand.
Check out the best Airbnb markets in North Macedonia
2. Albania
Albania
Albania has become one of Europe’s most talked-about new tourism markets, powered by the Albanian Riviera, mountain escapes, and a still-undiscovered cultural scene. Visitor demand has surged in recent years as travelers seek Mediterranean coast experiences at lower costs than Greece or Croatia.
For STR investors, this combination of natural and cultural factors translates into a strong upside. In the country, many markets are still maturing, which can mean high growth potential if you choose the right location and quality level. Albania is also generally welcoming to foreign investment, adding confidence for international buyers.
Check out the best Airbnb markets in Albania
3. Turkey
Turkey
Turkey combines year-round tourism demand with incredible variety – beaches on the Aegean and Mediterranean, iconic city breaks in Istanbul, and cultural heritage across Cappadocia and the Aegean coast. Major hubs benefit from strong domestic and international travel flows, which supports high STR occupancy in many markets.
For investors, Turkey is also known for being relatively open to foreign buyers and has historically offered residency/citizenship-by-real-estate-investment pathways, which adds long-term appeal and makes it one of the best Golden Visa countries for investing in Airbnb in Europe and beyond. The key is to focus on cities and neighborhoods with proven visitor demand and clear local short-term rental regulations.
Check out the best Airbnb markets in Turkey
4. Romania
Romania
Romania offers diverse STR opportunities – from Bucharest city stays and nightlife to leisure travel in Transylvania, Brașov, Sibiu, and the Carpathians. Demand is supported by cultural tourism, scenic nature experiences, and increasing international visibility of Romania’s heritage destinations.
From an investor perspective, Romania is an EU country, which improves the sense of legal stability and transparency for foreign buyers. This makes it one of the safest countries for real estate investment to start an Airbnb in our list of affordable investment destinations in Europe. Romania also tends to have a strong domestic travel base, which can help reduce reliance on international arrivals.
Check out the best Airbnb markets in Romania
5. Bosnia and Herzegovina
Bosnia and Herzegovina
Bosnia and Herzegovina is a fast-rising Balkan destination with a unique blend of Ottoman heritage, Austro-Hungarian architecture, and dramatic mountain scenery, attracting both cultural travelers and nature lovers. Sarajevo and Mostar, in particular, have seen growing interest from international visitors looking for authentic, affordable European experiences.
From an investor angle, entry costs remain low while tourism continues to develop, creating room for early-mover STR opportunities. It’s especially attractive for beginner investors who want a low purchase price with the potential for strong seasonal performance.
Check out the best Airbnb markets in Bosnia and Herzegovina
6. Georgia
Georgia
Georgia has built a powerful tourism brand around Tbilisi’s culture, wine tourism, mountain escapes (Kazbegi and Svaneti), and the Black Sea coast in Batumi. It attracts a mix of leisure tourists, long-stay visitors, and digital nomads, supporting STR demand beyond peak seasons in key markets.
Short-term rental property investors are drawn to Georgia because it’s widely considered business-friendly, with relatively straightforward processes for foreigners compared to many countries. The result is a market where affordability meets genuine demand growth and strong long-term positioning.
Check out the best Airbnb markets in Georgia
7. Montenegro
Montenegro
Montenegro is a high-demand Adriatic destination with strong tourism appeal. Kotor Bay, Tivat, Budva, and Herceg Novi draw visitors seeking a Croatia-style coastal experience, often at a lower overall cost. Tourism is supported by luxury marinas, scenic nature, and cruise traffic, creating STR demand that can be powerful in peak season.
From an investor angle, Montenegro benefits from a growing international profile and foreign buyer interest, especially in coastal areas. Many investors view it as a market with strong upside due to its limited coastline supply and expanding tourism infrastructure.
Check out the best Airbnb markets in Montenegro
8. Serbia
Serbia
Serbia benefits from strong STR demand driven by Belgrade’s nightlife, business travel, events, and digital nomad-style visitors. Vacation rentals are seeing a growing interest in Novi Sad and spa/mountain regions as well. Unlike purely seasonal beach destinations, Belgrade in particular often performs year-round due to conferences, festivals, and city tourism. Serbia’s market also takes advantage of an active local economy and improving tourism infrastructure, which is helpful for consistent Airbnb occupancy rate.
For investors, the European country remains accessible, and the combination of low entry costs and year-round demand can create attractive STR fundamentals.
Check out the best Airbnb markets in Serbia
9. Bulgaria
Bulgaria
Bulgaria is one of the most accessible EU markets for budget STR investing, with demand split between Sofia city trips, Black Sea summer tourism, and winter ski resorts like Bansko and Borovets. That mix creates the potential for multi-season revenue streams, especially in cities and resort markets with steady event calendars.
Bulgaria’s EU membership helps reassure foreign buyers, while the country has become increasingly popular among remote workers and regional travelers. Investors often like Bulgaria’s combination of low entry pricing and strong tourism diversity.
