Costa Rica STR Market 2025–2026: Top Destinations, KPIs & Smart Investment Insights
- Charlie Abarca
- Jun 10
- 4 min read
The New Face of Short-Term Rentals in Costa Rica
As tourism in Costa Rica rebounds and digital nomads continue to flood the tropics, the Airbnb market is once again under the spotlight. But the game has changed: while more listings and rising ADRs show promise, occupancy rates tell a more competitive story.
Whether you're a seasoned investor or a first-time host, navigating this evolving landscape requires sharp insight, accurate data, and boots-on-the-ground support.
2024–2025 Recap: A Market in Motion
Last year, Costa Rica experienced a 24 % increase in active listings, but this oversupply caused average occupancy to dip from 49 % to 39 % by mid-2024. Still, the story wasn’t all downbeat—Average Daily Rates (ADR) increased, and total host revenue grew by over $2.8M, particularly in high-end coastal markets.
By 2025, occupancy began recovering steadily, thanks to a rebound in tourism, a growing expat base, and more strategic hosting.
📍 Top 3 Airbnb Markets in Costa Rica
Based on occupancy trends, ADR, and annual revenue potential, here are the top-performing destinations from June 2024 to May 2025 for 2-3 Bedrooms:
🌴 Nosara Airbnb Market (June 2024 – May 2025)
Nosara continues to hold its spot as one of Costa Rica’s most premium short-term rental destinations — and the numbers reflect that.
💵 Annual Revenue: $43,700 — down just a bit (−2%) from last year
📉 Occupancy Rate: 52% — a small dip (−4%), likely tied to seasonal shifts or more listings coming online
💰 Average Daily Rate (ADR): $332.89 — actually up +2%, meaning travelers are still willing to pay for the Nosara lifestyle
📊 RevPAR: $173.90 — down slightly (−3%), mostly due to that occupancy dip
🔍 What it Means
Despite some minor drops in occupancy and overall revenue, Nosara is still pulling in premium nightly rates. This tells us the destination is maintaining its luxury appeal and is ideal for higher-end hosts offering great experiences, wellness retreats, or surf-focused stays.
So if you're thinking about investing in an Airbnb in Nosara, the key is to stand out with quality, not quantity — the demand is there, especially if your property offers something special.
🌅 Cabo Velas Airbnb (2024–2025)
Cabo Velas is holding strong with solid short-term rental numbers — not massive jumps, but definitely consistent performance.
💵 Annual Revenue: $44,200 — just a slight dip of −1% from last year
🛏️ Occupancy Rate: 60% — down 2%, but still quite healthy
💰 Average Daily Rate (ADR): $261.66 — stable year-over-year (0% change)
📊 RevPAR: $157.04 — a tiny slide of −2%, in line with the slight occupancy shift
🔍 What This Tells Us
Cabo Velas is a stable performer — it’s not riding a major growth wave, but it’s not struggling either. The 60% occupancy rate shows there’s solid demand, especially for well-located or thoughtfully designed rentals.
With ADR holding steady at $260+, it’s clear that travelers are still happy to pay a good nightly rate here. So, for investors or hosts, it’s all about keeping standards high, maybe adding unique touches to stand out and earn a little more per booking.
This is the kind of market where consistency wins — not flashy, but very solid.
🌄 Savegre Airbnb (2024–2025)
Savegre had a really solid year — in fact, it’s one of the few markets showing clear growth across all key metrics. Quietly but steadily, it's becoming a very attractive place for short-term rental investors.
💵 Annual Revenue: $42,700 — up 18% year-over-year
🛏️ Occupancy Rate: 54% — a healthy increase of +3%
💰 Average Daily Rate (ADR): $260.69 — up +9%
📊 RevPAR (Revenue per Available Rental): $141.89 — up +11%
🔍 What This Tells Us
This is exactly the kind of performance you want to see in a developing Airbnb market: occupancy, pricing, and revenue are all on the rise.
The 9% increase in ADR suggests hosts are delivering more value (or better presentation), while the 3% rise in occupancy confirms there’s growing interest from travelers. Combined, that led to an impressive jump in RevPAR and total revenue.
In short, Savegre is trending up, and it’s doing so in a balanced, sustainable way — making it a great area to explore for those looking to get in before prices spike or the market gets crowded.
📊 2025–2026 Projections
Metric | 2025 | 2026 Forecast |
Occupancy Rate | Recovering to 50–60 % avg. | Likely to stabilize at 60–70 % in top areas |
ADR Growth | Holding in premium zones | Slight growth with inflation + demand |
Tourism Revenue | +2–3 % YoY to ~$5B | Continued 2–4 % annual growth |
Regulatory Risk | Low but increasing by canton | Expected STR regulation by 2026 in key zones |
🧠 Investment Takeaways
Focus on premium: Guests are willing to pay for value, privacy, and a well-run experience.
Watch oversupply: Some beach towns are saturated — know your competition.
Ride the long-stay wave: Bookings over 14 nights are growing — especially for villas and remote work setups.
Monitor ADR carefully: Don’t race to the bottom. Smart pricing outperforms static discounting.
✅ Let EC Management Guide Your Airbnb Investment
At EC Management, we offer more than just advice — we deliver results. With deep experience in the Costa Rican market and on-the-ground insight, we help investors:
Identify top-performing areas
Run investment feasibility reports
Source the right property
Handle everything from furnishing to full-service guest management
Whether you're looking to purchase your first Airbnb or expand your portfolio, our team will craft a custom strategy based on real data, local know-how, and your investment goals.
👉 Let us show you the best opportunities before they hit the mainstream.
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