Summary
An Airbnb in Honduras can work, but mostly on Roatán: the average listing there grossed about L 527,000 (about $19,600) over the 12 months to September 2026, against about $3,834 (about L 103,000) in Tegucigalpa.
Short-term renting is legal across Honduras, with no national night cap, but a paid stay counts as lodging: expect RTN, IHT and ARSA paperwork, plus ISV of 15% and a 4% tourism tax.
On October 4, 2026 the tourism minister said Airbnb hosts should pay taxes like hotels and that SAR is working on it, so price your rentals as if those 19% will be collected.
The national average listing earns about L 18,500 a month (about $690), at a nightly rate of L 3,310 (about $125) and 27% occupancy.
Nightly rates go from $57 (about L 1,530) in Tegucigalpa to L 9,127 (about $340) in West Bay, the most expensive part of Roatán.
Roatán is very seasonal: the average listing made L 45,900 (about $1,710) in November 2025 and L 102,000 (about $3,810) in February 2026, because occupancy doubled while prices barely moved.
In our Roatán example, running costs (fees, co-host, HOA, power, upkeep) eat about $940 a month (about L 25,300) for a 2-bedroom condo.
A 2-bedroom condo bought at $320,000 that earns the Roatán 2-bedroom average grosses 5.4%, keeps about 1.0% before income tax, and roughly nothing once a non-resident pays the 25% tax.
A strong listing earning 50% more than average still nets only about 1.2% after the non-resident tax, so buy for use and appreciation first, not for Airbnb cash flow.
Supply is running ahead of demand on the mainland: active listings rose 67.5% in Tegucigalpa and 68% in San Pedro Sula in a year, while visitor arrivals grew a little over 18% in the first half of 2026.
On Roatán, supply shrank 7% to 777 active listings, which is good news for hosts who already own well-run units.
The 2-bedroom unit is the sweet spot on Roatán: 224 active listings averaging L 466,000 a year (about $17,350), well ahead of 1-bedrooms at L 319,000 (about $11,900).
Bottom line: an Airbnb in Honduras is a good idea if you will use the place yourself, buy a 2-bedroom on Roatán at a negotiated price in today's buyer's market, and register properly; as a pure income play for a non-resident, it rarely pays.
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Message a proCan you legally run an Airbnb in Honduras?
Is short-term renting allowed?
Yes. In October 2026, short-term renting is allowed in Honduras and no national law bans a residential Airbnb.
There is no single Airbnb law. What applies is a mix of tourism registration with the Instituto Hondureño de Turismo (IHT), sanitary rules from ARSA, tax registration with SAR, and local municipal and building rules.
The key point: once you take money for nights, the authorities treat it as lodging, not as a regular lease. Ordinary residential rent is exempt from sales tax (ISV), but lodging is not.
So before taking bookings, check four things: your RTN tax number, IHT registration, ARSA sanitary licensing, and your condo or community bylaws.
Operating without them can mean a fine, a forced correction or a closure order, and it leaves you exposed if SAR starts cross-checking platform data.
Are there minimum-stay rules or nights-per-year caps for Airbnbs?
No. In October 2026 there is no national minimum stay and no national cap on nights per year, for any property type.
The real limits are local: a condo board in Tegucigalpa, a gated community on Roatán or a municipality can be stricter than national law. Read the bylaws before you buy, not after.
Do I have to live there, or can I Airbnb a secondary home?
You don't have to live there. Honduras has no owner-occupancy rule for short-term rentals in 2026.
A second home, a beach house, a condo or an investment apartment can be rented by the night if the property and the operator meet the tax, tourism and sanitary rules.
In practice, a second home rented all year looks like a small lodging business to SAR, to neighbors and to condo boards, so expect to be treated like one.
One catch for foreigners on the coast and the islands: the 40 km strip of Article 107 covers Roatán and Utila, and Decree 90-90 only lets a foreigner buy one urban residential property of up to 3,000 m² for their own use. Renting it out part of the year is common, but anything that looks like a lodging project needs a tourism project declaration with IHT.
