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If you're thinking about buying a property in Costa Blanca to rent on Airbnb, you're probably wondering whether it's worth it in 2026.
This guide covers legal requirements, realistic income expectations, neighborhood saturation, and the best property types for short-term rentals along Spain's Costa Blanca coastline.
We constantly update this article with fresh data on Airbnb profitability in Costa Blanca.
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 Costa Blanca.
Insights
- Alicante-Elche airport hit a record 18.6 million passengers in 2025, directly feeding Airbnb demand across Costa Blanca and keeping occupancy strong even outside peak summer.
- The typical Costa Blanca Airbnb earns €2,300 to €3,200 monthly in gross revenue, but net profit drops to €900 to €1,800 depending on self-management versus hiring a property manager.
- Benidorm's winter-sun demand from UK and Irish retirees keeps occupancy around 59% year-round, making it less seasonal than northern towns like Dénia or Calpe.
- Alicante city now restricts new tourist apartments in "saturated zones" like Centro and Casco Antiguo, so buying there for Airbnb carries higher regulatory risk.
- Valencia's rules treat hosts with 5+ properties as professional operators, meaning stricter compliance requirements compared to owners with one or two rentals.
- Nightly prices vary by 2x between premium beachfront spots like Playa de la Fossa in Calpe (around €250) and inland Torrevieja apartments (around €110).
- Top-performing hosts achieve 70% to 80% occupancy, 10 to 20 points higher than average, mainly through better photos, dynamic pricing, and winter long-stay strategies.
- The most crowded price segment is €80 to €140 per night, especially in Torrevieja, while "white space" exists in winter-friendly long-stays and small luxury segments.
Can I legally run an Airbnb in Costa Blanca in 2026?
Is short-term renting allowed in Costa Blanca in 2026?
As of early 2026, short-term renting is allowed in Costa Blanca, but you must comply with Valencian Community registration requirements and any municipal restrictions in your specific town.
The main legal framework comes from the Valencian regional government, requiring all tourist-use homes to be registered through a "declaración responsable" process before listing on platforms like Airbnb.
The most important condition is proper registration with the regional tourism authority, including your cadastral reference number and displaying registration details in all advertisements.
Beyond regional rules, your building's HOA can restrict tourist rentals under Spain's Horizontal Property Law, and municipalities like Alicante city are creating "saturated zones" with additional restrictions.
Operating unregistered can result in fines from several hundred to several thousand euros, with enforcement tightening as Spain implements its new national registry.
For a more general view, you can read our article detailing what exactly foreigners can own and buy in Spain.
If you are an American, you might want to read our blog article detailing the property rights of US citizens in Spain.
Are there minimum-stay rules and maximum nights-per-year caps for Airbnbs in Costa Blanca as of 2026?
As of early 2026, there is no Costa Blanca-wide minimum stay or maximum nights-per-year cap, though individual towns and building HOAs may impose their own limits.
These rules don't vary by property type at the regional level, but your building's community rules or municipality's zoning could add restrictions that create effective caps.
What has changed is that Spain's new national registry makes it easier to track rental activity, so any local caps are now more likely to be enforced.
Do I have to live there, or can I Airbnb a secondary home in Costa Blanca right now?
In most of Costa Blanca, you can operate a secondary home as a tourist rental without any residency requirement, as long as the property meets registration standards.
Secondary home owners can legally operate short-term rentals throughout Costa Blanca, which is why the area is popular with foreign investors seeking holiday rental income.
The conditions aren't about residency but property compliance: valid cadastral reference, HOA approval for tourist rentals, and not being in a designated saturation zone in cities like Alicante.
The main difference between renting a primary versus secondary residence is simply that you're more present to handle guest issues with your primary home, but the legal framework treats both the same.
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Buying real estate is a significant investment. Don't rely solely on your intuition. Gather the right information to make the best decision.
Can I run multiple Airbnbs under one name in Costa Blanca right now?
Yes, you can operate multiple Airbnb listings in Costa Blanca, but the Valencian government treats you differently once you manage five or more properties.
There's no hard maximum on properties one person can register, but Valencia categorizes hosts with 1-4 properties as individuals and those with 5+ as "empresas gestoras" (management companies).
Crossing the five-property threshold brings stricter compliance expectations and more regulatory scrutiny.
Do I need a short-term rental license or a business registration to host in Costa Blanca as of 2026?
As of early 2026, you need to register your property as a "vivienda de uso turístico" through Valencia's responsible declaration process, which is a registration rather than a traditional license.
The process involves submitting an online declaration with property details, cadastral reference, and habitability confirmation, typically completed within a few weeks.
You'll need ownership documents or rental authorization, the cadastral reference, and a declaration that your building allows tourist use.
Registration is free, but you may face costs for property modifications, and Spain's national registry adds another layer of data reporting.
Are there neighborhood bans or restricted zones for Airbnb in Costa Blanca as of 2026?
As of early 2026, specific neighborhoods have restrictions in some Costa Blanca municipalities, with Alicante city actively implementing "saturated zone" policies limiting new tourist apartments.
In Alicante city, the strictest restrictions apply to Centro, Casco Antiguo (Santa Cruz), and Ensanche-Diputación, where new registrations face additional requirements or denial based on saturation thresholds.
These zones are restricted because tourist apartment density was affecting housing availability and neighborhood character for permanent residents.
We made this infographic to show you how property prices in Spain 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.
How much can an Airbnb earn in Costa Blanca in 2026?
What's the average and median nightly price on Airbnb in Costa Blanca in 2026?
As of early 2026, the average nightly price for Costa Blanca Airbnbs is €140 to €170 ($150 to $180 USD), while the median sits at €110 to €135 ($120 to $145 USD) because luxury villas pull the average up.
