> ## Content Index > Fetch the complete content index at: https://www.buildtropical.com/llms.txt > Use this file to discover other available public pages before exploring further. # Airbnb Occupancy Rates in Costa Rica by Region: What the Numbers Actually Show (2026) - URL: https://www.buildtropical.com/airbnb-occupancy-rates-costa-rica/ - Published: 2026-08-19T15:00:00.000Z - Updated: 2026-08-19T15:00:00.000Z - Description: Real Airbnb occupancy rates in Costa Rica by region for 2026. Tamarindo, Nosara, Santa Teresa, Uvita, and San José compared. What the data says and what it means for investors. - Author: James Caldwell - Tags: Investment, Guides The occupancy figures that get quoted in Costa Rica Airbnb investment conversations are almost always wrong. Not deliberately in most cases, but because they are drawn from peak season data, projected forward across the full year, or sourced from platforms that measure different things in different ways. The number a developer shows you in a sales presentation is not the same number your property will achieve when the green season arrives and the available listings in your area have doubled since the data was collected. I want to give you a more useful picture. What the data from 2025 and early 2026 actually shows by region, what the seasonal patterns look like, and what the numbers mean for the investment math. **Airbnb Occupancy in Costa Rica: The Real Numbers**National average annual Airbnb occupancy in Costa Rica runs approximately 37 to 44 percent depending on the data source and market segment. Tamarindo leads measurable markets at around 48 to 56 percent blended annual occupancy with average daily rates near $343\. Nosara commands higher rates but lower raw occupancy. San José shows the most stable occupancy at around 53 percent but at a far lower nightly rate of around $59\. The Southern Pacific and secondary markets are less saturated and show better potential for new entrants. The gap between high season and green season occupancy in beach markets is the number most investors fail to properly account for. In this article [How to read occupancy data](#)[Tamarindo and North Guanacaste](#)[Nosara and Samara](#)[Santa Teresa and the Nicoya Peninsula](#)[Southern Pacific](#)[San José and Central Valley](#)[The seasonal pattern every investor needs to understand](#)[What the numbers mean for the investment thesis](#)[FAQ](#) ## How to Read Occupancy Data Occupancy data for Costa Rica short-term rentals comes from several sources including AirDNA, AirROI, Airbtics, and various real estate research platforms. Each measures slightly differently, pulls from different data sets, and calculates occupancy in slightly different ways. The figures you will see across sources for the same market will often vary by 5 to 15 percentage points, which is not a sign that the data is unreliable but a sign that you should not anchor to any single number. For investment purposes, the most useful number is blended annual occupancy rather than peak season occupancy. A property that achieves 70 percent occupancy in December and January but 25 percent in September and October has a blended annual occupancy that is closer to 45 percent than to 70\. The total revenue that number produces is what pays the mortgage, the management fee, and the maintenance costs. Always ask for and model the full-year figure. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/5c/77/5c773e3c-e4b7-4036-8d83-44b086f5fd39/content/images/2026/04/Master-Toucan.png) ## Tamarindo and North Guanacaste Tamarindo is the most data-rich short-term rental market in Costa Rica by volume of active listings, which makes it the most useful benchmark for the whole country. As of early 2026, Tamarindo shows blended annual occupancy in the range of 40 to 56 percent depending on the source, with average daily rates between $343 and $357\. The wide occupancy range between sources reflects both methodology differences and the significant spread between top-performing and bottom-performing listings. Entry-level or poorly differentiated listings in Tamarindo show occupancy as low as 21 percent. Top-performing properties with pools, strong reviews, and professional management achieve 60 to 65 percent blended annually. The listing count in Tamarindo, currently over 1,300 active properties on major platforms, is the more important context for these numbers. The market has roughly doubled in supply since 2020 while demand growth has been meaningful but not proportional. The result is that occupancy in the middle of the market has compressed from where it was in 2021 and 2022\. Differentiation, through design quality, management professionalism, and a distinct product, matters more in Tamarindo now than it did when the market was less saturated. The northern Guanacaste corridor, including Playas del Coco and the Papagayo area, shows lower listing density and somewhat more stable occupancy because the supply boom has not hit as hard. The tradeoff is lower average daily rates compared to Tamarindo's beach access premium. ## Nosara and Samara Nosara operates differently from Tamarindo. The supply of short-term rentals is constrained by environmental zoning, which limits buildable land near the beach, and the buyer profile skews toward lifestyle purchasers rather than pure investment buyers. The result is a market where the average daily rate, in the range of $350 to $500 for well-located properties