Check out the best Airbnb markets in Bulgaria
10. Hungary
Hungary
Hungary is attractive to STR investors due to Budapest’s globally recognized tourism appeal, supported by architecture, thermal baths, nightlife, and major events. The city consistently draws international travelers and performs well for short stays, making demand less dependent on beach-seasonality.
Hungary’s EU membership adds perceived stability for foreign investors, and Budapest remains one of Europe’s top city-break destinations. For beginner Airbnb hosts, the combination of strong demand fundamentals and relatively lower prices (compared to Western Europe) is a major plus.
Check out the best Airbnb markets in Hungary
While each of these markets offers its own mix of tourism demand and investor advantages, they all share one thing in common: Strong short-term rental potential at a lower cost of entry.
But how do you find the best local markets for short-term rental property investments in each of these affordable European countries or any other?
The most efficient way to identify and explore the top locations for Airbnb investing in any global country is the Airbtics Market Explorer. All you have to do is to enter the name of your selected country to start comparing cities by yield, annual revenue, occupancy, nightly rates, listings, and level of regulations. You can easily compare between two or more countries as well.
You can quickly generate custom reports which you can download and export for further analysis with the help of your investment team.
Next, we’ll break down exactly how we evaluated and ranked the 10 countries from the list above.
How We Chose the Best Affordable Countries in Europe for Airbnb Investment: Key Factors
In our ranking of the best countries to invest in Airbnb on a budget for high returns in Europe, we concentrated on the following factors:
- Airbnb income potential: Rather than looking at price alone, we prioritized markets where short-term rentals generate strong average revenue, using Airbnb monthly performance data as a practical proxy for return on investment.
- Affordable property entry prices: We focused on countries where purchase prices remain accessible for budget-conscious investors, lowering the upfront capital required to enter the market.
- Occupancy and demand stability: We ranked higher markets with consistent booking levels, driven by year-round tourism, business travel, or regional demand.
- Tourism fundamentals: We favored countries with established or rapidly growing tourism sectors, recognizable attractions, and improving travel infrastructure for their long-term demand outlook.
- Regulatory environment for short-term rentals: We considered how clear and manageable Airbnb and STR regulations are, especially for foreign owners, to reduce operational risk.
- Foreign investor friendliness: In our selection, ease of property ownership, legal protections, and openness to international buyers played an important role.
- Market maturity and growth potential: We balanced proven vacation rental markets with emerging destinations that still offer upside, aiming to capture both stability and future real estate appreciation.
Together, the above-listed factors help explain why these countries stand out as some of the best countries to buy a short-term rental on a budget in Europe and still generate healthy returns and why they continue to attract investors looking for strong performance without premium price tags.
How to Find the Best Country to an Airbnb Property for Under $100k in Europe
Profitable, risk-proven real estate investing decisions are based on diligent research and solid data. However, first-time investors rarely have access to accurate, trustworthy data in a format that’s ready to use. The challenge becomes even bigger when you plan to invest abroad, in a country with an unknown market and specificities.
That’s where the Airbtics Global Airbnb Investment Dataset steps in. With a single subscription, you get immediate access to reliable, up-to-date data on 100 of the best countries to invest in Airbnb for high ROI, covering all global regions. These include countries with more than 3,000 active short-term rental listings, corresponding to well-developed but not necessarily oversaturated vacation rental markets. Importantly, all data is provided in an easy-to-read-and-comprehend format, perfectly suitable for both beginner investors and experienced Airbnb hosts.
The Airbtics Airbnb Dataset covers the following data analytics:
- Average Airbnb annual revenue
- Average Airbnb occupancy rate
- Average daily rate (ADR)
- Number of active Airbnb listings
- Number of cities with over 500 active Airbnb listings
- Property prices
- Foreign land ownership regulations
- Residency by real estate investment program
- GDP growth to look through the fastest-growing economies for Airbnb investment
- Population growth to search for the best Airbnb markets in high population growth countries
- Average annual temperature to focus on the best sunny places to buy a vacation home
Below, you can see a real-life example of how the Airbtics global Airbnb data looks for each available country:
With the provided level of detail and famous Airbtics data accuracy, you can make confident short-term rental property investment decisions in any global market, faster and easier than ever before. Money-making Airbnb properties are just a few clicks away.
Final Words
Affordable property prices don’t have to mean weak Airbnb performance, and the countries highlighted in this guide prove it. European markets like Albania, Turkey, and Romania combine lower entry costs with growing tourism demand, while destinations such as Montenegro, Serbia, and Hungary offer a balance of affordability and more established short-term rental markets. For investors willing to look beyond Western Europe, these countries open the door to stronger returns with less capital tied up upfront.
Of course, not every market performs the same, even within the same continent or country. That’s where Airbtics comes in – helping investors analyze Airbnb revenue potential, occupancy trends, pricing dynamics, and market risk at a granular level. By using Airbtics’ data-driven tools like the Market Explorer, investors can move beyond country-level trends and confidently identify the specific locations that offer the best balance of affordability and performance for Airbnb investment in Europe in 2026.
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