How profitable are Airbnb rentals in Uruguay? (2026)

Uruguay is attracting more Airbnb investors than ever, thanks to record tourism numbers and a regulatory environment that remains friendly to short-term rentals.

This guide covers everything about running an Airbnb in Uruguay in 2026: legal framework, neighborhood profitability, realistic revenue expectations, and expense breakdowns.

We update this article regularly to reflect the latest data and regulatory changes affecting short-term rentals in Uruguay.

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 Uruguay.

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 Uruguay. If you’d like to learn more about us, you can check our presentation page.

Can I legally run an Airbnb in Uruguay in 2026?

Is short-term renting allowed in Uruguay in 2026?

As of early 2026, short-term renting through Airbnb is allowed in Uruguay, which remains one of South America's most welcoming destinations for vacation rental hosts.

The main legal framework is Ley 20.352, passed in September 2024, establishing a national regulatory system for tourist lodging in residential properties.

The key requirement is that Uruguay is moving toward mandatory registration with the Ministry of Tourism, meaning you'll need a unique identification number displayed in your listing.

While penalties for non-compliance are still being defined, hosts should expect that operating without registration could lead to fines or platform removal once enforcement begins.

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

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

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

As of early 2026, Uruguay does not impose a strict nationwide cap on rental nights per year, and there are no universal minimum-stay requirements set by law.

These rules do not differ by property type or host residency status, meaning apartment, house, or villa owners face the same framework.

The Ministry of Tourism's regulatory project references "transitory accommodation of up to 120 days" as the scope for tourist housing, but this defines what qualifies rather than creating a hard limit.

In practice, minimum stays are market-driven: Punta del Este hosts often require longer stays during high season while Montevideo accommodates 1 to 3 night bookings year-round.

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

Uruguay does not require you to live in a property to operate it as a short-term rental, and secondary homes are commonly listed on Airbnb throughout the country.

Owners of secondary homes, including foreigners who do not reside in Uruguay, can legally operate short-term rentals while complying with registration and tax obligations.

There are no additional permits specifically for non-primary residence rentals under Uruguay's national framework.

The main practical difference is that secondary homes, especially on the coast, tend to be used primarily for seasonal rentals during summer months.

Can I run multiple Airbnbs under one name in Uruguay right now?

Yes, operating multiple Airbnb listings under one name is legally permitted in Uruguay, and multi-property hosting is common among professional operators in Montevideo and Punta del Este.

There is no maximum number of properties one person or entity can list for short-term rental under the current framework.

The main requirement is that each property will need individual registration once the Ministry of Tourism's system becomes fully operational.

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

As of early 2026, Uruguay is rolling out a mandatory tourism registration system that functions more like registration than a traditional business license.

The process will be handled online through the Ministry of Tourism, with hosts receiving a unique registration number for their listings.

Required documentation typically includes proof of property ownership, personal identification, and property details for the public registry.

On taxes, rental income is taxable regardless of registration, with non-residents paying a flat 12% under the IRNR system.

Are there neighborhood bans or restricted zones for Airbnb in Uruguay as of 2026?

As of early 2026, there is no national list of banned neighborhoods or restricted zones for Airbnb in Uruguay.

The most common restrictions come from building-level rules, where condo associations in Pocitos, Punta Carretas, or Peninsula may limit short-term rentals.

In Montevideo, municipal processes exist for certain lodging categories, which may require approval if your operation resembles a quasi-hotel.

How much can an Airbnb earn in Uruguay in 2026?

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

As of early 2026, the median nightly price for an entire-home Airbnb in Uruguay is approximately $75 (3,200 pesos, 70 euros), with significant variation between markets.

The typical range covering 80% of listings spans $55 to $160 (2,350 to 6,800 pesos, 50 to 150 euros), from budget Montevideo studios to quality coastal properties.

The biggest pricing factor is location: Montevideo averages $55 to $65 per night while Punta del Este averages $140, with premium properties exceeding $300.

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

How much do nightly prices vary by neighborhood in Uruguay in 2026?

As of early 2026, nightly prices vary by over $200 between neighborhoods, from $45 (1,900 pesos, 42 euros) in Montevideo's Centro to $250+ (10,700 pesos, 230 euros) in La Barra or Jose Ignacio.

The three highest-priced neighborhoods are La Barra and Jose Ignacio near Punta del Este at $180 to $330 per night, and Carrasco in Montevideo at $87 to $105.

The lowest-priced areas are Centro, Cordón, and Ciudad Vieja in Montevideo at $45 to $60 per night, though these still attract steady bookings from budget travelers.

What's the typical occupancy rate in Uruguay in 2026?

