Authored by the expert who managed and guided the team behind the Colombia Property Pack
Get all the data you need about the real estate market in Colombia
Owning an Airbnb in Colombia in 2026 can still work, but the best opportunities are no longer generic apartments with average photos.
In this article, we look at short-term rental rules, Airbnb income, occupancy, competition, expenses, current housing prices in Colombia and the property types that still make sense for a non-professional buyer.
We constantly update this blog post because Airbnb regulation, Colombia tourism demand and residential property prices can move quickly.
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 Colombia.
Insights
- Colombia Airbnb demand is still real in 2026, but the easy money has moved from “any apartment” to legally secure buildings with clear tourist-rental permission.
- Medellín has Colombia’s largest visible Airbnb market, with around 13,000 active listings, so new hosts need design, reviews and location to stand out.
- Cartagena has the strongest large-city Airbnb revenue in Colombia, but high air-conditioning costs, building rules and seasonality can reduce net profit fast.
- Bogotá Airbnb income is usually lower than Medellín or Cartagena, but business travel, clinics and events can support steady bookings in the right neighborhood.
- Colombia does not have a national 90-night Airbnb cap, but RNT compliance and building rules matter more than many foreign buyers expect.
- A 2-bedroom apartment is often the safest first Airbnb property in Colombia because couples, families, remote workers and small groups can all book it.
- Villas, fincas and cabins can earn more than apartments in peak months, but they also need more staff, maintenance, security and weekend pricing skill.
- The strongest Airbnb locations in Colombia are not always the most famous tourist blocks, because legal certainty and lower competition can matter more than hype.
- High interest rates and rising new-housing prices mean Colombia Airbnb profitability in 2026 depends as much on purchase price as on nightly rate.
Can I legally run an Airbnb in Colombia in 2026?
Is short-term renting allowed in Colombia in 2026?
As of early 2026, short-term renting is generally allowed in Colombia, but an Airbnb in Colombia is treated as tourist accommodation, not as a casual private rental.
The main Colombia short-term rental framework is the national tourism system built around the Registro Nacional de Turismo, known as the RNT, plus tourism rules updated by Ley 2068 de 2020 and Decreto 1836 de 2021.
The most important condition is that the host must have an active RNT when the home is offered as tourist accommodation, especially for stays under 30 days on platforms such as Airbnb, Booking or Vrbo.
In real life, a Colombia Airbnb host must also check that the building rules allow short stays, that guest registration is handled correctly, and that taxes are not ignored.
If a Colombia Airbnb operates without the required RNT or against building rules, the practical consequences can include listing suspension, building complaints, inability to renew the RNT, administrative sanctions and forced interruption of the rental activity.
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 Colombia as of 2026?
As of early 2026, Colombia does not have one national minimum-stay rule or one national maximum nights-per-year cap for Airbnb homes, so there is no Colombia-wide 90-night or 120-night rule.
These national rules do not change by property type or host residency status, so there is no national annual night cap for apartments, houses, villas, fincas or cabins anywhere in Colombia.
The practical threshold is different: stays under 30 days are usually treated as tourist accommodation on platforms, which means the RNT and tourist-host obligations become central.
Even without a national night cap, a building in El Poblado, Laureles, Bocagrande, Chapinero or Rodadero can still ban daily rentals or require longer stays through its property-horizontal rules.
Do I have to live there, or can I Airbnb a secondary home in Colombia right now?
You do not generally have to live in the property to run an Airbnb in Colombia, because the national framework focuses on the tourist service and the RNT, not owner occupancy.
A secondary home or investment property can legally operate as a Colombia Airbnb if the home has the right RNT setup, the building allows tourist stays and the host follows guest and tax rules.
For a non-primary residence, the extra work is not usually a special “second home permit,” but rather proving that the specific apartment, house, villa, finca or cabin can legally be used for tourist accommodation.
The main difference between a primary home and a secondary home in Colombia is practical rather than legal, because an absentee owner usually needs stronger management, cleaning, check-in and compliance control.
Get fresh and reliable information about the market in Colombia
Don't base significant investment decisions on outdated data. Get updated and accurate information.
Can I run multiple Airbnbs under one name in Colombia right now?
A host can generally run multiple Airbnbs under one name in Colombia, but each residential property must be properly registered, allowed and managed as tourist accommodation.
There is no clear national rule saying that one person can only list one or two Airbnb properties in Colombia.
For multiple listings, the host should expect stronger administrative work because each apartment, house, villa, finca or cabin needs correct RNT details, tax handling, building permission and guest registration.
