Airbnb Occupancy Rate in San José, Costa Rica, Data & Trends 2026
Curious about the performance of short-term rentals in San José, Costa Rica? Over the last year, the average occupancy rate was 58% with an ADR (Average Daily Rate) of 51€. Hosts earned on average 864€ per month.
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90-day occupancy forecast for San José so you can update rates and stay ahead of competitors.
Market summary in San José
Key metrics to optimize your pricing strategy
Avg. Monthly Revenue
864€
$786 USD
YoY Revenue Change
-6%
vs. previous year
Occupancy Rate
58%
~17 days/month
Average Daily Rate
51€
$46 USD
Seasonality Index
29%
demand variation
Best Months
March, January
peak season
Worst Months
June, September
low season
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What San José's occupancy and ADR actually mean
San José runs a 59% average occupancy across about 212 booked nights a year, exactly in line with Costa Rica's 59% national average, which is unsurprising given it is the only Costa Rican city tracked and effectively sets that benchmark. Its 51 euro average daily rate (about 46 dollars) produces average monthly revenue of 869 euros (around 790 dollars) per listing, modest figures that reflect a capital-city, gateway market rather than a premium beach resort.
Revenue fell 6% year on year, a softening worth noting against the flat-to-rising trends in some peers. The low 26% seasonality index confirms steady, year-round demand rather than a concentrated peak. Read together, the numbers describe a stable but value-priced market: reliable occupancy and even demand, but mid-level rates and a recent revenue dip that point to a maturing, competitive gateway market where consistency matters more than chasing a high season.
Monthly Airbnb occupancy in San José
Average occupancy rate by month in San José, compared with the same month a year earlier.
| Month | Occupancy | Prior year |
|---|---|---|
| Jul 2025 | 65.1% | 62.8% |
| Aug 2025 | 62.5% | 62.9% |
| Sep 2025 | 57.7% | 57.7% |
| Oct 2025 | 58.7% | 55.2% |
| Nov 2025 | 66.2% | 68.7% |
| Dec 2025 | 59.7% | 66.7% |
| Jan 2026 | 60.9% | 67.5% |
| Feb 2026 | 66.7% | 71.5% |
| Mar 2026 | 62.3% | 66% |
| Apr 2026 | 54% | 57.2% |
| May 2026 | 52.5% | 55.4% |
| Jun 2026 | 54.3% | 61.3% |
Historical Airbnb occupancy in San José (last 12 months)
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Airbnb occupancy forecast in San José (next 90 days)
These figures reflect real-time demand in San José, helping you plan and price strategically.
Why people book Airbnbs in San José
San José is Costa Rica's capital and the country's principal gateway, so its short-term rental demand is shaped by its role as a hub rather than a beach destination. Most international visitors land at nearby Juan Santamaría airport and pass through the metropolitan area on their way to the beaches, volcanoes and rainforests, generating a steady flow of one- and two-night transit stays at either end of a trip. The city itself offers the National Theatre, the Gold and Jade museums, the bustling Mercado Central and the leafy Barrio Amón, anchoring a culture-and-business clientele.
Beyond tourism transit, San José draws significant business, medical-tourism and longer-stay demand, including digital nomads and visitors using the city as a base for the Central Valley. With around 186 active listings tracked and just one Costa Rican city in this dataset, San José functions as the country's benchmark market, where occupancy is driven by a mix of gateway transit, business travel and the dry-season tourist calendar rather than a single beach peak.
When Airbnb demand peaks in San José
San José is a notably stable market, with a seasonality index of just 26%, so demand holds up across the year rather than concentrating in a short peak. The strongest months are March and January, aligning with Costa Rica's dry season (roughly December to April), the prime window for travellers heading onward to beaches and national parks. The softest months are September and April, with September sitting in the heart of the green (rainy) season and April marking the tail of the dry season as the high-season flow tapers.
The monthly series shows the pattern clearly: occupancy peaks around 71% in February and stays strong through the dry-season months, then eases into the high 50s during the wetter middle of the year. Because the swing is modest, San José behaves more like a steady gateway-and-business city than a seasonal resort. For operators, this favours consistent year-round pricing with a measured lift through the December-to-April dry season rather than steep seasonal repricing.
Best neighbourhoods for short-term rentals in San José
Barrio Escalante, the city's dining and café hotspot, is a top-converting area for short stays thanks to its walkable restaurants and central position. Nearby Barrio Amón, with its restored coffee-baron mansions and boutique charm, draws culture-minded and design-conscious guests close to the historic core.
La Sabana, around the large metropolitan park and the stadium, offers a greener, quieter base popular with longer stays and business travellers, while the eastern districts of Los Yoses and San Pedro, near the University of Costa Rica, attract students, academics and a younger crowd. For guests prioritising onward travel, proximity to the airport corridor and main highways often matters as much as a central address, given how many stays bookend trips to the rest of the country.
Short-term rental rules in San José
Costa Rica regulates short-term rentals nationally through Law 9742 (the 'Hospedaje No Tradicional' law) and its implementing decree, which brought platforms such as Airbnb into the formal tourism and tax framework. Hosts offering non-traditional lodging are generally required to register with the Instituto Costarricense de Turismo (ICT) and to comply with tax obligations through the Ministry of Finance (Hacienda), including charging and remitting the applicable VAT and proper invoicing.
Beyond the national regime, municipalities can set their own zoning and local rules, so legality can be national in principle but locally constrained, and reform bills (such as proposals debated in Congress) have signalled possible further tightening. Because compliance and enforcement have historically been uneven, anyone operating in San José should confirm current ICT registration and tax requirements directly with the ICT and Hacienda, and check the relevant municipality's rules, rather than relying on assumptions; treat licensing specifics as subject to change.
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* Calculations based on 30 days/month. Actual results may vary depending on market, season, property type, and implemented strategy.
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Frequently asked questions about Airbnb occupancy in San José
San José averaged about 59% occupancy over the analysis period, roughly 212 booked nights a year. That is exactly in line with Costa Rica's 59% national average, which makes sense since it is the only Costa Rican city tracked here. Demand is steady year-round, peaking near 71% in February during the dry season rather than spiking in a single short window.
March and January are the strongest months, aligning with Costa Rica's December-to-April dry season, the prime window for travellers heading on to beaches and parks. September and April are the softest, with September in the heart of the rainy season. With a low 26% seasonality index, demand is fairly even, so a measured dry-season lift beats steep seasonal repricing.
Costa Rica regulates short lets nationally under Law 9742. Hosts generally must register with the Instituto Costarricense de Turismo (ICT) and comply with tax duties through Hacienda, including charging and remitting VAT. Municipalities can add zoning rules, and reforms may tighten things further. Confirm current ICT registration and tax requirements directly, and check your municipality, before listing.
Barrio Escalante, the dining and café hotspot, converts well for short stays, as does the boutique, historic Barrio Amón. La Sabana, around the metropolitan park, suits quieter and longer business stays, while Los Yoses and San Pedro near the university draw students and a younger crowd. Because many stays bookend trips elsewhere, proximity to the airport corridor and highways can matter as much as a central address.