How profitable are Airbnb rentals in the Dominican Republic? (2026)

Thinking about running an Airbnb in the Dominican Republic? The numbers might surprise you.

This guide covers short-term rental profitability, regulations, and competition in the Dominican Republic as of early 2026.

We constantly update this post with fresh data on nightly prices, occupancy, and market trends across Punta Cana, Santo Domingo, Samaná, and Puerto Plata.

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 the Dominican Republic.

Fact-checked and reviewed by our local expert

✓✓✓

Gigi Tea 🇩🇴

Realtor, at RealtorDR

Combining her roots and years of experience, Gigi helps clients explore the Dominican Republic’s real estate market with confidence. She showcases the country’s unique opportunities, making you feel at home while investing in your dream property. We engaged in a conversation with her and used her feedback to fine-tune the blog post, adding details and her personal perspective.

Who is the author of this content?

THE LATINVESTOR

A team specialized in real estate investing in LATAM countries

We are a team of financial experts, legal professionals, developers, and local real estate specialists dedicated to helping people like you avoid mistakes when investing in real estate in a foreign place, particularly in the Dominican Republic. If you’d like to learn more about us, you can check our presentation page.

Can I legally run an Airbnb in the Dominican Republic in 2026?

Is short-term renting allowed in the Dominican Republic in 2026?

As of the first half of 2026, short-term renting is broadly permitted in the Dominican Republic, but hosts should expect compliance obligations rather than a completely unregulated environment.

The Ministry of Tourism (MITUR) maintains an official registry called the Registro Nacional Turístico (RNT) for authorized tourism operators, and running a short-term rental with frequent guest turnover puts you in that category.

If your operation looks like tourist accommodation (which most Airbnbs do), authorities may expect you to formalize through registration and proper tax setup.

The tax authority (DGII) has rules about when the 18% ITBIS tax applies, and short-term furnished stays can trigger different treatment than ordinary long-term housing rentals.

Penalties vary, but operating without proper registration can result in fines, especially if you scale to multiple properties.

For a more general view, you can read our article detailing what exactly foreigners can own and buy in The Dominican Republic.

If you are an American, you might want to read our blog article detailing the property rights of US citizens in The Dominican Republic.

Are there minimum-stay rules and maximum nights-per-year caps for Airbnbs in the Dominican Republic as of 2026?

As of the first half of 2026, the Dominican Republic has no nationwide minimum-stay requirement or maximum nights-per-year cap like some European cities.

There are no government-imposed restrictions by property type or host residency, though individual condo buildings and HOAs commonly set their own rules (often requiring 2 to 3 night minimums or banning short-term rentals entirely).

Since there is no official cap, hosts do not need to track rental nights for government compliance, though records for tax reporting remain essential.

Do I have to live there, or can I Airbnb a secondary home in the Dominican Republic right now?

The Dominican Republic does not require you to live in a property to rent it on Airbnb, so non-resident owners can legally operate short-term rentals.

Owners of secondary homes can run Airbnb listings as long as they comply with building rules, tax obligations, and applicable tourism formalization requirements.

No additional permits are required for non-primary residence rentals at the national level, though some gated communities have their own approval processes.

The rules for renting a primary versus secondary home are essentially the same, with differences coming from private building bylaws rather than government regulations.

Can I run multiple Airbnbs under one name in the Dominican Republic right now?

Yes, you can operate multiple Airbnb listings under one name in the Dominican Republic, and this is common in resort areas like Punta Cana and beach towns like Las Terrenas.

There is no legal maximum on how many properties one person can list for short-term rental.

However, running multiple listings increases your visibility as a business, making proper tourism registration, tax handling, and operational controls more important.

Do I need a short-term rental license or a business registration to host in the Dominican Republic as of 2026?

As of the first half of 2026, there is no single "short-term rental license," but hosts operating tourism-facing accommodations should plan for registration with MITUR's tourism registry and proper tax setup with DGII.

The process involves registering with the Registro Nacional Turístico, obtaining a tax identification number (RNC), and understanding your ITBIS and income tax obligations.

Documentation typically includes proof of property ownership, identification, and basic business information.

Registration fees are generally modest compared to operational expenses.

Are there neighborhood bans or restricted zones for Airbnb in the Dominican Republic as of 2026?