in the wellness and surf category, is 20 to 40 percent higher than Tamarindo while the occupancy sits in the 45 to 51 percent range for the broader market. Premium properties targeting the wellness and yoga demographic can exceed this. The Nosara market is less about raw occupancy and more about yield per occupied night. A well-positioned Nosara property achieving 48 percent occupancy at $420 per night generates more gross revenue than a Tamarindo property achieving 55 percent at $300 per night. The calculation still needs to account for management fees, maintenance, and the higher acquisition cost of a Nosara property before the net yield comparison is meaningful. Samara, south of Nosara, is quieter and less internationally known. Occupancy rates are lower and so are average daily rates, but the acquisition cost is also lower. It is a more speculative market, with returns depending more on Samara's trajectory than on established demand. The most consistent mistake I see in Costa Rica Airbnb investment analysis is modeling high season occupancy as a proxy for full-year performance. Tamarindo's peak month can hit 60 percent occupancy at $464 per night. The slowest month hits 27 percent at $317\. The blended year is what you actually earn. Model both ends. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/5c/77/5c773e3c-e4b7-4036-8d83-44b086f5fd39/content/images/2026/04/Master-Toucan.png) ## Santa Teresa and the Nicoya Peninsula Santa Teresa is the most interesting market for new investment in the short-term rental space right now, not because it is the highest-performing market but because it has not yet been as saturated as Tamarindo. Supply has grown significantly and Santa Teresa is now Costa Rica's most expensive beach market by listing price average, which reflects both the quality of what is being built and the strength of demand. The average daily rates for quality properties are strong, in the $300 to $600 range for well-positioned villas, and the guest profile, surf and wellness travelers, sustains those rates reasonably well across the year with some green season softness. The access challenge that makes Santa Teresa harder to reach is also what has slowed the pace of speculative construction. The rental market there is competitive but not flooded in the way Tamarindo is. As access improves through road upgrades and expanded local flight service, that competitive advantage will compress. The window for entering a less-saturated Santa Teresa market is real but not permanent. ## Southern Pacific The Southern Pacific, including Uvita, Dominical, and Ojochal, is consistently flagged by market analysts as undersaturated relative to its natural appeal. The listing count is low, the demand from the specific traveler drawn to the whale tail and the jungle setting is genuine, and the acquisition costs are meaningfully lower than the northern Pacific coast. The constraint is access. The Southern Pacific attracts a smaller and more self-selecting guest pool than Tamarindo or Santa Teresa, which produces lower raw occupancy in most properties. The properties that outperform in Uvita tend to be distinctive in either their setting, their design, or both. A generic two-bedroom with a pool in Uvita will underperform a comparable property in Tamarindo because the demand pool is smaller. A distinctive villa in an extraordinary location will hold its own. Before you commit Most budget blowouts in Costa Rica are locked in long before anyone pours concrete — in the scope you never defined and the number you never pressure-tested. **Build Ready** is the 70-point checklist, scope worksheet and budget model I use to get that on paper before a client talks to land agents, architects or contractors. [See what is inside Build Ready →](https://www.buildtropical.com/build-ready/) ## San José and Central Valley San José shows the most stable annual occupancy of any Costa Rica market, around 53 percent, at an average daily rate of approximately $59 per night. The demand is driven by business travel, airport transit, and urban tourism rather than the beach-driven seasonal pattern that affects coastal markets. The result is lower revenue per occupied night but lower seasonal volatility. For investors who find the seasonal pattern of beach markets difficult to underwrite, the Central Valley warrants a look. The investment math is different, the guest profile is different, and the property type is different, but the occupancy stability is genuine. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/5c/77/5c773e3c-e4b7-4036-8d83-44b086f5fd39/content/images/2026/04/Master-Toucan.png) ## The Seasonal Pattern Every Investor Needs to Understand Costa Rica's Pacific coast has two distinct seasons: dry season from December through April and rainy season from May through November. For Airbnb investment, the revenue implications of this pattern are more significant than most buyers understand when they run initial projections. In Tamarindo, the peak month reaches 60 percent occupancy at rates near $464 per night. The slowest month drops to 27 percent occupancy at around $317\. Green season, May through October, is genuinely soft, with months in the 30 to 40 percent occupancy range. A property that generates $8,000 gross in a peak month might generate $2,500 in a slow green season month. This matters because annual debt service, management fees, and operating costs do not follow the seasonal