Authored by the expert who managed and guided the team behind the Colombia Property Pack
Everything you need to know before buying real estate is included in our Colombia Property Pack
Cali is Colombia's salsa capital, and its short-term rental market reflects the city's vibrant cultural appeal and growing tourism sector.
In this article, we break down everything you need to know about running an Airbnb in Cali in 2026, from legal requirements to realistic earnings and competitive dynamics.
We constantly update this blog post with the latest data on housing prices and rental performance in Cali, so you always get fresh information.
And if you're planning to buy a property in this place, you may want to download our pack covering the real estate market in Cali (Colombia).
Insights
- The average nightly rate for an Airbnb in Cali in 2026 sits around 147,000 COP (roughly $39 USD), which is notably lower than coastal Colombian destinations like Cartagena, making it easier for budget travelers to book but requiring higher occupancy to generate strong returns.
- During Feria de Cali in late December, hotel occupancy jumps to 82% and over 108,000 visitors flood the city, creating a short but intense revenue spike that smart hosts can leverage by raising prices 30% to 50% above their usual rates.
- Building bylaws (propiedad horizontal under Law 675) can completely block short-term rentals in specific apartments, meaning two units in the same Cali neighborhood can have entirely different legal statuses for Airbnb hosting.
- Colombia's December 2025 draft decree signals stricter platform obligations coming soon, so hosts who formalize their RNT registration now will be better positioned when enforcement tightens.
- The most saturated Cali neighborhoods for Airbnb are Granada, El Peñón, San Antonio, and Versalles, while Ciudad Jardín and Pance remain relatively undersupplied for family and longer-stay travelers.
- One and two-bedroom apartments account for the bulk of bookings in Cali, driven by couples, solo travelers, and business visitors who prioritize walkability over space.
- Realistic monthly net profit for a typical Airbnb in Cali ranges from 4.5 million to 7.9 million COP (roughly $1,200 to $2,100 USD), but this assumes occupancy around 45% and careful expense management.
- Top-performing hosts in Cali reach 55% to 60% occupancy by investing in professional photos, fast response times, and pricing that adjusts for local events like the Maratón de Cali and Petronio Álvarez festival.
Can I legally run an Airbnb in Cali (Colombia) in 2026?
Is short-term renting allowed in Cali (Colombia) in 2026?
As of the first half of 2026, short-term renting is allowed in Cali, but it is treated as a tourism activity that requires formal registration with Colombia's National Tourism Registry (RNT).
The main legal framework comes from Law 2068 (the updated tourism law) and the RNT system administered through Confecámaras, which together define what counts as a tourism accommodation provider in Colombia.
The single most important condition hosts must comply with is obtaining and displaying a valid RNT registration number on all listings, which became mandatory for platforms like Airbnb since August 2022.
Beyond national rules, your building's propiedad horizontal (condo bylaws under Law 675) can prohibit or restrict short-term rentals entirely, which means you must verify your building's internal regulations before listing.
Operating without proper RNT registration can result in fines and potential removal from platforms, and a December 2025 draft decree signals that enforcement is likely to become stricter in the coming months.
For a more general view, you can read our article detailing what exactly foreigners can own and buy in Colombia.
If you are an American, you might want to read our blog article detailing the property rights of US citizens in Colombia.
Are there minimum-stay rules and maximum nights-per-year caps for Airbnbs in Cali (Colombia) as of 2026?
As of the first half of 2026, there is no clear national minimum-stay requirement or maximum nights-per-year cap for Airbnb hosts in Cali under the core RNT framework.
These rules do not differ by property type or host residency status at the national level, though your building's condo bylaws can impose their own restrictions, such as prohibiting stays shorter than 30 days.
Since Colombia's RNT focuses on who can operate rather than imposing a nights cap, most hosts manage their own calendars based on demand and building rules rather than government-mandated tracking systems.
Do I have to live there, or can I Airbnb a secondary home in Cali (Colombia) right now?
