best places to start an airbnb for digital nomad
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best places to start an airbnb for digital nomad
If you’re a digital nomad, you probably love the freedom to travel, bouncing between cities, co-working cafés, and new experiences. But after a while, it’s natural to want something a little more permanent. A base. A home you return to every year.
One smart way to do that is to invest in a short-term rental in a place you already love. Somewhere you’d happily spend a few months each year. The good news? Many of these destinations also offer high rental yields. Not all of them, of course, but enough to cover your costs, and sometimes even fund your next flight.
Instead of spending thousands on hotels or Airbnbs, you could stay in your place and let it earn for you while you’re away.
🇹🇭 Bangkok, Thailand
If you’ve spent time in Bangkok, you know the energy: co-working cafés, 24/7 food stalls, and rooftop pools for $40/night. For STR operators, it’s one of the most active Southeast Asian cities.
- Regulations: Short-term rentals exist in a grey area, but enforcement is inconsistent and many hosts operate openly.
- Ownership: Foreigners can buy condos (not land), but you’ll need to pay in full — financing is rarely an option.
- Data point: 1-bedroom units in central Bangkok average $153,500. Yield? Around 7.8% — decent, but not the highest.
- Tip: Pool amenities are a must — 58% of STR listings offer one.
Is it saturated? Kind of. But the demand side is strong, especially for well-furnished places in Sukhumvit or Silom.
Lisbon, Portugal
Lisbon is where surf vibes meet startup vibes. A great base for EU access, and a popular stop on the remote worker circuit.
- Regulations: Lisbon is introducing Airbnb-free zones. You’ll need to be strategic — not all areas are fair game.
- Prices: Property prices have surged downtown, especially post-Golden Visa rush.
- Data point: 1-bedroom properties can easily go above $278,000, with 82% occupancy and ~$33K annual revenue.
Portugal is still a fantastic play if you can find the right zone. Want flexibility? Consider cities like Porto or Coimbra.
Canggu, Bali
Bali isn’t just a travel spot — it’s a rental cash cow. And Canggu has become the de facto capital of digital nomadism.
- Ownership: You don’t “own” land as a foreigner, but you can lease for 25–30 years, which is normal.
- Residency: Indonesia requires a ~$120K deposit for a long-term visa — something to factor in.
- Data point: Canggu 1-beds average $189K, but generate $26K/year. Yields push near 14% — one of the best.
- Occupancy: 67% average, 89% of listings have a pool.
Risk? Bali is tourism-dependent. But when it’s on, it’s ON.
Barcelona, Spain
Barcelona’s architecture, beaches, and culture make it feel like a dream. Sadly, that’s all it’ll be for Airbnb operators.
- Regulations: Almost no new STR licenses are being issued.
- Sentiment: Local opposition is fierce. Regulations are unlikely to ease up.
- Alternative: Look at Valencia, Alicante, or Zaragoza. They’re well-connected by train and far more short-term-rental-friendly.
If you really want Spain, don’t write it off — just look beyond the obvious.
Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
KL is underrated. Fast internet, modern apartments, and high-rise city views — at a fraction of the price of most capitals.
- Ownership: Foreigners can buy condos above RM 1M (~$230K). No land, but plenty of vertical options.
- Popular areas: Mont Kiara, KLCC, Desa ParkCity (though Desa doesn’t allow Airbnb).
- Data point: 1-bedroom properties go for $86K on average. Annual revenue: ~$10.2K. Yield: ~11.8%.
- Wildcard: Kota Kinabalu. Lower prices, ocean views, and up to 3x higher yield than KL.
KL is solid — but if you’re yield-chasing, Sabah might surprise you.
Tbilisi, Georgia
Georgia is becoming a nomad favorite — friendly visas, low taxes, and surprisingly strong STR returns.
- Ownership: Foreigners can buy freely. No special visa required to invest.
- Cost: You can find solid 1-beds for $79,900, with over 11% yield.
- Vibe: Mix of Eastern European charm and modern infrastructure. Great spot for long stays and digital base-building.
And yes — wine here is incredible.
🇦🇪 Dubai, UAE
Dubai is a beast of its own. Luxury, scale, and regulatory clarity make it one of the easiest cities to operate STRs legally.
- Ownership: Full ownership allowed for foreigners. Business-friendly with easy residency setup.
- Data point: 1-bedroom STRs average $161,000, with ~70% occupancy and strong competition.
- Challenge: Oversupply. New listings are growing faster than tourist demand.
- Upside: Massive long-term potential. It’s already a top 5 STR market by volume.
You’ll need to stand out — but the infrastructure makes everything easier.
🇵🇭 Islands in the Philippines (Boracay, Bohol, Siargao)
Underrated and full of upside.
- Demand: Strong local travel demand from a population of 100M+. Also popular with Korean and East Asian tourists.
- Ownership: Foreigners can buy condos or properties with shared ownership (up to 49% of land).
- Property type: Bigger homes do better — Filipinos travel in large groups.
- Potential: Low foreign competition, high growth upside, especially in emerging islands.
If you’re adventurous and like ground-floor opportunities, this is your sandbox.
🔍 Want to go deeper?
These numbers are pulled directly from the Airbtics dashboard. If you’re considering one of these markets — or any others — we make it easy to:
- Check STR regulations
- Compare revenue by bedroom count
- Analyze occupancy by season
- Benchmark against other hosts
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