As of early 2026, typical occupancy for Airbnb in Uruguay is approximately 52% blended nationally, with Montevideo at 60% to 67% and Punta del Este at 46%.

The realistic range covering most listings spans 35% to 67%, reflecting the difference between steady city demand and highly seasonal coastal markets.

Uruguay's occupancy compares favorably to other South American markets, with Montevideo outperforming many regional capitals thanks to business travel and digital nomads.

The biggest factor for above-average occupancy is professional management: quality photography, dynamic pricing, fast responses, and consistent 5-star reviews.

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

As of early 2026, average monthly revenue per Airbnb in Uruguay is approximately $1,450 (62,000 pesos, 1,340 euros), using ADR multiplied by occupancy multiplied by 30 nights.

The realistic range covering 80% of listings spans $800 to $2,500 (34,000 to 107,000 pesos, 740 to 2,310 euros), with Montevideo at $1,000 to $1,300 and Punta del Este at $1,900 to $2,100.

Top performers achieve $3,500 to $6,000 monthly (150,000 to 256,000 pesos), particularly luxury coastal properties during peak summer when $200 nightly at 90% occupancy yields $5,400.

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

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

As of early 2026, low-season monthly revenue in Uruguay ranges from $700 to $1,200 (30,000 to 51,000 pesos, 645 to 1,110 euros), while high season brings $2,000 to $6,000+ (85,500 to 256,000 pesos, 1,850 to 5,545 euros).

Low season runs May through August when coastal demand drops; high season peaks December through February, with Semana de Turismo in late March or April providing an additional spike.

What's a realistic Airbnb monthly expense range in Uruguay in 2026?

As of early 2026, monthly expenses for Uruguay Airbnb run $350 to $900 (15,000 to 38,500 pesos, 325 to 830 euros) for Montevideo apartments and $600 to $1,600 (25,600 to 68,400 pesos, 555 to 1,480 euros) for coastal properties.

The largest expense category is cleaning and turnover at $30 to $80 per changeover, which adds up quickly with frequent short stays.

Hosts should expect 35% to 50% of gross revenue for operating expenses, including platform fees (3%), cleaning, utilities, building fees, maintenance, and the 12% rental tax for non-residents.

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

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

As of early 2026, typical monthly net profit for Uruguay Airbnb is approximately $800 (34,200 pesos, 740 euros), translating to $27 profit per available night (1,150 pesos, 25 euros).

The realistic net profit range for most listings spans $400 to $1,500 (17,100 to 64,100 pesos, 370 to 1,385 euros), with Montevideo apartments lower and optimized coastal properties higher.

Hosts typically achieve net profit margins of 45% to 60% after all expenses, taxes, and fees.

Break-even occupancy is approximately 35% to 40%, meaning properties need roughly 11 to 12 booked nights monthly to cover costs.

In our property pack covering the real estate market in Uruguay, we explain the best strategies to improve your cashflows.

How competitive is Airbnb in Uruguay as of 2026?

How many active Airbnb listings are in Uruguay as of 2026?

As of early 2026, Uruguay has approximately 7,000 to 10,000 active Airbnb listings, concentrated in Montevideo (2,500 to 4,200) and Punta del Este/Maldonado (3,200 to 4,900).

Inventory has grown 10% to 15% compared to the previous year, continuing a multi-year expansion as more owners enter the market to capitalize on strong tourism.

Which neighborhoods are most saturated in Uruguay as of 2026?

As of early 2026, the most saturated neighborhoods are Pocitos, Punta Carretas, and Cordón in Montevideo, plus Peninsula, Aidy Grill, and Roosevelt corridor in Punta del Este.

These areas became saturated because they combine high tourist demand with walkability, beach access, and restaurant concentration, attracting the first wave of hosts.

Undersaturated alternatives include Buceo and Malvín in Montevideo offering Rambla access with less competition, and emerging areas like La Paloma in Rocha or wine tourism zones in Canelones.

What local events spike demand in Uruguay in 2026?

As of early 2026, main demand spikes come from summer beach season (December to February), Carnaval (January to February, especially Montevideo), and Semana de Turismo (late March or April).

During peak events, bookings increase 30% to 50% and nightly rates rise 25% to 60%, with well-positioned Punta del Este properties sometimes doubling rates in January.

Hosts should adjust pricing 60 to 90 days before major events to capture early bookers while maintaining flexibility for last-minute premium bookings.

What occupancy differences exist between top and average hosts in Uruguay in 2026?

As of early 2026, top hosts achieve 75% to 80% occupancy in Montevideo and 60% to 66% in Punta del Este, significantly outperforming typical operators.