There is no national residency requirement for operating an Airbnb in Cali, so you do not need to live in the property to list it for short-term rental.
Owners of secondary homes and investment properties can legally operate short-term rentals in Cali, and this is actually quite common in the city's vacation rental stock.
The main conditions that apply are the same for all hosts: you need valid RNT registration and must ensure your building's bylaws allow short-term rentals if you own an apartment or townhouse in a conjunto.
There is no meaningful regulatory difference in Cali between renting out a primary residence versus a secondary home, though owners managing properties remotely often hire local co-hosts or property managers to handle day-to-day operations.
Don't buy the wrong property, in the wrong area of Cali (Colombia)
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Can I run multiple Airbnbs under one name in Cali (Colombia) right now?
Yes, you can run multiple Airbnb listings under one name in Cali, and it is common for small operators to manage several apartments or houses across the city.
There is no explicit maximum number of properties that one person or entity can list for short-term rental under Colombia's national framework, though scaling up increases your compliance burden.
When operating multiple listings, you will need to ensure each property is properly registered with the RNT, and you may need formal business registration and tax handling with DIAN if your hosting activity looks like a commercial operation.
Do I need a short-term rental license or a business registration to host in Cali (Colombia) as of 2026?
As of the first half of 2026, the main license-like requirement for short-term rental hosts in Cali is registration with the National Tourism Registry (RNT), which is handled through the Confecámaras portal.
The RNT registration process requires submitting your personal or RUT information, property details including address and room count, and agreeing to a code of conduct for preventing child exploitation, with confirmation typically arriving within 15 business days.
You will need documents like your identification, RUT (tax ID), and property details, and if you are considered a merchant under Colombian law, you must also submit financial statements and operational capacity information.
RNT registration itself does not have a fee, but you must renew annually between January and March, and a December 2025 draft decree suggests that platform verification requirements may tighten soon.
Are there neighborhood bans or restricted zones for Airbnb in Cali (Colombia) as of 2026?
As of the first half of 2026, there is no clear citywide "banned neighborhood list" or zoning-based restricted zone for Airbnb in Cali under the national tourism framework.
What actually creates restricted zones in Cali are building-level restrictions, meaning that in popular neighborhoods like San Antonio, Granada, El Peñón, or Versalles, one building might prohibit short-term rentals while the building next door allows them.
The main reason for these micro-restrictions is Law 675 (propiedad horizontal), which gives condo assemblies and conjuntos the power to impose internal rules that can function as a de facto ban on short-term rentals.
We made this infographic to show you how property prices in Colombia compare to other big cities across the region. It breaks down the average price per square meter in city centers, so you can see how cities stack up. It’s an easy way to spot where you might get the best value for your money. We hope you like it.
How much can an Airbnb earn in Cali (Colombia) in 2026?
What's the average and median nightly price on Airbnb in Cali (Colombia) in 2026?
As of the first half of 2026, the average nightly price (ADR) for an Airbnb listing in Cali is approximately 147,000 COP, which equals about $39 USD or 37 EUR, while the median nightly price sits around 129,000 COP ($34 USD / 32 EUR) due to a large supply of budget apartments pulling the midpoint down.
The typical nightly price range that covers roughly 80% of Cali listings falls between 83,000 COP and 265,000 COP (about $22 to $70 USD / 21 to 66 EUR), with budget apartaestudios at the low end and premium multi-bedroom units in upscale neighborhoods at the high end.
The single factor with the biggest impact on nightly pricing in Cali is location, specifically whether your property is in a walkable, central neighborhood like Granada or El Peñón, or in more residential areas farther from the tourist circuit.
By the way, you will find much more detailed profitability rent ranges in our property pack covering the real estate market in Cali (Colombia).
How much do nightly prices vary by neighborhood in Cali (Colombia) in 2026?
As of the first half of 2026, nightly Airbnb prices in Cali range from around 83,000 COP ($22 USD / 21 EUR) in more affordable, residential areas like La Flora to over 300,000 COP ($80 USD / 75 EUR) in premium neighborhoods like Pance and Ciudad Jardín.