As of the first half of 2026, there are no nationwide "red zones" banning Airbnb, but restrictions exist at the building and community level rather than through government zoning.

Areas with the strictest private rules are upscale condo towers in Santo Domingo (Piantini, Naco, Gazcue) and certain resort developments in Punta Cana, Bávaro, and Cap Cana where HOAs enforce guest policies.

These restrictions exist because condo associations want to maintain security and prevent wear-and-tear from high guest turnover.

We made this infographic to show you how property prices in the Dominican Republic 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 the Dominican Republic in 2026?

What's the average and median nightly price on Airbnb in the Dominican Republic in 2026?

As of the first half of 2026, the average nightly price for an Airbnb in the Dominican Republic is approximately $210 (12,600 Dominican pesos or €200), while the median sits closer to $150 (9,000 pesos or €143) because high-priced villas pull the average up.

The typical nightly price range covering 80% of listings falls between $70 and $350 (4,200 to 21,000 pesos, or €67 to €333).

The biggest factor affecting nightly pricing is location: premium resort areas like Cap Cana command far more than city markets like Santo Domingo or inland spots.

By the way, you will find much more detailed profitability rent ranges in our property pack covering the real estate market in the Dominican Republic.

How much do nightly prices vary by neighborhood in the Dominican Republic in 2026?

As of the first half of 2026, nightly prices vary dramatically: around $67 (4,000 pesos or €64) in Santo Domingo to $292 (17,500 pesos or €278) in the La Altagracia resort corridor (Punta Cana, Bávaro, Cap Cana).

The three highest-priced areas are Cap Cana (often exceeding $400), Bávaro beachfront ($280 to $320), and Las Terrenas hillside villas ($200 to $250).

The three lowest-priced areas are Naco and Gazcue in Santo Domingo ($50 to $70), inland Bávaro ($80 to $120), and non-beach urban areas, though these still attract business travelers and budget tourists.

What's the typical occupancy rate in the Dominican Republic in 2026?

As of the first half of 2026, the typical occupancy rate for Airbnb listings in the Dominican Republic is approximately 42%, meaning about 12 to 13 booked nights per month.

The realistic range covering most listings falls between 35% and 50%, varying by location, pricing, and listing quality.

Compared to other Caribbean destinations, Dominican occupancy is competitive but not exceptional, reflecting the large supply (over 50,000 listings) that spreads demand.

The biggest factor for above-average occupancy is excellent reviews and fast response times, which boosts search rankings and guest trust.

What's the average monthly revenue per listing in the Dominican Republic in 2026?

As of the first half of 2026, average monthly revenue per Airbnb listing in the Dominican Republic is approximately $950 (57,000 pesos or €905), varying significantly by location.

The realistic range covering 80% of listings falls between $350 and $1,500 (21,000 to 90,000 pesos, or €333 to €1,430).

Top-performing listings can achieve $2,000 to $4,000 monthly (120,000 to 240,000 pesos), especially beachfront villas with strong reviews. A well-optimized 3-bedroom villa at $350/night and 55% occupancy generates roughly $5,775 monthly before expenses.

Finally, note that we give here all the information you need to buy and rent out a property in the Dominican Republic.

What's the typical low-season vs high-season monthly revenue in the Dominican Republic in 2026?

As of the first half of 2026, a typical Airbnb earns roughly $1,350 to $1,615 (81,000 to 97,000 pesos, or €1,286 to €1,538) during high season, versus $520 to $665 (31,000 to 40,000 pesos, or €495 to €633) during low season.

High season runs December through April when tourists escape winter; low season hits hardest in September and October due to hurricane concerns.

What's a realistic Airbnb monthly expense range in the Dominican Republic in 2026?

As of the first half of 2026, monthly expenses range from $280 to $750 (17,000 to 45,000 pesos, or €267 to €714) for self-managed properties, plus cleaning costs and 15% to 25% of revenue if using professional management.

The largest expense is typically electricity for air conditioning ($80 to $250 monthly in coastal properties), followed by cleaning at $6 to $15 per occupied night.

Hosts should expect 40% to 55% of gross revenue to go to operating expenses, though this percentage drops as revenue increases since many costs are fixed.

If you want to go into more details, we also have a blog article detailing all the property taxes and fees in the Dominican Republic.

