Cartago
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Overview
Annual Rev
₡4.9m
12 mo avg
↓10%
from prior 12 mo
Occupancy rate
🔒 2•%
12 mo avg
••.•%
from prior 12 mo
Avg daily rate
🔒 ₡5••••
12 mo avg
••.•%
from prior 12 mo
Lead time
24 days
12 mo avg
↓9 days
from prior 12 mo
Revpar
₡10,389
12 mo avg
↓22%
from prior 12 mo
Methodology note: Figures reflect Cartago market data as of May 2026. Data covers Airbnb, VRBO, and Booking.com listings. Values are seasonally influenced; rounding applied for readability.
Revenue per listing by bedroom
Bedroom count:
0
1
2
3
4+
Short-term rental supply growth
Performance metrics by bedroom
Bedrooms
Annual Rev
Supply
Revenue boost by amenity
| Amenity | Listings With | Revenue Boost | Revenue With | Revenue Without |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pool | 13 (16%) | +₡7,476,392 (+88%) | ₡16,012,429 | ₡8,536,037 |
| 🔒 Amenity | 🔒 5• (••%) | 🔒 +$5••• (+••%) | 🔒 $7•••• | 🔒 $7•••• |
| 🔒 Amenity | 🔒 5• (••%) | 🔒 +$5••• (+••%) | 🔒 $7•••• | 🔒 $7•••• |
| 🔒 Amenity | 🔒 5• (••%) | 🔒 +$5••• (+••%) | 🔒 $7•••• | 🔒 $7•••• |
| 🔒 Amenity | 🔒 5• (••%) | 🔒 +$5••• (+••%) | 🔒 $7•••• | 🔒 $7•••• |
| 🔒 Amenity | 🔒 5• (••%) | 🔒 +$5••• (+••%) | 🔒 $7•••• | 🔒 $7•••• |
Nightly rate by day of week
Occupancy rate by day of week
Listings by channel
Listings by rental type
Listings by amenities
Listings by size
4+ bedrooms (0%)
Listings by availability
Length of stay by bedroom
1 bedroom (5.8 nights)
4+ bedrooms (5.3 nights)
2 bedrooms (4.5 nights)
3 bedrooms (4.0 nights)
Cleaning fee by bedroom
4+ bedrooms (CRC 50)
3 bedrooms (CRC 39)
1 bedroom (CRC 23)
2 bedrooms (CRC 18)
Professional host share
Independent hosts (72%)
Professionally managed (28%)
As of May 2026, Cartago, San José, Turrialba have 446 active Airbnb and VRBO listings. This represents a 5% decrease from the previous year.
The average Airbnb or VRBO in Cartago generates CRC3.0M per year. High-performing properties earn CRC13.0M/year, while low-performing properties earn CRC1.1M/year. This wide variance suggests that market leaders effectively capture a disproportionate share of the limited demand, while typical listings struggle with low utilization.
Airbnb and VRBO can be profitable in Cartago. Average annual revenue is CRC3.0M with 16% occupancy. High-performing properties earn up to CRC13.0M/year. The delta between high and average performers highlights that profitability is heavily skewed toward a small segment of the market that outperforms the low 16% occupancy baseline.
The average occupancy rate for Airbnbs and VRBOs in Cartago is 16%. This occupancy level, combined with an average nightly rate of CRC58K, results in a RevPAR (revenue per available room) of CRC7K per day.
4+ bedroom properties demonstrate the strongest performance in Cartago, with annual revenue of CRC5.9M. These properties balance operating costs and rental demand most effectively in the Cartago market. Property performance varies significantly by location, amenities, and management quality.
Short-term rental regulations vary by jurisdiction in the Cartago area. I don't have reliable current data on short-term rental regulations or enforcement reality for these specific Costa Rican cities (Cartago, San José, Turrialba). Costa Rica's STR rules vary by municipality and enforcement information is limited in available sources. I recommend contacting local municipal offices (municipalidades) directly or consulting with a local property attorney for accurate, current requirements and actual enforcement practices in each location. Always verify current regulations with local authorities and obtain necessary permits before operating a short-term rental.
The Cartago Airbnb and VRBO market is currently showing balanced conditions. Supply has declined 5% year-over-year, while RevPAR has decreased 9%. This indicates balanced supply-demand dynamics. This contraction suggests a stabilizing market where reduced supply has not yet offset the downward pressure on per-unit revenue.
Launch around September, 2-3 months before peak winter season (December peaks). This pre-peak timing lets you build reviews when competition is 10% lower than peak months. Avoid launching during peak season when established listings dominate, or slow months (May-October) when gaining traction is harder.
The most common amenities in Cartago listings include: Kitchen (97%), Tv (75%), Pets Allowed (67%), Washing Machine (67%), Balcony (65%). Amenities that boost revenue the most include Pool, Air Conditioning, Washing Machine, with Pool properties earning approximately 127% more (CRC18.1M/year vs CRC8.0M/year).
Monthly estimated revenue per listing in Cartago over the last 12 months: May: CRC155K, June: CRC151K, July: CRC233K, August: CRC184K, September: CRC134K, October: CRC114K, November: CRC170K, December: CRC336K, January: CRC245K, February: CRC246K, March: CRC269K, April: CRC235K. These figures are based on RevPAR (revenue per available room) multiplied by the number of days in each month.
The overall average nightly rate in Cartago is CRC58K, up 14% year-over-year. By property size: 1-bedroom properties average CRC44K/night, 2-bedroom properties average CRC44K/night, 3-bedroom properties average CRC99K/night, 4+ bedroom properties average CRC117K/night. Rates peak in February and are lowest in October.
Guests in Cartago book an average of 25 days in advance, down 26% from last year. By property size: 1-bedroom: 23 days, 2-bedroom: 23 days, 3-bedroom: 30 days, 4+ bedroom: 35 days. Larger properties tend to have longer booking windows as guests plan group trips further ahead.
Over the past year, the Cartago Airbnb and VRBO market has seen the following changes: supply declined 5%, revenue per listing decreased 9%, occupancy fell 14%, average nightly rates increased 14%, and lead time decreased 26%. These metrics reveal a tightening market where higher prices fail to compensate for the significant decline in booking volume.
In Cartago, Saturday sees the highest booking demand while Tuesday has the lowest. Nightly rates peak on Saturday and are lowest on Tuesday. Weekends show 56% higher occupancy than weekdays.