The main regulatory reason for closer attention is formalization, because Colombia wants tourist accommodation to be visible, registered and accountable rather than hidden inside informal residential rentals.
Do I need a short-term rental license or a business registration to host in Colombia as of 2026?
As of early 2026, a Colombia Airbnb host normally needs an active RNT for tourist accommodation, while full mercantile registration depends on the host structure and whether the activity is occasional or more business-like.
The usual process is online through the RNT platform, and a simple owner can often move faster than a larger operator if the property documents, RUT information and building permission are already clear.
The documents usually include identity or tax details, property information, the relevant registration category and, where needed, evidence that the building or property can be used for tourist accommodation.
The RNT registration itself is generally described by MinCIT as free, but hosts should still budget for accounting, tax setup, building documents, management and possible professional help.
Are there neighborhood bans or restricted zones for Airbnb in Colombia as of 2026?
As of early 2026, Colombia does not have one national map of Airbnb-banned neighborhoods, but restrictions can appear through city land use, building rules and local enforcement.
The strictest practical areas are often the highest-demand Airbnb zones, including El Poblado, Provenza, Manila and Laureles in Medellín, Centro Histórico, Getsemaní, Bocagrande and El Laguito in Cartagena, and Chapinero, Zona T, Parque 93, Usaquén, La Candelaria and Corferias in Bogotá.
These Colombia Airbnb zones attract more scrutiny because many tourists, neighbors, building administrators and short-term rental investors are concentrated in the same streets and towers.
Get to know the market before buying a property in Colombia
Better information leads to better decisions. Get all the data you need before investing a large amount of money.
How much can an Airbnb earn in Colombia in 2026?
What's the average and median nightly price on Airbnb in Colombia in 2026?
As of early 2026, the average nightly price for an Airbnb listing in Colombia is about COP 290,000 to COP 340,000, or about USD 80 to USD 95, or about EUR 70 to EUR 85, while the median is closer to COP 220,000 to COP 270,000, or about USD 60 to USD 75, or about EUR 55 to EUR 65.
A realistic nightly price range covering most Colombia Airbnb listings is about COP 110,000 to COP 610,000, or about USD 30 to USD 170, or about EUR 25 to EUR 150.
The single biggest pricing factor is market type, because a Cartagena sea-view apartment, a Medellín design apartment, a Bogotá business studio and a Guatapé finca are not selling the same travel experience.
By the way, you will find much more detailed rent ranges in our property pack covering the real estate market in Colombia.
How much do nightly prices vary by neighborhood in Colombia in 2026?
As of early 2026, nightly prices can vary from about COP 110,000 to COP 180,000, or USD 30 to USD 50, or EUR 25 to EUR 45 in affordable Bogotá, Cali or peripheral Medellín areas, to about COP 720,000 to COP 1,080,000, or USD 200 to USD 300, or EUR 175 to EUR 260 in premium Cartagena, San Andrés or villa markets.
The three highest-price Colombia Airbnb areas are usually Cartagena Centro Histórico and Getsemaní at about COP 470,000 to COP 900,000, or USD 130 to USD 250, or EUR 115 to EUR 220, Cartagena Bocagrande and Castillogrande at about COP 360,000 to COP 720,000, or USD 100 to USD 200, or EUR 90 to EUR 175, and Medellín El Poblado and Provenza at about COP 290,000 to COP 500,000, or USD 80 to USD 140, or EUR 70 to EUR 125.
The three lower-price Airbnb areas are often Bogotá La Candelaria or Teusaquillo at about COP 125,000 to COP 235,000, or USD 35 to USD 65, or EUR 30 to EUR 55, Cali San Antonio or Granada at about COP 145,000 to COP 250,000, or USD 40 to USD 70, or EUR 35 to EUR 60, and peripheral Medellín or Sabaneta at about COP 160,000 to COP 305,000, or USD 45 to USD 85, or EUR 40 to EUR 75, and guests still choose them when price, transport, clinics, universities or longer stays matter.
What's the typical occupancy rate in Colombia in 2026?
As of early 2026, a typical Airbnb occupancy rate in Colombia is about 35% to 45% across active listings, while well-managed listings in strong locations often reach 50% to 60%.
The realistic occupancy range for most Colombia Airbnb properties is about 30% to 55%, with weak listings below 30% and excellent listings in Medellín, Cartagena, Bogotá or San Andrés sometimes above 60%.
Colombia performs unevenly against the wider formal lodging market because tourism demand is strong in several destinations, but DANE hotel data also shows that 2026 demand is not rising equally in every region.