What's realistic monthly net profit and profit per available night for Airbnb in the Dominican Republic in 2026?

As of the first half of 2026, realistic monthly net profit ranges from $250 to $550 (15,000 to 33,000 pesos, or €238 to €524) for self-managed properties, roughly $8 to $18 profit per available night.

The range covering most listings falls between $120 and $550 (7,200 to 33,000 pesos), with professionally managed properties earning less due to the 15% to 25% fee.

Hosts typically achieve net profit margins of 25% to 40% of gross revenue after operating expenses but before income taxes.

Break-even occupancy sits around 25% to 30%, meaning roughly 8 to 9 booked nights monthly to cover fixed costs.

In our property pack covering the real estate market in the Dominican Republic, 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 the Dominican Republic 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 the Dominican Republic as of 2026?

How many active Airbnb listings are in the Dominican Republic as of 2026?

As of the first half of 2026, the Dominican Republic has approximately 50,000 active Airbnb listings, with the four largest markets accounting for nearly 37,000: La Altagracia (13,782), Puerto Plata (10,937), Santo Domingo (6,167), and Samaná (5,896).

This represents continued growth as the short-term rental market expanded alongside tourism, which welcomed over 10 million visitors annually in recent years.

Which neighborhoods are most saturated in the Dominican Republic as of 2026?

As of the first half of 2026, the most saturated neighborhoods are Bávaro and the Punta Cana corridor, Las Terrenas in Samaná, Sosúa and Cabarete in Puerto Plata, and Zona Colonial plus Piantini in Santo Domingo.

These areas became saturated because they combine strong tourist demand with condo development designed for rental income, so supply keeps entering faster than demand absorbs it.

Undersaturated neighborhoods with better opportunities include Gazcue in Santo Domingo (long-stay business travelers), inland La Altagracia communities, and smaller north coast beach towns.

What local events spike demand in the Dominican Republic in 2026?

As of the first half of 2026, main demand spikes come from Christmas and New Year's week, Semana Santa (Easter), Carnaval (February through March, especially La Vega and Santo Domingo), and whale-watching season in Samaná (January through March).

During peak events, bookings increase 50% to 80% and nightly rates jump 30% to 60%, especially in resort areas.

Hosts should adjust pricing 4 to 6 weeks before major holidays and 2 to 3 months before whale season to capture demand.

What occupancy differences exist between top and average hosts in the Dominican Republic in 2026?

As of the first half of 2026, top-performing hosts achieve 52% to 60% occupancy, roughly 10 to 18 points above the market average of 39% to 46%.

Average hosts see around 42% occupancy (properties empty 60% of the time), while optimized listings with great photos, fast responses, and competitive pricing keep vacancy much lower.

New hosts typically need 6 to 12 months to reach top-performer levels, assuming active pricing and communication management.

We give more details about the different Airbnb strategies to adopt in our property pack covering the real estate market in the Dominican Republic.

What amenities do nearly all competitors offer in the Dominican Republic right now?

Nearly every Dominican Airbnb offers Wi-Fi (97% to 98%), air conditioning (98% in resort areas), a kitchen, and parking, making these baseline expectations rather than differentiators.

Pool access has become nearly universal in resort markets throughout Punta Cana, Bávaro, and Cap Cana.

To stand out in 2026, hosts need differentiators like backup power, workspace setups, quality linens, and exceptionally responsive communication.

Which price points are most crowded, and where's the "white space" for new hosts in the Dominican Republic right now?

The most crowded price point is $100 to $180 per night (6,000 to 11,000 pesos, or €95 to €171), where mid-range resort condos compete intensely on price and reviews.

White space exists above $350/night (21,000 pesos) for exceptional luxury villas, and below $60/night (3,600 pesos) for clean budget accommodations targeting domestic and budget travelers.

To compete in underserved segments, new hosts need either genuinely upscale properties with professional photography, or extremely efficient operations with spotless units and instant booking.

What property works best for Airbnb demand in the Dominican Republic right now?

What bedroom count gets the most bookings in the Dominican Republic as of 2026?

As of the first half of 2026, two-bedroom units get the most bookings, capturing both couples wanting extra space and small families.