Can I run multiple Airbnbs under one name?
Yes on the mainland: we found no national cap on how many short-term rentals one person or company can list.
Each unit still needs its own tax, sanitary, tourism and community paperwork, so the workload grows with every property.
On Roatán and Utila it is different for a foreigner. Decree 90-90 allows one residential property per foreign individual in the restricted zone, and a Honduran company with foreign owners does not get around Article 107. Several units means a tourism project approved by IHT, with a lawyer, not a second condo bought in your name.
Do I need a short-term rental license or a business registration to host?
There is no single national "Airbnb license" in 2026. What you need is an RTN with SAR, registration in IHT's Registro Nacional de Turismo (tourism service providers must register under the IHT law), and ARSA sanitary licensing when the rental is run as lodging.
On the tax side, lodging is subject to ISV at 15% and to the 4% tourism tax that IHT says SAR collects. A regular long-term lease is exempt from ISV; a nightly rental is not.
Typical documents: RTN, ID or company papers, property and operating details, photos, and proof of payment. The total cost is not one fixed national number, it depends on the municipality, the structure and the size of the place.
Are there neighborhood bans or restricted zones for Airbnb?
No national zoning bans Airbnb in 2026, but buildings, gated communities and some municipalities restrict short-term guests.
The strictest rules are usually in condo towers and private communities: Lomas del Guijarro in Tegucigalpa, Río de Piedras and Los Álamos in San Pedro Sula, and resort communities in West Bay and West End on Roatán.
Owners there care about security, parking, noise, visitor control and shared pools, and they vote the bylaws. Ask the administrator for the rules in writing before you sign.
Is the government about to tax Airbnb hosts?
It is moving that way. On October 4, 2026, Tourism Minister Andrés Ehrler told La Prensa: "If I pay taxes as a hotel owner, the person doing this kind of rental should pay taxes too." He said platforms should be regulated and that SAR is working on it.
As of October 22, 2026, nothing new has been passed: no Airbnb-specific law, no automatic collection by the platform. But the existing rules already apply to lodging: ISV at 15% and the 4% tourism tax, plus income tax.
The pressure comes from the hotel side. IHT counted 1,806 lodging establishments in 2024, while the short-term rental supply in the two big cities grew far faster (see below).
What to do now: get your RTN, register with IHT, keep every booking statement, and set your nightly rate so it still works if 19% of what guests pay goes to SAR. If your numbers only work untaxed, they don't work.
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How much can an Airbnb earn in Honduras in 2026?
What's the average nightly price on Airbnb?
The average nightly rate in Honduras was L 3,310 (about $125) over the 12 months to September 2026. We did not find a reliable national median.
The national average hides two markets: the mainland cities, where the average is $57 (about L 1,530) in Tegucigalpa and L 1,826 (about $68) in San Pedro Sula, and Roatán, where it is L 6,506 (about $240).
Location is the biggest pricing factor by far: a West Bay listing charges about six times a Tegucigalpa apartment.
How much do nightly prices vary by area?
A lot. Average nightly rates go from $57 (about L 1,530) in Tegucigalpa to L 9,127 (about $340) in West Bay.
The three most expensive areas in our data are West Bay at L 9,127 (about $340), West End at L 4,511 (about $170) and Utila at L 3,591 (about $135).
The cheapest are Tegucigalpa at $57 (about L 1,530), San Pedro Sula at L 1,826 (about $68) and La Ceiba at L 2,581 (about $96). Guests pick them for work trips, family visits and price, not for a holiday.
Sandy Bay, on the quieter side of Roatán's west end, averages L 3,097 (about $115): proof that being on Roatán is not enough, the beach you are on matters.
What's the typical occupancy rate?
The national average occupancy was 27% over the 12 months to September 2026, so the average listing is booked about one night in four.
Roatán does a bit better at 32%, with West End on top at 40%. Tegucigalpa sits at 28.5%, San Pedro Sula at 27.8% and La Ceiba at 22%.