The single biggest occupancy factor is fit with the guest reason for travel, such as nightlife in Medellín, beach and heritage in Cartagena, business and clinics in Bogotá, or weekend nature demand near Guatapé and Eje Cafetero.
Make a profitable investment in Colombia
Better information leads to better decisions. Save time and money. Download our data.
What's the average monthly revenue per listing in Colombia in 2026?
As of early 2026, the average monthly revenue per Airbnb listing in Colombia is about COP 2.3 million to COP 3.2 million, or about USD 650 to USD 900, or about EUR 570 to EUR 790.
A realistic monthly revenue range covering most Colombia Airbnb listings is about COP 900,000 to COP 6.5 million, or about USD 250 to USD 1,800, or about EUR 220 to EUR 1,575.
Top Airbnb listings in Colombia can reach about COP 9 million to COP 18 million per month, or about USD 2,500 to USD 5,000, or about EUR 2,200 to EUR 4,400, especially larger Cartagena homes, San Andrés houses and high-quality fincas near major cities. For example, a villa charging USD 250 per night at 20 booked nights makes about USD 5,000 before expenses.
Finally, note that we give here all the information you need to buy and rent out a property in Colombia.
What's the typical low-season vs high-season monthly revenue in Colombia in 2026?
As of early 2026, a normal Colombia Airbnb may earn about COP 1.1 million to COP 2.0 million, or USD 300 to USD 550, or EUR 265 to EUR 480 in low season, and about COP 3.6 million to COP 7.2 million, or USD 1,000 to USD 2,000, or EUR 880 to EUR 1,750 in high season.
Low season often includes February to May outside Semana Santa and parts of September to November, while high season is strongest around Christmas, New Year, January holidays, Semana Santa, mid-year school holidays, long weekends, Medellín Feria de las Flores, Barranquilla Carnival, Cartagena events and Bogotá trade fairs.
What's a realistic Airbnb monthly expense range in Colombia in 2026?
As of early 2026, a realistic monthly expense range for operating an Airbnb in Colombia is about COP 900,000 to COP 5.0 million, or about USD 250 to USD 1,400, or about EUR 220 to EUR 1,225, excluding mortgage payments.
The largest cost category is usually management for outsourced hosts, often about 15% to 25% of revenue, which means a Colombia Airbnb earning COP 3.0 million can easily spend COP 450,000 to COP 750,000 on management alone, or about USD 125 to USD 210, or EUR 110 to EUR 185.
Most Colombia Airbnb hosts should expect operating expenses to take about 35% to 60% of gross revenue before mortgage, with hot coastal units and villas often sitting at the higher end because of air-conditioning, pool care and repairs.
If you want to go into more details, we also have a blog article detailing all the property taxes and fees in Colombia.
What's realistic monthly net profit and profit per available night for Airbnb in Colombia in 2026?
As of early 2026, a realistic Airbnb net profit in Colombia is about COP 360,000 to COP 1.25 million per month, or USD 100 to USD 350, or EUR 90 to EUR 305, and profit per available night is often about COP 10,000 to COP 45,000, or USD 3 to USD 12, or EUR 3 to EUR 11.
Most Colombia Airbnb listings fall between break-even and about COP 2.9 million net profit per month, or USD 0 to USD 800, or EUR 0 to EUR 700, while the best apartments and villas can do better in strong months.
A normal Colombia Airbnb net margin is often about 15% to 35% before mortgage, with higher margins possible when the owner self-manages and the building costs are low.
The break-even occupancy rate for a typical Colombia Airbnb is often around 25% to 35%, but it can be higher in Cartagena, Santa Marta or San Andrés if utilities, management and HOA fees are heavy.
In our property pack covering the real estate market in Colombia, we explain the best strategies to improve your cashflows.
Don't buy the wrong property, in the wrong area of Colombia
Buying real estate is a significant investment. Don't rely solely on your intuition. Gather the right information to make the best decision.
How competitive is Airbnb in Colombia as of 2026?
How many active Airbnb listings are in Colombia as of 2026?
As of early 2026, Colombia has roughly 65,000 to 75,000 active Airbnb-style listings, with the broader tourist-housing universe likely higher once inactive listings, rooms, duplicated platform listings and registered non-Airbnb units are included.
This is much more competitive than the pre-2020 market, and the long trend is clear: Medellín, Cartagena, Bogotá and Santa Marta have moved from early opportunity markets to mature short-term rental markets where execution matters.
Which neighborhoods are most saturated in Colombia as of 2026?