pattern. They are relatively constant. The six-month high season needs to subsidize the six-month shoulder and green season. If your investment underwriting assumes consistent occupancy year-round, you are building the business case on incorrect assumptions. The difference between a Costa Rica Airbnb investment that works and one that does not is almost never the property. It is whether the investor properly accounted for green season in the annual model. ## What the Numbers Mean for the Investment Thesis A well-managed two to three bedroom property with pool in a strong coastal market, Tamarindo, Nosara, or Santa Teresa, at realistic 50 to 60 percent annual occupancy and average daily rates of $300 to $400, generates gross annual revenue of $55,000 to $85,000\. After management fees of 20 to 25 percent, utilities, insurance, maintenance reserves, and property tax, net revenue lands in the $30,000 to $50,000 range. On a total investment of $400,000 to $600,000 (land plus construction), that is a net yield of 5 to 8 percent for a well-performing property in a well-chosen location. Properties that underperform this range are typically either in the wrong location, inadequately differentiated, or poorly managed. Properties that outperform tend to have a specific advantage: a genuinely exceptional site, a design that produces compelling photography, or management that consistently generates strong reviews. The average well-built Airbnb in a competitive Costa Rica market is not a passive investment. It requires active management and a reason for guests to choose it. For more on the build cost side of the investment, see our [guide to building an Airbnb in Costa Rica](https://www.buildtropical.com/cost-build-airbnb-costa-rica) and our analysis of [Costa Rica real estate investment](https://www.buildtropical.com/investing-costa-rica-real-estate). ## Frequently Asked Questions About Airbnb Occupancy in Costa Rica ### What is the average Airbnb occupancy rate in Costa Rica? National average annual occupancy runs approximately 37 to 44 percent depending on the data source and market segment. Tamarindo leads measurable beach markets at 40 to 56 percent blended annually. San José shows the most stable occupancy at around 53 percent, driven by business and transit demand rather than seasonal tourism. ### Which region in Costa Rica has the best Airbnb occupancy rates? Tamarindo has the highest raw occupancy among beach markets with substantial data. Nosara achieves comparable or better revenue per occupied night through higher average daily rates despite slightly lower occupancy. Santa Teresa represents the best relative opportunity for new investment because supply has not saturated the market to the same degree. The Southern Pacific is undersaturated and growing. ### How does green season affect Airbnb income in Costa Rica? Significantly. Beach markets in Guanacaste and the Pacific coast see occupancy drop to 25 to 40 percent during the green season months of May through October, compared to 55 to 70 percent during peak dry season. Revenue in a slow green season month may be 30 to 40 percent of what a peak month produces. Annual investment underwriting must account for this seasonal pattern rather than projecting peak performance year-round. ### What net yield can I expect from a Costa Rica Airbnb investment? Net yields for well-managed, well-located properties in strong coastal markets run 5 to 8 percent on total investment (land plus construction). Gross revenue for a two to three bedroom with pool at realistic occupancy runs $55,000 to $85,000 annually. After management fees of 20 to 25 percent and operating costs, net revenue is substantially lower. Properties that outperform tend to have a specific differentiator in location, design, or management quality. ### How many Airbnb listings are there in Tamarindo? As of early 2026, Tamarindo has approximately 1,300 active listings on major platforms, roughly double the 2020 count. This supply growth, without proportional demand growth, has compressed occupancy for undifferentiated mid-market properties. Top-performing properties with strong reviews and distinctive features continue to outperform the market average. ![Build Ready — Costa Rica construction checklist, scope worksheet and budget calculator](https://storage.ghost.io/c/5c/77/5c773e3c-e4b7-4036-8d83-44b086f5fd39/content/images/2026/08/build-ready-costa-rica-construction-checklist-scope-workshee.png) Build Tropical · Full Guide 01 Planning a Build in Costa Rica? Most budget blowouts are locked in before anyone pours concrete. Build Ready is the 70 point checklist, scope worksheet and budget model that drags those decisions into the open, so you know your real number and your real scope before you commit to land, an architect or a contractor. [See Build Ready — $199 →](https://www.buildtropical.com/build-ready/) ![James Caldwell](https://storage.ghost.io/c/5c/77/5c773e3c-e4b7-4036-8d83-44b086f5fd39/content/images/2026/04/Dead_Architect_ultra_realistic_headshot_of_a_professional_man_2700dcaf-53fb-43b4-8fde-0b5181c9ed83_3-1.png) ABOUT THE AUTHOR James Caldwell James Caldwell is a real estate investor and writer based on the Pacific coast of Costa Rica. He spent fifteen years in commercial real estate in Canada before shifting his focus to the Costa Rica market. He writes for Build Tropical about the numbers behind property decisions, the ones that hold up and the ones that do not.