Best Cities in America for Investing in Airbnb

Interested in buying a vacation home that can serve as an Airbnb property? Depending on location and initial investment costs, becoming an Airbnb host can be extremely profitable. To get the most bang for your buck, you need to find a city that has affordable housing costs, as well as enticing attractions and amenities. Here are 17 U.S. cities worth considering for Airbnb investments!

• Austin, TX
• Boston, MA
• Breckenridge, CO
• Chicago, IL
• Denver, CO
• Honolulu, HI
• Las Vegas, NV
• Miami, FL
• Myrtle Beach, SC
• Nashville, TN
• New Orleans, LA
• Orlando, FL
• Phoenix, AZ
• Portland, OR
• San Francisco, CA
• Virginia Beach, VA
• Washington, DC

Austin, TX

• Home Price: $257,800 median purchase price; $1,106 median monthly rent

Between the dining, nightlife, massive annual events, and quirky “Keep Austin Weird” attitude, Austin is a fantastic place to invest in an Airbnb home! Texas’ capital city is known as the Live Music Capital of the World, drawing tourists from all over the country to the city’s 250 music venues. It’s also home to SXSW (South by Southwest), one of the world’s largest joint film, music, and arts festivals. On top of that, Austin is known for its awesome bar-hopping scene on 6th Street, where visitors can find a stretch of cowboy bars, cocktail lounges, speakeasies, and karaoke clubs. If you’re thinking about setting up an Airbnb property here, check out homes in one of Austin’s trendy neighborhoods or close to Downtown Austin!

Boston, MA

• Home Price: $423,200 median purchase price; $1,369 median monthly rent

One of America’s oldest cities, Boston is a popular vacation destination for history buffs. Tourists come to walk the Freedom Trail, see the famous Old North Church, step aboard the USS Constitution, and catch a Red Sox game at MLB’s oldest ballpark Fenway Park. Many visitors arrive in the spring to attend the St. Patrick’s Day Parade or test their stamina in the Boston Marathon. Boston is also one of the best Airbnb locations in the U.S. in the fall, as vacationers can enjoy warm weather while on a whale-watching boat tour in Boston Harbor, touring the historic grounds at Harvard University, or strolling through Little Italy on Boston’s North End. There are tons of activities all over Boston—plus, there’s great public transportation to transport travelers throughout the city—so you can invest in a convenient vacation home just about anywhere!

Breckenridge, CO

• Home Price: $456,300 median purchase price; $1,255 median monthly rent

Travelers who want to hit the slopes head out to Breckenridge, one the most popular ski towns in America. With 2,908 skiable acres, 187 trails, and 11 magic carpets, everyone from first-timers to professional skiers and snowboarders can find their ideal run in this former mining town. And Breckenridge is a part of Summit County, so even more skiing adventures in Keystone, Copper Mountain, and other locales are just a short drive away! It’s not all about the slopes in Breckenridge, however. Breck has year-round alpine activities like hiking, whitewater rafting, and the famous alpine slides, so Airbnb owners don’t have to worry about the seasonality other ski towns may encounter. Plus, there are hundreds of unique restaurants, bars, and boutiques to explore in Downtown Breckenridge! With Breckenridge, you might consider investing in a vacation home that has a hot tub for your guests to warm up and recover in after a day on the slopes.

Chicago, IL

• Home Price: $225,200 median purchase price; $987 median monthly rent

Thanks to its epic festivals, expansive art scene, and numerous tourist hot spots, Chicago is one of the best vacation spots in the U.S., making it a great place to buy a condo or vacation home to use as an Airbnb rental property! Hundreds of thousands flock to Chicago for four-day musical festival Lollapalooza each summer, while others travel to party at the St. Patrick’s Day Parade, sample the city’s best cuisine at Taste of Chicago, or enjoy the soothing tunes at the Chicago Jazz Festival. But events aren’t all that makes The Windy City great for short-term home rentals. Vacationers rent out Airbnb homes so they can get pictures in front of The Bean in Millennium Park, take an architecture river cruise, savor deep-dish pizza on Navy Pier, or enjoy a casual afternoon on the Chicago Riverwalk. With its many tourism opportunities and unique hidden gems, Chicago is a place soon-to-be Airbnb hosts should definitely look into!

Denver, CO

• Home Price: $292,700 median purchase price; $1,035 median monthly rent

There are always interesting festivals and events going on in Denver, which makes it a perfect place to set up an Airbnb property. Whether it’s to sample cold brews from all over the country at the Great American Beer Festival, catch some of the 250 works at the Denver Film Festival, join the grand parades at Denver Pride, or see a concert at Red Rocks Park & Amphitheatre, travelers are always on the hunt for Airbnb rentals in the Denver metro. Most of the action happens in Downtown Denver, but keep an eye out for vacation homes on the city’s outskirts, too, as some outdoor enthusiasts stay in the Mile High City so they can be within driving distance of Rocky Mountain National Park, Chatfield State Park, and all kinds of nearby ski resorts!