As of early 2026, the most saturated Colombia Airbnb neighborhoods are El Poblado, Provenza, Manila, Laureles, Estadio, Envigado and Sabaneta in Medellín, Centro Histórico, Getsemaní, Bocagrande, El Laguito, Castillogrande and Marbella in Cartagena, and Chapinero, Zona G, Zona T, Parque 93, Usaquén, La Candelaria, Teusaquillo, Corferias and airport areas in Bogotá.
These neighborhoods became saturated because they combine tourist search demand, international familiarity, restaurants, nightlife, business trips, clinics, beaches or convention demand, which attracts both guests and investors to the same buildings.
Relatively less saturated opportunities may exist in Bogotá near specific clinics, universities and event nodes, in Medellín around quieter Envigado and selected Sabaneta pockets, in Cartagena outside the most obvious tourist towers, and in drivable leisure markets such as Guatapé, Jardín, Villa de Leyva, Salento and parts of Eje Cafetero.
What local events spike demand in Colombia in 2026?
As of early 2026, the main events that spike Colombia Airbnb demand include Barranquilla Carnival, Hay Festival Cartagena, Semana Santa, FILBo Bogotá, Medellín Feria de las Flores, Bogotá Corferias trade fairs, major concerts, Christmas, New Year and January beach holidays.
During these events, bookings and nightly rates can rise by roughly 20% to 80% for apartments and more than 100% for the best villas, beach homes and event-adjacent units.
Hosts should usually adjust pricing and block weak discounts two to four months before major Colombia events, and even earlier for Christmas, New Year, Semana Santa and Medellín Feria de las Flores.
What occupancy differences exist between top and average hosts in Colombia in 2026?
As of early 2026, top-performing Airbnb hosts in Colombia often reach about 60% to 75% occupancy in strong markets when the property is legal, well-located, well-reviewed and well-priced.
An average Colombia Airbnb host is more likely to sit around 35% to 45% occupancy, which means the gap between average and top operators can be 15 to 30 booked nights every two months.
A new host in Colombia usually needs 6 to 18 months to reach top-performer occupancy because reviews, ranking, guest trust, pricing data and cleaning consistency take time to build.
We give more details about the different Airbnb strategies to adopt in our property pack covering the real estate market in Colombia.
Which price points are most crowded, and where's the "white space" for new hosts in Colombia right now?
The most crowded nightly price range for Airbnb in Colombia is about COP 110,000 to COP 360,000, or USD 30 to USD 100, or EUR 25 to EUR 90, because this includes many Bogotá, Cali, Medellín and Santa Marta studios and 1-bedroom apartments.
The weaker white space is cheap generic studios, while the better opportunity sits around COP 360,000 to COP 720,000, or USD 100 to USD 200, or EUR 90 to EUR 175, when the property offers family space, strong design, legal certainty, workspace, view, pool, parking or beach access.
A new Colombia Airbnb host can compete in the underserved segment with a 2-bedroom apartment, a family-ready unit, a pet-friendly home, a clinic or convention-focused apartment, or a villa or finca with pool, view, privacy and easy road access.
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.
What property works best for Airbnb demand in Colombia right now?
What bedroom count gets the most bookings in Colombia as of 2026?
As of early 2026, the bedroom count that gets the most flexible Airbnb demand in Colombia is usually 2 bedrooms, because it works for couples, friends, families, remote workers and small groups.
A practical Colombia Airbnb booking-rate breakdown is around 15% to 20% for studios, 30% to 35% for 1-bedroom units, 30% to 35% for 2-bedroom units and 15% to 25% for 3-bedroom or larger homes, with villas and beach markets pushing the larger-home share higher.
The 2-bedroom format performs well in Colombia because it is not as cramped as a studio, not as expensive as a large villa, and more useful for Cartagena families, Medellín remote workers and Bogotá medical or business travelers.
What property type performs best in Colombia in 2026?
As of early 2026, the best risk-adjusted Airbnb property type in Colombia is a legally allowed 1-bedroom or 2-bedroom apartment in a strong urban building, while the highest gross revenue often comes from villas, fincas and larger houses with pool, view and group capacity.
Occupancy is usually steadier for apartments at about 40% to 60% in good Bogotá, Medellín, Cartagena and Santa Marta locations, while villas, fincas and cabins may sit closer to 20% to 45% but earn much more on weekends and holidays.
Apartments outperform for beginner hosts because they are easier to furnish, clean, secure and manage, while villas and fincas outperform only when the owner can handle maintenance, staff, access, pricing and guest expectations.