That is low compared with big Latin American beach markets, and it is the main reason so many Honduran listings struggle. Easy arrival, secure parking, air conditioning that works, backup water and fast Wi-Fi are what lift a listing above average.
What's the average monthly revenue per listing?
The average Airbnb listing in Honduras earned about L 18,500 a month (about $690), or L 222,000 a year (about $8,250), before any cost or tax.
By market, monthly averages range from about $320 (about L 8,600) in Tegucigalpa and $420 (about L 11,350) in San Pedro Sula to L 43,900 (about $1,640) on Roatán and L 60,100 (about $2,240) in West Bay.
Quick math: a L 6,500 night (about $240) booked 10 nights a month makes L 65,000 (about $2,420) in gross revenue, before taxes, fees, cleaning, management, power and upkeep.
What's the typical low-season vs high-season monthly revenue?
On Roatán, the average listing made L 45,900 (about $1,710) in November 2025, the weakest month, and L 107,000 (about $3,970) in March 2026, the best one. February 2026 was close behind at L 102,000 (about $3,810).
The swing comes from occupancy, not price: occupancy went from 24.5% in November to 53.1% in February, while the average nightly rate only moved about 11%, from L 5,777 to L 6,394.
High season on the islands runs from January to April (with Semana Santa), then a smaller bump in June and July. August to November is slow. On the mainland, peaks follow Semana Santa, Semana Morazánica in early October, Christmas and New Year.
Many Roatán hosts leave money on the table by keeping almost the same price all year. Raise rates for February and March, and cut minimum stays in the slow months.
What's a realistic Airbnb monthly expense range?
For a 2-bedroom condo on Roatán earning the island's 2-bedroom average, we count about $940 a month (about L 25,300) in running costs, before taxes.
The biggest fixed cost is the HOA: $300 a month at Blue Vista in West End and $500 at Acqua di Mare in West Bay (MLS listings, 2026).
Power is the second surprise. RECO charges L 6.11 per kWh up to 150 kWh and L 8.95 above, so a condo running air conditioning for guests can easily pay around L 5,000 a month (about $185).
Add a co-host at about 10% of bookings, Airbnb's host fee of about 3%, and upkeep of about 1% of the price a year for salt air, pool and repairs. Cleaning is usually paid by guests: the median cleaning fee is L 2,094 per stay on Roatán and $15 in Tegucigalpa.
In our example, these costs take about 65% of gross revenue. Full-service management or a house with a pool and a garden costs more.
What's realistic monthly net profit and profit per available night for Airbnb?
In our Roatán 2-bedroom example, the owner keeps about $275 a month (about L 7,400) after lodging taxes and costs, but before income tax. That is about $9 (about L 240) per available night.
A non-resident owner then owes 25% on the rent, which takes the result to roughly zero (about -$29 a month).
Break-even occupancy for that unit is about 24% before income tax and about 34% after the non-resident tax. The Roatán 2-bedroom average is 33%, so an average listing sits right at break-even.
That's why the gap between average and good hosts is everything in Honduras: the average listing doesn't make money, the well-run ones do.
What net yield does a foreign owner really keep in 2026?
Very little. Here is the full calculation for a 2-bedroom condo in West End bought at $320,000 (about L 8,590,000), close to the 2026 asking prices at Blue Vista ($315,000 and $328,500).
Gross revenue: L 466,000 a year (about $17,350), the AirROI average for a Roatán 2-bedroom (5,499 lempiras a night, 33% occupancy). That is generous for West End, where the average listing of all sizes makes L 364,000. Gross yield: 5.4%.
Lodging taxes: if your price has to include ISV at 15% and the 4% tourism tax, about 16% of what guests pay goes to SAR, or about $2,770 (about L 74,400) a year.
Costs: Airbnb fee $520, co-host $1,740, HOA $3,600, power $2,230, upkeep $3,200. What's left before income tax: about $3,290 (about L 88,300), a 1.0% net yield.