Honolulu, HI

• Home Price: $601,500 median purchase price; $1,357 median monthly rent

With its stunning beaches, gorgeous weather, and some of the world’s best outdoor recreation, Honolulu is a traveler’s paradise, which makes it ideal for Airbnb rentals! The beaches alone are enough to make your investment worthwhile—Waikiki Beach, Lanikai Beach, and Magic Island Lagoon are destinations for couples, families, and everyone in between! These gorgeous hot spots make beach houses a popular investment in Honolulu. Visitors also travel to the island to see Pearl Harbor, tour the giant crater at Diamond Head State Monument, and go snorkeling in Hanauma Bay. All these benefits make the price of buying a condo a bit higher in Honolulu, but guests are often willing to pay more for a vacation rental in such a perfect place!

Las Vegas, NV

• Home Price: $184,900 median purchase price; $985 median monthly rent

Known as the Entertainment Capital of the World, Las Vegas draws vacationers from all over the globe with its flashy casinos, restaurants, and entertainment venues, but not everyone wants to stay in one of the glitzy resort hotels on the Las Vegas Strip. After a day of gambling at famous casinos like Caesars Palace and Aria, watching the dancing fountains at Bellagio, sampling some of the city’s best cuisine at Yama Sushi or Top of the World, or partying at Jewel Nightclub and The Pool Marquee, many Las Vegas visitors seek a rental home away from the hustle and bustle of The Strip where they can relax before they hit the town again. A quiet Airbnb that’s close to but not on the Strip could be very appealing to potential renters!

Miami, FL

• Home Price: $241,200 median purchase price; $995 median monthly rent

Between the sunny climate, pristine beaches, and never-ending nightlife, there are plenty of reasons why Miami is an attractive city for Airbnb rentals! Singles and young adults are drawn to the parties and dance clubs of South Beach—most notably at LIV and E11EVEN MIAMI—while families come for Miami Seaquarium, the splash pad at South Pointe Park, and a few days at one of Miami’s many beaches. Tourists also enjoy the contemporary artwork at Art Basel and The Magic City’s long roster of events like Ultra Music Festival, Carnaval Miami, and Miami Beach Pride. With all there is to do, exhausted travelers will need a place to rest at the end of the day. That’s where your Airbnb house comes in! Whether you offer a boathouse, penthouse, condo, or even a unique treehouse, you’re sure to get your Airbnb noticed in Miami!

Myrtle Beach, SC

• Home Price: $173,600 median purchase price; $824 median monthly rent

With miles of sunny beaches, more than 100 golf courses, and budget-friendly vacation activities that are perfect for families, Myrtle Beach is one of the best cities to visit in the USA—which also makes it a fantastic place to buy a vacation home! The closer your bungalow or condo can get guests to the sand and ocean views, the better it is for your rental property profits. While in Myrtle Beach, tourists love to go deep-sea fishing, search for dolphins on a boat cruise, and enjoy the live bands each night on Apache Pier. Beach house rentals are especially popular during the area’s top events, including Carolina Country Music Fest, World Famous Blue Crab Festival, and Myrtle Beach International Film Festival.

Nashville, TN

• Home Price: $174,600 median purchase price; $902 median monthly rent

Nashville is well-known for its country music history, and travelers frequently converge on Music City USA to visit venues like Grand Ole Opry, The Bluebird Cafe, and Ryman Auditorium. Airbnb rentals are usually in high demand when Nashville hosts the CMA Awards and Tin Pan South Songwriters Festival each year. But it’s not just music that brings vacationers to this Tennessee city. Nashville is also one of the top destinations for bachelorette parties! Look for a vacation home or apartment near Downtown Nashville—and Broadway in particular—where all the city’s best bars, restaurants, and music venues are located!

New Orleans, LA

• Home Price: $197,000 median purchase price; $929 median monthly rent

Owning an Airbnb rental home or condo in New Orleans might be worth it for Mardi Gras alone—the two-week celebration typically falls in late February or early March and lures more than a million visitors to the French Quarter and Bourbon Street for parades, parties, and more. But Mardi Gras is far from the only major annual gathering in New Orleans—the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival, Essence Festival, and New Orleans Food & Wine Experience are among the city’s long list of great events! There’s also year-round fun to be found in The Big Easy, whether it’s enjoying the soothing jazz at The Spotted Cat Music Club, admiring the historical exhibits at The National WWII Museum, or exploring the beautiful Cities of the Dead. These are just a few reasons why New Orleans is regarded as one of the best places to visit in the USA!