The breakdown shows 1-bedroom at 30% to 35%, 2-bedroom at 35% to 40%, 3-bedroom at 15% to 20%, and studios plus 4+ splitting the remainder.

Two-bedrooms perform best because they accommodate the most common travel groups at reasonable prices while providing comfortable space for multi-day Caribbean stays.

What property type performs best in the Dominican Republic in 2026?

As of the first half of 2026, condos and apartments (especially 1 to 2 bedrooms in strong locations) deliver the most consistent returns, though villas in La Altagracia and Samaná offer higher revenue ceilings for hosts who execute well.

Condos achieve more consistent bookings (42% to 48% occupancy) due to lower prices and easier management, while villas see variable occupancy (35% to 50%) depending on location and reviews.

Condos outperform because they're easier to maintain, have HOA-managed common areas, and match the largest demand pool of couples and small groups.

What location traits boost bookings in the Dominican Republic right now?

The most important trait is walkability to the main attraction: walk-to-beach in resort areas or walk-to-restaurants in Santo Domingo's Zona Colonial.

Controlled access through gated communities or secure buildings ranks second, as international guests value clear check-in and managed security.

Reliable AC and strong Wi-Fi are non-negotiable; backup power options provide meaningful competitive advantage given occasional electricity fluctuations.

Design matching the micro-market matters: resort-modern in Punta Cana, boutique beach-chic in Las Terrenas, clean business-casual in Santo Domingo.

We created this infographic to give you a simple idea of how much it costs to buy property in different parts of the Dominican Republic. 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.

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 the Dominican Republic, 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
MITUR Registro Nacional Turístico	The Dominican government's official registry of authorized tourism businesses.	We used it to explain formalization requirements. It's our reference for what authorized tourism lodging looks like.
DGII Reglamento 293-11	The official tax regulation governing ITBIS treatment.	We used it to explain when short-term rentals trigger ITBIS. We cross-referenced with Airbnb's tax guide.
DGII Help Community	The tax authority's official help channel with plain-language interpretation.	We used it to explain ITBIS exemptions for housing rent and why short-term stays differ.
DGII Income Tax Guide	The official taxpayer guide for individuals.	We used it to frame income tax basics and confirm rental income can be taxable.
Airbnb Responsible Hosting (DR)	Airbnb's official country-specific guidance hub.	We used it to confirm hosts must comply with local rules and taxes.
Airbnb DR Tax Guide 2024	Airbnb's official tax guide prepared by a third-party law firm.	We used it as a host-friendly tax summary, cross-checked against DGII regulations.
Airbnb Host Service Fees	Airbnb's official policy page on platform fees.	We used it to model platform costs. The 3% host fee comes directly from here.
AirDNA La Altagracia	Widely used STR data provider with transparent methodology.	We used it for ADR ($292), occupancy (46%), and revenue in the largest resort market.
AirDNA Puerto Plata	Established STR dataset for the major north-coast market.	We used it to show pricing ($188 ADR) and occupancy (39%) outside Punta Cana.
AirDNA Samaná	Credible benchmarks for the seasonally strong Las Terrenas area.	We used it for boutique beach economics and whale season demand patterns.
AirDNA Santo Domingo	Best source for STR metrics in the capital's urban market.	We used it to contrast city versus resort demand and the lower ADR ($67).
Central Bank Exchange Rates	Dominican Republic's official exchange rate reference.	We used it to ground all currency conversions between USD, DOP, and EUR.
Central Bank CPI Bulletin	Official statistical publication on inflation trends.	We used it to explain why operating costs trend upward over time.
ONE Construction Cost Index	Dominican Republic's official national statistics agency.	We used it to justify maintenance reserve recommendations.
World Bank Dominican Outlook	Top-tier international institution with consistent country reporting.	We used it to contextualize economic growth and tourism demand drivers.
IMF Dominican Republic Profile	IMF provides standardized, internationally comparable indicators.	We used it to cross-check the economic environment as a triangulation layer.
PwC Tax Summaries	Well-known professional services firm with structured tax summaries.	We used it to sanity-check ITBIS rates, only alongside DGII primary materials.
RAE Legal Reference (Law 541/1969)	Reputable legal-reference portal cataloging Dominican legislation.	We used it to confirm the Organic Tourism Law reference for regulatory context.