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Airbnb in New York City: License, Income & Investment Guide 2026

By HostPal Editorial·Updated 311 days ago·Source: Inside Airbnb

Sixty percent occupancy at $148 a night sounds passable until you remember what it actually costs to operate in New York — the mortgages, the cleaning fees, the sheer friction of a city that's made short-term letting its political punchbag. Local Law 18 has already gutted the supply side, which is why you're looking at under 11,000 active listings across the five boroughs, down dramatically from the pre-2023 peak. That regulatory squeeze is the whole story here. Supply is constrained hard, demand hasn't gone anywhere, and the operators still standing are the ones who navigated the registration maze. If you can get compliant, you're in a thinned-out market with real pricing power — but the compliance route is genuinely difficult, and that's the bet you're making.

At a glance
Median occupancy
60%
Median daily rate
£117
Active listings
10,918
36,353 total
Revenue per available night
£47

When New York City Airbnbs perform best

Monthly occupancy data shows the seasonal rhythm of the New York City short-term rental market. Use this to plan dynamic pricing, target peak demand, and avoid lulls.

New York City — monthly occupancy 47% 49% 49% 49% 54% 54% 53% 59% 59% 59% 67% 57% JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec 100% 0%

How New York City compares to United States

Benchmarked against 34 other United States markets we track, New York City's metrics tell a clear story.

Occupancy vs national
+18 pts vs national
National median: 42%
Daily rate vs national
+8.4% vs national
National median: £108

What kind of Airbnbs are in New York City?

Of the 10,918 active operating listings, 54.7% are entire homes (vs private rooms), and 47.3% are operated by Airbnb Superhosts.

Bedroom mix among active listings
Studio
1 BR
2 BR
Studio: 10.5%1 BR: 63.8%2 BR: 17.4%3 BR: 5.9%4+ BR: 2.4%

Top neighborhoods in New York City

The 224 neighborhoods we track range from established tourist hotspots to emerging investment zones. Here are the five strongest by revenue.

NeighborhoodListingsOccupancyRevPARYoY
Columbia St1£188
Financial District16460%£142
Kew Gardens Hills3£140
Morris Heights460%£124
Battery Park City1060%£123

Frequently asked questions

What is the average Airbnb occupancy in New York City?
Active Airbnb listings in New York City run at ~60% occupancy. Source: Inside Airbnb.
What is the median daily rate for an Airbnb in New York City?
The median Airbnb daily rate (ADR) in New York City is approximately £117. Based on listings with at least one review in the last 12 months.
How many active Airbnb listings are in New York City?
There are approximately 10,918 active short-term rental listings in New York City (listings with at least one booking in the last 12 months).

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Going deeper?

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Methodology. Market metrics are derived from Inside Airbnb's 2025-11 snapshot, filtered to active listings (those with at least one booking in the last 12 months). Year-over-year deltas compare against the closest archived snapshot ~12 months prior. Sample sizes: occupancy n=3,530, ADR n=9,710.