Income tax: a non-resident owner pays 25% on the rent, about $3,650 (about L 98,000) here. Final result: about -$350 a year, so a net yield around zero. A resident is in a different situation: the 10% regime above L 15,000 of monthly rent covers ordinary leases, not lodging, so ask an accountant how your Airbnb profit will be taxed.
A strong listing booked about 50% of nights and earning 50% more, about $26,000 (about L 698,000), does better: 8.1% gross, about $9,460 before income tax (3.0%) and about $3,990 after the non-resident tax (1.2%).
What to aim for: a purchase price that gives at least 7% gross on realistic AirROI numbers, an HOA under $300, and a plan to use the place yourself part of the year. Roatán is a buyer's market in 2026 (closed sales down 26% in the first half), so negotiate: final discounts of 7.7% to 10.1% off the asking price are normal there.
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Message a proHow competitive is Airbnb in Honduras in 2026?
How many active Airbnb listings are?
We found no reliable national count for 2026. The five biggest markets alone add up to about 3,154 active listings: 1,010 in Tegucigalpa, 855 in San Pedro Sula, 777 on Roatán, 272 in La Ceiba and 240 in Utila.
The trend splits in two. Supply exploded on the mainland (+67.5% in Tegucigalpa, +68% in San Pedro Sula in a year) and rose 25% in Utila, while Roatán lost 7% of its listings.
Which areas are most saturated?
The most crowded are the business districts of Tegucigalpa (Lomas del Guijarro, Palmira) and San Pedro Sula (Río de Piedras, Los Álamos), where 1 and 2-bedroom apartments look alike and compete mostly on price.
On the islands, West Bay and West End have the most listings (94 and 79), but they also earn the most, so the crowding is less painful there.
Less crowded options exist in Sandy Bay (35 listings), the east of Roatán, Valle de Ángeles near Tegucigalpa, and family houses near hospitals or business areas, but demand there is thinner too.
What local events spike demand?
On Roatán, the best months are February and March (53.1% and 48.3% occupancy in 2026), then June and July. On the mainland, the peaks are Semana Santa, Semana Morazánica in early October, Feria Juniana in San Pedro Sula, Christmas and New Year.
Demand is growing: visitor arrivals rose by more than 18% in the first half of 2026 and cruise passengers by more than 19%, according to the tourism minister. Cruise visitors don't sleep in Airbnbs, though, so the overnight crowd is what counts.
Set your peak prices and minimum stays 60 to 120 days ahead, earlier on Roatán for February and Semana Santa.
What occupancy differences exist between top and average hosts?
Big ones. The average listing sits around 27% nationally and 32% on Roatán, while a Tegucigalpa host told La Prensa in October 2026 that his apartments run at 45% to 65% occupancy, with a target of 75%.
So good hosts book about twice as many nights as the average, and as our yield example shows, that is the difference between losing money and making a little.
Expect 6 to 18 months to get there: reviews, photos, pricing history and repeat guests take time.
Which price points are most crowded, and where's the "white space" for new hosts?
The most crowded segment is the basic city apartment around $57 to $68 a night (about L 1,530 to L 1,826) in Tegucigalpa and San Pedro Sula, where supply grew by about two-thirds in a year.
The better gaps are units that are clearly a step up: a secure family house in the city, or a well-designed 1 or 2-bedroom on Roatán away from West Bay prices. A Roatán 1-bedroom averages L 3,853 a night (about $145) and 36% occupancy, more than the 33% of 2-bedrooms.
To win there: secure parking, Wi-Fi that works for remote workers, real air conditioning, backup water and power, and quick answers in English and Spanish.
Are there now too many Airbnbs in Tegucigalpa and San Pedro Sula?
Yes, for the average host. Active listings jumped 67.5% in Tegucigalpa to 1,010 and 68% in San Pedro Sula to 855 in a year, while overall visitor arrivals grew a little over 18%.
A Tegucigalpa host summed it up in La Prensa in October 2026: supply in the city "has grown much faster than demand" over the last three years.