Orlando, FL

• Home Price: $172,100 median purchase price; $1,040 median monthly rent

You won’t find better vacation places in the world than Orlando! The City Beautiful has tremendous weather year-round, and it’s within driving distance of several fantastic beaches. Orlando is also America’s theme park capital, bringing in families from across the world who come to visit Walt Disney World, Universal Orlando Resort, The Wizarding World of Harry Potter, and LEGOLAND. These family-friendly attractions make spacious vacation homes extremely popular for Airbnb investors. In addition, Orlando is one of the most LGBTQ+ friendly cities in the country and hosts some of the largest gay pride events, including Gay Days and Come Out With Pride. With all that and more, your Orlando Airbnb home will constantly have new visitors!

Phoenix, AZ

• Home Price: $178,200 median purchase price; $914 median monthly rent

Phoenix is a hot travel destination during the winter, when residents from colder locations escape to the Valley of the Sun. With nearly 200 courses, Phoenix is a golfer’s dream, especially during the week of the Waste Management Phoenix Open, known as the “Greatest Show on the Grass.” Sports fans also rent Airbnb homes in Phoenix each March to watch their MLB teams practice and play spring training games in the Cactus League. It’s not all about sports in Phoenix, though! Adventurous hikers can take on Piestewa Peak, Camelback Mountain, and 36 miles of trails in the Sonoran Preserve. At the end of a long day full of activities in the sun, travelers look forward to the refuge of a guesthouse or condo, preferably one with access to a pool or shaded deck!

Portland, OR

• Home Price: $319,400 median purchase price; $1,025 median monthly rent

Active vacationers who want to get outside love Portland! The Rose City is home to more than 200 parks, so there’s always another outdoor adventure around the bend. Visitors travel to Portland to hike and bike through scenic Forest Park, kayak the Willamette River, walk through the International Rose Test Garden, and ski down nearby Mount Hood. PDX’s unique culture also makes it a tourist magnet—this brewery-dense locale is a foodie paradise that embraces its “Keep Portland Weird” personality. And if visitors want to get a view of the whole city, the Portland Aerial Tram not only provides stunning views, but convenient transportation as well. Portland’s curiosities, food scene, and abundance of outdoor activities make it one of the best cities for Airbnb owners. Consider properties like the antique houses in Sellwood-Moreland, vintage cottages and Colonials in Hawthorne and Belmont, or apartments in buzzing Downtown Portland.

San Francisco, CA

• Home Price: $858,800 median purchase price; $1,632 median monthly rent

While San Francisco may be one of the more expensive cities to own an Airbnb, its attractions, events, and nightlife opportunities ensure that your rental home will continually be in use, making it worth the while! Visitors can’t wait to snap a selfie in front iconic San Francisco features like the Golden Gate Bridge, the famous Painted Ladies, and crooked Lombard Street. Tourists in SF also love to tour Alcatraz Island, hike through the redwoods in Muir Woods, try incredible Asian cuisine in Chinatown and Japantown, and explore Fisherman’s Wharf. Not to mention, San Francisco sees a massive influx of visitors each summer for San Francisco Pride, one of the world’s largest gay parades. When looking for vacation homes, check out areas like North Beach, SoMa, and Castro District.

Virginia Beach, VA

• Home Price: $262,200 median purchase price; $1,258 median monthly rent

Who wouldn’t want to rent an Airbnb in one of America’s best beach cities? Virginia Beach has an oceanside attraction for every desire, from the lively boardwalk and outdoor cafes along Virginia Beach Oceanfront to the laid-back beaches and sand volleyball courts at Chesapeake Bay. The city’s beach scene is so wide-ranging that it features seven distinct beach districts, making it an ideal getaway for any tourist. And while the agreeable weather makes Virginia Beach a great place to visit year-round, tourism really amps up near the end of summer during The Neptune Festival, which draws hundreds of thousands of guests for parades, concerts, beer gardens, and sand sculpture competitions. The closer your beach house or condo can get guests to the Virginia Beach Boardwalk, the more visitors you’ll have battling for rental dates!

Washington, DC

• Home Price: $506,100 median purchase price; $1,362 median monthly rent

While investing in an Airbnb in Washington, DC comes with a higher sticker price, it also eliminates the seasonality that affects other vacation homes. DC’s appeal isn’t dependent upon the weather or annual events because the city has a wide array of historical attractions and monuments. Between the United States Capitol, The White House, Lincoln Memorial, Washington Monument, and Smithsonian National Air & Space Museum, there’s so much to do and see in the nation’s capital throughout the year! When searching for vacation properties, consider top neighborhoods like Capitol Hill, Capitol Riverfront, and Southwest, which are close to DC’s biggest attractions. Or look for condos and apartments in trendy areas like Logan Circle and Foggy Bottom that provide close proximity to some of the city’s best dining, shopping, and nightlife!

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