The three neighborhoods with the highest average nightly prices in Cali are Pance, Ciudad Jardín, and Santa Teresita, where listings typically command 189,000 to 302,000 COP ($50 to $80 USD / 47 to 75 EUR) thanks to larger homes, greenery, and a perception of exclusivity.
The three neighborhoods with the lowest average nightly prices are parts of La Flora, northern Chipichape, and more residential mid-city zones, where rates often fall between 83,000 and 150,000 COP ($22 to $40 USD / 21 to 37 EUR), though guests still choose these areas for practical stays and proximity to business districts.
What's the typical occupancy rate in Cali (Colombia) in 2026?
As of the first half of 2026, the typical annualized occupancy rate for Airbnb listings in Cali is around 45%, which translates to roughly 13 to 14 booked nights per month for an average listing.
The realistic occupancy range for most Cali listings falls between 25% and 60%, with weaker listings (poor photos, inconvenient locations, few reviews) at the bottom and well-optimized properties in central neighborhoods reaching the higher end.
Compared to major Colombian beach destinations like Cartagena or Santa Marta, Cali's occupancy is moderate, reflecting the city's status as a cultural and business destination rather than a pure vacation spot.
The single factor with the biggest impact on achieving above-average occupancy in Cali is listing quality, specifically professional photos, fast response times, strong reviews, and smart pricing around local events like Feria de Cali and Petronio Álvarez.
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What's the average monthly revenue per listing in Cali (Colombia) in 2026?
As of the first half of 2026, the average monthly revenue per Airbnb listing in Cali is approximately 13 million COP, which equals about $3,400 USD or 3,200 EUR, though the median (more typical for a regular host) sits closer to 9.8 million COP ($2,600 USD / 2,450 EUR).
The realistic monthly revenue range that covers roughly 80% of Cali listings falls between 3 million and 17 million COP (about $800 to $4,500 USD / 750 to 4,200 EUR), with the wide spread reflecting differences in property size, location, and host professionalism.
Top-performing Airbnb listings in Cali can achieve monthly revenues of 17 million to 23 million COP ($4,500 to $6,000 USD / 4,200 to 5,650 EUR) during high season, particularly around Feria de Cali when prices spike and occupancy approaches 80% or higher.
Finally, note that we give here all the information you need to buy and rent out a property in Cali (Colombia).
What's the typical low-season vs high-season monthly revenue in Cali (Colombia) in 2026?
As of the first half of 2026, typical monthly revenue during high season in Cali reaches 17 million to 23 million COP ($4,500 to $6,000 USD / 4,200 to 5,650 EUR), while low season drops to 7.5 million to 10.5 million COP ($2,000 to $2,800 USD / 1,880 to 2,630 EUR).
High season in Cali centers on late December (Feria de Cali), the August Petronio Álvarez festival, major sports and concert weekends, and the early May Maratón de Cali, while low season typically spans the quieter months without major citywide events.
What's a realistic Airbnb monthly expense range in Cali (Colombia) in 2026?
As of the first half of 2026, realistic monthly operating expenses for an Airbnb in Cali range from 3.4 million COP ($900 USD / 850 EUR) for a lean self-managed apartment to 13 million COP ($3,500 USD / 3,290 EUR) for a larger villa with pool, garden, and security staff.
The single expense category that typically represents the largest share of monthly costs in Cali is cleaning and turnover, often running 1.1 million to 2.3 million COP ($300 to $600 USD / 280 to 565 EUR) per month depending on booking frequency and property size.
Hosts in Cali should typically expect to spend between 30% and 45% of gross revenue on operating expenses, including cleaning, utilities, internet, restocking, maintenance reserve, platform fees, and optional co-hosting or property management.
If you want to go into more details, we also have a blog article detailing all the property taxes and fees in Cali (Colombia).
What's realistic monthly net profit and profit per available night for Airbnb in Cali (Colombia) in 2026?