Average hosts reach 60% to 67% in Montevideo and 35% to 46% in Punta del Este, meaning top performers capture 8 to 15 additional percentage points.

New hosts typically take 6 to 12 months to reach top-performer levels with professional photography, dynamic pricing, fast responses, and consistent 5-star reviews.

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

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

The most crowded price range in Uruguay is $45 to $80 (1,900 to 3,420 pesos, 42 to 74 euros), representing the bulk of studios and one-bedrooms in Montevideo.

White space exists in two segments: premium at $150 to $250 per night for well-designed 2 to 3 bedroom properties, and long-stay at $1,200 to $2,000 monthly for digital nomads.

Successful characteristics for underserved segments include excellent workspaces with fast Wi-Fi, outdoor spaces with parrillero grills, parking, and distinctive interior design.

We made this infographic to show you how property prices in Uruguay 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 Uruguay right now?

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

As of early 2026, one-bedroom apartments and studios get the most total bookings in Uruguay due to high turnover and strong demand from couples and solo travelers.

Booking breakdown shows studios and one-bedrooms capturing roughly 45%, two-bedrooms about 35%, and three-bedroom+ taking the remaining 20%.

One-bedrooms perform best because they match Uruguay's traveler mix, dominated by couples from Argentina and Brazil taking short getaways.

What property type performs best in Uruguay in 2026?

As of early 2026, apartments and condos perform best overall for consistent occupancy and revenue stability, particularly in Montevideo's Pocitos, Punta Carretas, or Buceo.

Occupancy by type shows apartments at 60% to 67%, single-family houses at 45% to 55%, and luxury villas at 35% to 50% with higher peak-season performance.

Apartments outperform because they offer lower purchase prices, easier management, steady year-round demand, and strong appeal to couples and small groups.

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 Uruguay, 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
Ministry of Tourism (Mintur)	Official Uruguayan government ministry responsible for tourism policy and short-term rental regulation.	We used it to describe mandatory registration requirements and platform compliance. We referenced their tourist housing definition for the legal framework.
IMPO Official Law Database	Uruguay's official publisher and repository of all national laws and decrees.	We verified the exact text and scope of Ley 20.352. We cross-checked Mintur announcements against actual law provisions.
Presidencia Normative Index	Official government portal indexing all national laws and implementation status.	We used it as independent confirmation of the law's existence and scope. We triangulated with IMPO and Mintur sources.
Mintur Tourism Statistics	Primary government source for official inbound tourism data including visitor volumes and spending.	We used it to size demand and explain seasonality. We referenced the 3.2 million visitors and $1.78 billion revenue for 2025.
DGI Tax Authority	Uruguay's official tax authority providing guidance on rental income taxation.	We outlined tax mechanics including the 12% IRNR rate for non-residents. We incorporated this into net profit calculations.
Montevideo Municipal Portal	Montevideo's official municipal process page for lodging activity compliance.	We used it to show municipal processes exist beyond national rules. We referenced it as a reminder to check local requirements.
AirDNA Montevideo	Widely used STR analytics provider with transparent methodology for occupancy and ADR estimates.	We used it for Montevideo metrics: $55 to $58 ADR, 67% occupancy, and listing counts. We applied consistent revenue formulas.
AirROI Punta del Este	Structured STR dataset provider with explicit fields for listings, ADR, occupancy, and revenue.	We anchored Punta del Este's seasonal profile and high/low month performance. We cross-checked against other sources.
Airbtics Punta del Este	Detailed market analytics including ADR, occupancy, and revenue for specific markets.	We confirmed $140 ADR and 46% occupancy for Punta del Este. We triangulated annual revenue against our calculations.
Banco Central del Uruguay	Uruguay's central bank and standard reference for macroeconomic indicators.	We framed risk and return context, as interest rates affect mortgage costs and required yields.
INE Price Statistics	Uruguay's official statistics agency for price indices and inflation data.	We grounded cost inflation assumptions affecting cleaning, maintenance, and renovations.
PwC Tax Summaries	Authoritative tax guidance compiled by professional advisors familiar with local regulations.	We verified IRNR tax rates and the 7% to 25% range for non-resident income.
TheLatinvestor Montevideo	Specialized resource focused on Uruguay real estate with on-the-ground market research.	We confirmed neighborhood-level pricing and premium area ADRs. We referenced occupancy ranges and property breakdowns.
TheLatinvestor Punta del Este	Detailed coastal market data based on local property manager interviews and STR tracking.	We validated seasonal occupancy patterns and premium property performance tiers.
Travel and Tour World	Travel industry publication reporting on official tourism statistics from government sources.	We confirmed the 3.2 million visitor figure and $1.78 billion revenue. We verified against original Mintur releases.