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 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 we trust it | How we used it |
|---|---|---|
| MinCIT Registro Nacional de Turismo | MinCIT is Colombia’s tourism ministry and the policy owner for national tourism registration. | We used it to confirm that RNT registration is central for tourism service providers. We also used it to separate legal feasibility from Airbnb profitability. |
| RNT Confecámaras | Confecámaras operates the public RNT platform used by Colombian tourism providers. | We used it to verify that the RNT is the public register for tourism service providers. We also used its renewal language to frame compliance risk for small hosts. |
| RNT FAQ | The RNT FAQ gives practical official guidance for registration questions. | We used it to simplify the business-registration answer for individual hosts. We also used it to avoid making the process sound more complex than it usually is. |
| Decreto 1836 de 2021 | Función Pública is an official Colombian legal database for national decrees. | We used it as the main legal basis for RNT and platform obligations. We also used it to avoid relying on legal blogs for the core compliance conclusion. |
| Ley 2068 de 2020 | This is the official tourism-law reform that strengthened formalization in Colombia. | We used it to understand the direction of Colombian tourism policy. We also used it to explain why informal Airbnb operation is riskier in 2026. |
| Datos Abiertos Colombia RNT dataset | It is Colombia’s official open-data portal for RNT records. | We used it to confirm that RNT information is public and updated. We also used it as a background check for market formalization. |
| Airbnb Colombia RNT guide | It is Airbnb’s own Colombia host-facing compliance guide. | We used it to see how Airbnb translates Colombian rules into host obligations. We especially used it for the under-30-day and RNT display logic. |
| DANE Encuesta Mensual de Alojamiento | DANE is Colombia’s official statistics agency. | We used it to benchmark Airbnb demand against formal lodging demand. We treated hotel data as a sanity check, not as a direct Airbnb substitute. |
| MinCIT tourism reports | MinCIT publishes official tourism indicators and sector reports. | We used it to frame national tourism demand. We also used it to avoid extrapolating Colombia-wide demand only from Medellín or Cartagena. |
| ProColombia 2025 tourism result | ProColombia is Colombia’s official tourism-promotion agency. | We used it to confirm that tourism still had a strong demand backdrop entering 2026. We also used its foreign-exchange figure as macro support. |
| AirROI Colombia market ranking | AirROI gives city-level short-term rental metrics with clear Airbnb market data. | We used it for active listings, ADR, occupancy and revenue across Colombian cities. We cross-checked its figures against AirDNA and Airbtics where available. |
| AirROI Medellín 2026 | It gives current Airbnb metrics for Colombia’s largest visible STR market. | We used it to anchor Medellín revenue and occupancy estimates. We also used it to identify El Poblado, Laureles and Envigado as core demand zones. |
| AirROI Cartagena 2026 | It gives current STR data for Colombia’s highest-revenue large leisure market. | We used it for Cartagena ADR, revenue and occupancy estimates. We also used it to separate beach and heritage pricing from business-city pricing. |
| AirROI Bogotá 2026 | It gives current short-term rental data for Colombia’s main business-travel city. | We used it to benchmark lower-ADR urban apartments. We also used it to avoid overstating Colombia-wide revenue from Cartagena alone. |
| AirDNA Bogotá | AirDNA is a major global short-term rental data provider. | We used it as a second private-sector benchmark for occupancy and ADR. We treated differences with AirROI as a sign that definitions can vary. |
| Airbtics Bogotá | Airbtics gives another private-market view of Airbnb revenue and listing depth. | We used it to cross-check Bogotá supply and occupancy. We did not copy its numbers directly because its methodology differs from AirROI. |
| Banco de la República real estate report | Colombia’s central bank is authoritative for financial and housing-market conditions. | We used it to understand purchase-market feasibility and financing pressure. We also used it to explain why Airbnb revenue alone is not enough. |
| DANE Índice de Precios de Vivienda Nueva | DANE’s IPVN is Colombia’s official new-housing price index. | We used it to frame acquisition-cost pressure. We also used it to explain why gross Airbnb revenue does not automatically mean strong yield. |
| Colombia Travel fairs and festivals | Colombia Travel is the country’s official tourism website. | We used it to identify events that can lift Airbnb demand. We also used it to keep the seasonality section specific to Colombia. |
| USD to COP 2026 exchange-rate history | It provides a clear historical reference for 2026 currency conversion. | We used it to translate Colombia Airbnb revenue from US dollars into Colombian pesos. We rounded conversions so the article stays easy to read. |
| EUR to COP 2026 exchange-rate history | It provides a simple historical reference for euro and Colombian peso conversion. | We used it to add euro equivalents for European readers. We used approximate values because exchange rates move daily. |
Get fresh and reliable information about the market in Colombia
Don't base significant investment decisions on outdated data. Get updated and accurate information.