As of the first half of 2026, realistic monthly net profit for an Airbnb in Cali ranges from 4.5 million to 7.9 million COP ($1,200 to $2,100 USD / 1,130 to 1,975 EUR), with net profit per available night falling between 150,000 and 265,000 COP ($40 to $70 USD / 38 to 66 EUR).
The realistic monthly net profit range for most Cali listings falls between 3.5 million and 9 million COP ($930 to $2,400 USD / 870 to 2,255 EUR), depending heavily on occupancy rates, expense management, and whether the host self-manages or uses professional services.
Net profit margins for Airbnb hosts in Cali typically range from 30% to 50% of gross revenue, with higher margins achieved by hosts who self-manage, keep turnovers efficient, and price smartly around local events.
The break-even occupancy rate for a typical Airbnb listing in Cali is around 25% to 30%, meaning you need roughly 8 to 9 booked nights per month just to cover operating expenses before generating any profit.
In our property pack covering the real estate market in Cali (Colombia), we explain the best strategies to improve your cashflows.
We did some research and made this infographic to help you quickly compare rental yields of the major cities in Colombia versus those in neighboring countries. It provides a clear view of how this country positions itself as a real estate investment destination, which might interest you if you’re planning to invest there.
How competitive is Airbnb in Cali (Colombia) as of 2026?
How many active Airbnb listings are in Cali (Colombia) as of 2026?
As of the first half of 2026, there are approximately 8,300 active Airbnb and Vrbo listings in Cali, making it one of the larger short-term rental markets in Colombia outside of Cartagena and Medellín.
This number has grown steadily over the past few years, reflecting Cali's rising profile as a cultural destination, though the pace of growth has moderated as the market matures and regulatory attention increases.
Which neighborhoods are most saturated in Cali (Colombia) as of 2026?
As of the first half of 2026, the most saturated neighborhoods for Airbnb in Cali are Granada, El Peñón, San Antonio, Versalles, and parts of the Chipichape area, where supply is densest and competition for bookings is fiercest.
These neighborhoods became saturated because they combine walkability to restaurants and nightlife with a strong perception of safety, and they are located along the natural visitor corridor that connects Cali's cultural attractions, salsa schools, and Feria de Cali event venues.
Relatively undersaturated neighborhoods that may offer better opportunities for new hosts include Ciudad Jardín and Pance in the south, which attract families, longer-stay visitors, and medical tourists seeking space and tranquility over nightlife proximity.
What local events spike demand in Cali (Colombia) in 2026?
As of the first half of 2026, the main local events that spike Airbnb demand in Cali are Feria de Cali (December 25 to 30), the Petronio Álvarez festival (usually August), the Maratón de Cali (early May), and major concert or sports weekends at Estadio Pascual Guerrero.
During Feria de Cali, hotel occupancy reaches 82% and over 108,000 visitors arrive, allowing hosts to raise nightly rates by 30% to 50% above normal prices, while events like the Maratón and Petronio Álvarez create smaller but significant spikes of 15% to 25%.
Hosts should typically adjust pricing and minimum stay requirements at least two to three months before major events, as booking lead times stretch to 30+ days for Feria de Cali and popular concert weekends.
What occupancy differences exist between top and average hosts in Cali (Colombia) in 2026?
As of the first half of 2026, top-performing Airbnb hosts in Cali achieve occupancy rates of 55% to 60%, driven by professional photos, fast response times, strong reviews, and pricing that adjusts for local events.
By comparison, the average Cali host reaches around 45% occupancy, while bottom-quartile listings with poor photos or inconvenient locations often struggle at 25% to 35%.
New hosts in Cali typically take 6 to 12 months to reach top-performer occupancy levels, as building up reviews and optimizing listing quality requires patience and consistent guest service.
We give more details about the different Airbnb strategies to adopt in our property pack covering the real estate market in Cali (Colombia).
Which price points are most crowded, and where's the "white space" for new hosts in Cali (Colombia) right now?