The numbers show it. The average Tegucigalpa listing grosses about $3,834 a year (about L 103,000). Against a median 1-bedroom asking price of $100,000 (about L 2,680,000) in the Distrito Central, that is 3.8% gross, before any cost or tax.
A long lease often does better with far less work: a furnished 2-bedroom in Lomas del Guijarro was listed at $1,000 a month (about L 26,800) in September 2026, and an ordinary residential lease pays no ISV.
What to check before buying a city unit for Airbnb: the building's rules on short stays, the number of Airbnbs already in the tower (search the address on Airbnb), parking and security at the gate, and what the same unit would rent for on a 12-month lease. If the long lease wins, take it.
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What property works best for Airbnb in Honduras right now?
What bedroom count gets the most bookings?
On Roatán, 2-bedroom units are the biggest group (224 active listings) and earn L 466,000 a year on average (about $17,350), against L 319,000 (about $11,900) for 1-bedrooms (137 listings).
1-bedrooms fill a little more often (36% against 33%), but the 2-bedroom earns about 46% more because couples, divers and small families pay for the extra room.
Utila shows the same pattern: L 298,000 a year (about $11,100) for a 2-bedroom against L 181,000 (about $6,750) for a 1-bedroom. In the mainland cities, small 1 and 2-bedroom apartments for work trips and family visits dominate.
What property type performs best?
The best bet is a 2-bedroom condo in a proven Roatán area (West End or West Bay), bought at a negotiated price, with an HOA you can live with.
West Bay listings earn the most, L 722,000 a year on average (about $26,900), but you pay for it in purchase price and HOA. West End earns less per listing, L 364,000 (about $13,550), with the best occupancy on the island at 40%.
On the mainland, a secure 2-bedroom apartment or a family house with parking does better than a basic studio, but compare it with a long lease before you commit.
Our methodology
This article estimates what a residential Airbnb really earns in Honduras in 2026, market by market, and what an owner keeps after lodging taxes, running costs and income tax.
All revenue, nightly rate, occupancy and listing figures come from a single platform, AirROI, so we never mix providers in one calculation. The national and island data cover October 2025 to September 2026, the Tegucigalpa data August 2025 to July 2026. Purchase prices come from Roatán MLS listings and TuLugar asking prices, and are asking prices, not sale prices.
The rules come from official sources: the IHT law and Registro Nacional de Turismo, ARSA's 2025 lodging rule, SAR on RTN and ISV, IHT on the 4% tourism tax, Article 107 of the Constitution and Decree 90-90. Recent news on platform taxation comes from La Prensa, and tourism growth from the tourism minister's statements reported in September 2026.
We checked these figures in October 2026. Conversions use about 26.85 lempiras per US dollar (and about 30.15 lempiras per euro where euros appear).
Limits: AirROI averages are pulled up by large villas, and the yield example relies on our own assumptions (600 kWh of power a month, upkeep at 1% of the price, a 10% co-host, taxes included in the nightly price). How the 25% non-resident tax is computed on Airbnb income should be confirmed with a Honduran accountant.
Key sources used for this analysis include AirROI Honduras, AirROI Roatán, AirROI Bay Islands, AirROI Utila, AirROI Cortés, AirROI Tegucigalpa, AirROI San Pedro Sula, IHT visitor statistics, IHT Registro Nacional Turístico, IHT laws, Ley del Instituto Hondureño de Turismo, IHT on the tourism tax, ARSA hospedaje y centros recreativos, Acuerdo 0071-ARSA-2025, Tribunal Superior de Cuentas copy of Acuerdo 0071, SAR Registro Tributario Nacional, SAR on ISV, SAR FAQs, Calcularya Honduras tax reference, Constitution, Article 107, Decree 90-90, CREE Roatán tariffs, Roatán MLS, Blue Vista 102, Roatán MLS, Acqua di Mare, TuLugar Distrito Central, Banco Central de Honduras, La Prensa on apps and lodging, La Tribuna on 2026 tourism income and Airbnb Honduras.
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