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Best Airbnb Markets in Central America (2026)

Based on Airbtics data from September 2025 to August 2026, this page ranks the best Airbnb markets in Central America by Market Grade. The grade compares short-term rental yield, year-over-year revenue growth, and occupancy (demand), then adjusts for local regulation. The table also shows listing count, average daily rate, and annual revenue for every market.

Markets on this page are ranked by the Airbtics Market Grade, not by the number of listings. The grade compares each market with the other markets in this ranking on three measures, then adjusts for local short-term rental regulation.

  1. Yield: Annual short-term rental revenue divided by property price. A higher yield ranks higher.
  2. Growth: Year-over-year change in revenue. Faster revenue growth ranks higher.
  3. Demand: Average occupancy rate over the last 12 months. Higher occupancy ranks higher.

Stricter short-term rental regulation lowers the letter grade. Occupancy, average daily rate, and annual revenue are shown for every market. Exact yield and revenue growth are published for the three highest-graded markets. For every other market those two figures are in Market Explorer. The rankboard plots the same markets by occupancy and average daily rate, and the table under the chart lists those values in text.

Learn more about how we collect the data and accuracy

Last updated: 16th October, 2026

Central America Short-Term Rental Market Overview (September 2025 to August 2026)

National averages across all Central America markets
Average Occupancy Rate i
51.60%
Average Annual Revenue i
$25,733
Average Daily Rate (ADR) i
$128
YoY Supply Growth i
42.58%
YoY Revenue Change i
3.16%

Top 15 Central America Cities for Airbnb in 2026

Tick the markets you like to track their revenue, occupancy, and ADR in your Airbtics watchlist. Free to start, up to 10 markets.

Position Market Grade Market Name Regulation No of Listings Avg. Occupancy Rate Avg. Daily Rate Revenue Short-term Rental Yield Revenue Growth
1BPanama City
Lenient
2,98172% 🚀$90$24,25212.4%+23.4%
2BLa Fortuna
Lenient
81257%$102$21,84112.2%+18.9%
3BStann Creek District
Lenient
73751%$195$36,99930.3%-1.3%
4B+Playa Guiones Sur
Lenient
67659% 🚀$282$62,354Unlock in Market ExplorerUnlock in Market Explorer
5CPuntarenas Province
Lenient
2,85047%$125$22,134Unlock in Market ExplorerUnlock in Market Explorer
6C+Tamarindo
Lenient
3,11654%$187$37,758Unlock in Market ExplorerUnlock in Market Explorer
7C+Southern Caribbean Coast
Lenient
2,24848%$106$19,159Unlock in Market ExplorerUnlock in Market Explorer
8C+Antigua
Lenient
1,75857%$77$16,560Unlock in Market ExplorerUnlock in Market Explorer
9C+Quepos
Lenient
1,10457%$136$28,870Unlock in Market ExplorerUnlock in Market Explorer
10C+Potrero-Flamingo
Lenient
74654%$234$47,171Unlock in Market ExplorerUnlock in Market Explorer
11D+San Jose
Lenient
2,57153%$69$13,798Unlock in Market ExplorerUnlock in Market Explorer
12D+Tegucigalpa
Lenient
1,19536%$55$7,482Unlock in Market ExplorerUnlock in Market Explorer
13D+San Pedro Sula
Lenient
90533%$56$7,051Unlock in Market ExplorerUnlock in Market Explorer
14EBelize
Unknown
2,85652%$162$31,581Unlock in Market ExplorerUnlock in Market Explorer
15E+Ciudad de Guatemala
Lenient
3,42044%$54$8,987Unlock in Market ExplorerUnlock in Market Explorer

Data Seen By

BiggerPockets
Trustpilot

Market Explorer

Filter markets by occupancy, price, and yield

Filter Central America by occupancy, ADR, yield, rent gap, and property price, then compare markets side by side.

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Find the Best Airbnb Markets with Our Interactive Tool

Use our interactive Market Explorer to find the best places to start an Airbnb in Central America. Compare multiple markets side by side, apply filters like regulations, budget (property or rent prices), and market size, and even export the results to Excel.

Explore Interactive Tool

Why Invest in Airbnb Central America in 2026?

The highest-graded short-term rental markets in Central America are Panama City, La Fortuna and Stann Creek District. The table ranks every tracked market by Airbtics Market Grade. Occupancy, average daily rate, annual revenue, yield, and revenue growth are the figures behind that grade.

Top 3 Airbnb markets in Central America by Market Grade

These are the three highest-graded Airbnb markets in Central America. Market Grade compares yield, revenue growth, and occupancy (demand) with the other markets on this page, then adjusts for short-term rental regulation. The chart repeats those three percentiles in text so the ranking is readable without the graphic.

Rank 1 — Panama City (Grade B)

Panama City is rank 1 of 15 markets in this Central America ranking by Airbtics Market Grade B, with 12.4% short-term rental yield, 72.0% occupancy, and +23.4% year-over-year revenue growth.

Compared with the other markets on this page, Panama City ranks top 37% for yield, top 3% for growth, and top 3% for demand. The market shows an average daily rate of $90, annual revenue of $24,252, a rent gap of 2478.1%, 2,981 active listings, lenient short-term rental regulation, and a typical 2-bedroom property price of $250,000.