The nightly price range with the highest concentration of Airbnb listings in Cali is 75,000 to 170,000 COP ($20 to $45 USD / 19 to 42 EUR), dominated by budget apartaestudios and basic one or two-bedroom apartments.
The most crowded price points are between 83,000 and 150,000 COP ($22 to $40 USD / 21 to 37 EUR), while "white space" opportunities exist at 210,000 to 285,000 COP ($55 to $75 USD / 52 to 71 EUR) for premium two-bedroom units with hotel-level cleanliness, and in the 265,000 to 380,000 COP ($70 to $100 USD / 66 to 94 EUR) range for family or group homes in Pance and Ciudad Jardín.
Property characteristics that allow new hosts to successfully compete in underserved price segments include two or more bathrooms, professional photography, strong security and arrival clarity, outdoor space or parking, and weekly or monthly discounts that attract longer-stay guests like medical tourists or business relocations.
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What property works best for Airbnb demand in Cali (Colombia) right now?
What bedroom count gets the most bookings in Cali (Colombia) as of 2026?
As of the first half of 2026, one and two-bedroom properties get the most bookings in Cali, driven by the city's high volume of couples, solo travelers, and business visitors who prioritize walkability and affordability over space.
The estimated booking rate breakdown by bedroom count in Cali shows one-bedroom units capturing roughly 55% of bookings, two-bedroom units around 25%, studios about 10%, and three-bedroom-plus properties accounting for the remaining 10%.
One and two-bedroom apartments perform best in Cali because the city's visitor mix skews toward salsa enthusiasts, business travelers, and short-stay tourists who want central locations near Granada, El Peñón, or San Antonio rather than large family accommodations.
What property type performs best in Cali (Colombia) in 2026?
As of the first half of 2026, apartments and condos in secure buildings are the best-performing property type for Airbnb in Cali, offering the strongest combination of steady occupancy, manageable operations, and location flexibility.
Occupancy rates across property types in Cali show apartments averaging 45% to 50%, townhouses in gated communities (conjuntos) around 40% to 48%, standalone houses at 38% to 45%, and larger villas in Pance or Ciudad Jardín at 35% to 45% with higher revenue per booking but more seasonal demand.
Apartments outperform other property types in Cali because they are easier to manage, have lower operating costs, and are concentrated in the walkable central neighborhoods where visitor demand is strongest, though the critical caveat is that your building's propiedad horizontal bylaws must allow short-term rentals.
What sources have we used to write this blog article?
Whether it's in our blog articles or the market analyses included in our property pack about Cali (Colombia), we always rely on the strongest methodology we can, and we don't throw out numbers at random.
We also aim to be fully transparent, so below we've listed the authoritative sources we used, and explained how we used them and the methods behind our estimates.
| Source | Why it's authoritative | How we used it |
|---|---|---|
| MinCIT - Registro Nacional de Turismo | It's the official Colombian tourism authority explaining how the RNT registration system works. | We used it to define the baseline legal requirement that tourism service providers must register. We also used it to frame what "formal" hosting looks like in practice for Cali hosts. |
| Confecámaras RNT Portal | It's the official public registry platform where tourism providers actually register and update their RNT details. | We used it to validate that RNT is an operational, current system. We treat it as the source of truth for the registration workflow hosts must follow. |
| Law 2068 (Función Pública) | Función Pública is a primary legal repository for Colombian norms and this is the updated tourism law. | We used it to anchor the national-level legal basis for tourism formalization and enforcement. We cross-checked it against MinCIT guidance to avoid misreading summary articles. |
| Law 675 (Secretaría del Senado) | It's the official Senate-hosted text governing condo and building rules (propiedad horizontal) in Colombia. | We used it to explain why building bylaws and assembly decisions matter for Airbnb legality. We triangulated it with mainstream press explainers to keep it understandable. |
| MinCIT Draft Decree (Dec 2025) | It's an official government publication of proposed regulation on RNT and platform obligations. | We used it to flag likely near-term regulatory tightening as of early 2026. We treat it as direction of travel, not already-enforced law. |
| AirDNA Cali Market Overview | AirDNA is a widely used STR analytics provider with transparent market definitions and consistent methodology. | We used it as the core quantitative base for ADR, occupancy, revenue, and active listings in Cali. We triangulated it with local event spikes and DANE accommodation signals. |
| DANE Monthly Accommodation Survey (EMA) | DANE is Colombia's official statistics office and this is their accommodation sector bulletin. | We used it to triangulate overall accommodation demand and seasonality signals beyond Airbnb. We used it as a reality-check against platform-only metrics. |
| DANE CPI (IPC) Hub | It's the official source for Colombia's inflation methodology and releases. | We used it to justify cost assumptions for utilities, services, and labor moving with inflation. We triangulated it with expense ranges to stay realistic in January 2026 pesos. |
| Superfinanciera TRM Open Data | It's the government open-data feed for Colombia's official exchange rate series. | We used it to convert USD Airbnb metrics into COP with a defensible, dated TRM snapshot. For early January 2026, TRM is around 3,780 COP per USD. |
| Alcaldía de Cali - Maratón Impact Bulletin | It's the city government publishing tourism-impact figures and citing the regional tourism information system. | We used it to prove Cali has event-driven demand spikes and to calibrate peak-occupancy expectations. We treat it as a local demand shock reference. |
| Alcaldía de Cali - Feria 2025 Tourism Projections | It's the city government's official bulletin on expected Feria de Cali tourism impact. | We used it to validate visitor numbers (108,600+), hotel occupancy projections (82%), and tourism spending estimates during Cali's biggest annual event. |
| Feria de Cali Official Program | It's the official event organizer site with formal programming for Cali's biggest annual festival. | We used it to validate the timing and scale of Cali's biggest annual demand driver. We used it to build a practical high-season calendar for hosts. |
| SITUR Valle Tourism Information System | It's a dedicated regional tourism intelligence system for Valle del Cauca. | We used it as a locally-grounded check on what drives visitors to Cali. We also used it to interpret city bulletins that cite SITUR figures. |
| Airbnb Colombia Tax Guide 2025 | It's prepared by an external firm for Airbnb and focuses on practical compliance steps for Colombian hosts. | We used it only for plain-language tax concepts and cross-checked the direction with DIAN's role. We do not treat it as a legal authority. |
| Airbnb VAT (IVA) Help Page | It's the platform's own explanation of how VAT may appear on service fees for Colombian bookings. | We used it to explain what part Airbnb might charge VAT on so hosts don't confuse it with their own tax obligations. |
| DIAN Tax Authority Portal | It's Colombia's official tax and customs authority. | We used it to anchor that taxes are administered and enforced by DIAN. We triangulated DIAN's authority with Airbnb's practical guide to stay readable. |
| Airbnb Help Center - Colombia Hosts | It's Airbnb's official compliance guidance for hosts operating in Colombia. | We used it to validate RNT registration requirements and the August 2022 enforcement date. We cross-referenced with MinCIT guidance for accuracy. |
| El Tiempo - Condo Rental Restrictions | It's a national newspaper summarizing how building rules work for short-term rentals in Colombia. | We used it only to translate the condo and building issue into everyday language. We still rely on Law 675 as the legal anchor. |
| Airbtics Cali Market Data | Airbtics tracks Airbnb listings and provides independent STR market analytics. | We used it to cross-reference AirDNA data on listings, occupancy, and revenue. We used it as a secondary validation source for market metrics. |
| AirROI Cali STR Report | AirROI provides detailed STR analytics including property type and room capacity breakdowns. | We used it to understand the bedroom count distribution and property type composition of Cali's Airbnb market. |
We created this infographic to give you a simple idea of how much it costs to buy property in different parts of Colombia. As you can see, it breaks down price ranges and property types for popular cities in the country. We hope this makes it easier to explore your options and understand the market.
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