  • Market gradeB
  • Yield12.4%
  • Revenue growth+23.4%
  • Occupancy72.0%
  • Average daily rate$90
  • Annual revenue$24,252
  • Rent gap2478.1%
  • Active listings2,981
  • 2-bedroom price$250,000
  • RegulationLenient
top 37%Yieldtop 3%Growthtop 3%Demand

Percentile versus other Central America markets on this page. Farther from the center is stronger.

  • Yield: top 37%
  • Growth: top 3%
  • Demand: top 3%

Rank 2 — La Fortuna (Grade B)

La Fortuna is rank 2 of 15 markets in this Central America ranking by Airbtics Market Grade B, with 12.2% short-term rental yield, 57.0% occupancy, and +18.9% year-over-year revenue growth.

Compared with the other markets on this page, La Fortuna ranks top 50% for yield, top 10% for growth, and top 23% for demand. The market shows an average daily rate of $102, annual revenue of $21,841, a rent gap of 2346.0%, 812 active listings, lenient short-term rental regulation, and a typical 2-bedroom property price of $150,000.

  • Market gradeB
  • Yield12.2%
  • Revenue growth+18.9%
  • Occupancy57.0%
  • Average daily rate$102
  • Annual revenue$21,841
  • Rent gap2346.0%
  • Active listings812
  • 2-bedroom price$150,000
  • RegulationLenient
top 50%Yieldtop 10%Growthtop 23%Demand

Percentile versus other Central America markets on this page. Farther from the center is stronger.

  • Yield: top 50%
  • Growth: top 10%
  • Demand: top 23%

Rank 3 — Stann Creek District (Grade B)

Stann Creek District is rank 3 of 15 markets in this Central America ranking by Airbtics Market Grade B, with 30.3% short-term rental yield, 51.0% occupancy, and -1.3% year-over-year revenue growth.

Compared with the other markets on this page, Stann Creek District ranks top 3% for yield, lowest 43% for growth, and lowest 37% for demand. The market shows an average daily rate of $195, annual revenue of $36,999, a rent gap of 6400.0%, 737 active listings, lenient short-term rental regulation, and a typical 2-bedroom property price of $150,000.

  • Market gradeB
  • Yield30.3%
  • Revenue growth-1.3%
  • Occupancy51.0%
  • Average daily rate$195
  • Annual revenue$36,999
  • Rent gap6400.0%
  • Active listings737
  • 2-bedroom price$150,000
  • RegulationLenient
top 3%Yieldlowest 43%Growthlowest 37%Demand

Percentile versus other Central America markets on this page. Farther from the center is stronger.

  • Yield: top 3%
  • Growth: lowest 43%
  • Demand: lowest 37%

Market Rankboard: Central America

Each dot is a vacation rental market in Central America, plotted by occupancy rate (x-axis) and average daily rate (ADR) (y-axis). Dashed lines mark the national median.

Central America Airbnb markets rankboard scatter chart showing occupancy rate versus average daily rate (ADR)
Occupancy rate and average daily rate for each Central America market plotted in the chart above, in Market Grade order.
MarketOccupancy rateAverage daily rate
Panama City72.0%$90
La Fortuna57.0%$102
Stann Creek District51.0%$195
Playa Guiones Sur59.0%$282
Puntarenas Province47.0%$125
Tamarindo54.0%$187
Southern Caribbean Coast48.0%$106
Antigua57.0%$77
Quepos57.0%$136
Potrero-Flamingo54.0%$234
San Jose53.0%$69
Tegucigalpa36.0%$55
San Pedro Sula33.0%$56
Belize52.0%$162
Ciudad de Guatemala44.0%$54

Compare property prices, short-term rental yield, rent gap, annual revenue, and supply growth in the Airbtics Market Explorer watchlist.

See all Airbnb markets in Central America

Browse all 15 markets we track in Central America. Each link opens the market's Airbnb revenue and performance data page.

Central America Airbnb market FAQs

  • What are the best Airbnb markets in Central America?

    Airbtics ranks short-term rental markets in Central America by Market Grade. The grade compares yield (annual revenue divided by property price), year-over-year revenue growth, and occupancy, then adjusts for regulation. The highest-graded market in this dataset is Panama City. The main table lists markets in that order; use the Market Explorer to filter by budget, regulations, and more.

  • How many Airbnb markets does Airbtics track in Central America?

    We currently analyze 15 active short-term rental markets in Central America with listing supply, median occupancy, ADR, and revenue estimates.

  • What is the average Airbnb occupancy rate in Central America?

    The national average occupancy rate across tracked markets is 51.60% (LTM). Rates differ by city. Use the rankboard on this page, or open a market page for that city's numbers.

  • How do I compare Airbnb markets in Central America?

    Use the occupancy vs ADR rankboard on this page for a quick view, or open the Market Explorer to compare markets side by side, change chart axes, export to Excel, and save markets to a watchlist.

  • How can I estimate Airbnb income in Central America?

    Use our Airbnb income calculator to estimate revenue for a specific address, or open any market link below for median revenue and occupancy benchmarks.




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For trends, supply, and year-over-year changes, see the 2025 short-term rental report for Central America.