The typical price range covering 80% of listings falls between €70 and €220 ($75 to $235 USD), with most apartments and townhouses at €90 to €160.
The biggest pricing factor in Costa Blanca is beach proximity: a walkable beachfront apartment commands significantly higher rates than an identical unit requiring a car.
By the way, you will find much more detailed profitability rent ranges in our property pack covering the real estate market in Costa Blanca.
How much do nightly prices vary by neighborhood in Costa Blanca in 2026?
As of early 2026, nightly prices vary by up to €150 ($160 USD) between Costa Blanca's most expensive neighborhoods like Las Rotas in Dénia or Maryvilla in Calpe (€220-€250) and inland Torrevieja apartments (€80-€100).
The three highest-priced neighborhoods are Playa de la Fossa in Calpe (€250 / $265 USD), Las Rotas in Dénia (€230 / $245 USD), and Playa de San Juan in Alicante (€200 / $215 USD).
The three lowest-priced areas are inland Torrevieja residential blocks (€80 / $85 USD), Carolinas in Alicante (€90 / $95 USD), and interior Benalúa (€95 / $100 USD), though these still attract budget-conscious guests.
What's the typical occupancy rate in Costa Blanca in 2026?
As of early 2026, typical annualized occupancy for Costa Blanca Airbnbs is 55% to 65%, with a midpoint around 60% for well-maintained properties in decent locations.
The realistic occupancy range for most listings falls between 50% and 70%, with properties below 50% usually suffering from poor photos, slow responses, or car-dependent locations.
Costa Blanca occupancy compares favorably to Spain's Mediterranean average, partly because Alicante-Elche airport's record 18.6 million passengers in 2025 feeds year-round demand.
The biggest factor for above-average occupancy is offering a winter-friendly setup with good heating, reliable wifi, and long-stay amenities to capture UK and Northern European retirees.
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What's the average monthly revenue per listing in Costa Blanca in 2026?
As of early 2026, average monthly gross revenue per Costa Blanca Airbnb is €2,300 to €3,200 ($2,450 to $3,400 USD), with the median closer to €1,700 to €2,500 ($1,800 to $2,650 USD).
The realistic range covering 80% of listings falls between €1,200 and €4,500 ($1,275 to $4,800 USD), with location and property type being the main drivers.
Top listings, typically villas with pools and views in Calpe or Dénia, can achieve €6,000 to €12,000 ($6,400 to $12,750 USD) monthly in peak summer. A well-positioned villa at Calpe's €142 RevPAR generates roughly €4,300 monthly annualized.
Finally, note that we give here all the information you need to buy and rent out a property in Costa Blanca.
What's the typical low-season vs high-season monthly revenue in Costa Blanca in 2026?
As of early 2026, Costa Blanca Airbnb monthly revenue during high season (June-September) runs €3,500 to €6,500 ($3,700 to $6,900 USD), while low season (November-February) drops to €900 to €2,200 ($950 to $2,350 USD).
High season peaks in July-August with strong shoulder months in June and September, while low season runs November-February, though Benidorm's winter-sun demand softens the seasonal drop compared to northern towns.
What's a realistic Airbnb monthly expense range in Costa Blanca in 2026?
As of early 2026, realistic monthly expenses for a Costa Blanca Airbnb are €300 to €750 ($320 to $800 USD) in fixed costs, plus 20% to 45% of gross revenue in variable costs depending on management approach.
The largest expense is property management fees if outsourced (15% to 25% of revenue, €350 to €800 monthly), or cleaning and turnover costs if self-managing.
Hosts should expect to spend 40% to 55% of gross revenue on expenses when self-managing, or 55% to 75% with professional management.
If you want to go into more details, we also have a blog article detailing all the property taxes and fees in Costa Blanca.
What's realistic monthly net profit and profit per available night for Airbnb in Costa Blanca in 2026?
As of early 2026, realistic monthly net profit for a Costa Blanca Airbnb is €900 to €1,800 ($950 to $1,900 USD) self-managed and €600 to €1,300 ($640 to $1,380 USD) professionally managed, or €20 to €45 ($21 to $48 USD) per available night.
The realistic net profit range for most listings falls between €500 and €2,500 ($530 to $2,650 USD), varying by location, efficiency, and mortgage status.
Net profit margins typically run 40% to 60% self-managed and 25% to 45% with professional management.
Break-even occupancy sits around 35% to 45%, meaning you need roughly 11 to 14 booked nights monthly to cover costs.
In our property pack covering the real estate market in Costa Blanca, we explain the best strategies to improve your cashflows.
We did some research and made this infographic to help you quickly compare rental yields of the major cities in Spain versus those in neighboring countries. It provides a clear view of how this country positions itself as a real estate investment destination, which might interest you if you’re planning to invest there.
How competitive is Airbnb in Costa Blanca as of 2026?
How many active Airbnb listings are in Costa Blanca as of 2026?
As of early 2026, Costa Blanca has an estimated 45,000 to 65,000 active short-term rental listings, mostly apartments, condos, and townhouses in beach towns along Alicante province.
This number has grown steadily, though new listing growth has slowed as regulations tightened and municipalities like Alicante implemented saturation zone restrictions.
Which neighborhoods are most saturated in Costa Blanca as of 2026?
As of early 2026, the most saturated Costa Blanca neighborhoods are Levante and Rincón de Loix in Benidorm, Playa del Cura and La Mata in Torrevieja, Centro and Casco Antiguo in Alicante, Las Marinas in Dénia, and Playa de la Fossa in Calpe.
These neighborhoods saturated because they combine walkable beach access with established tourist infrastructure, making them the obvious choice for both guests and investors.
Relatively undersaturated areas offering better opportunities include El Campello, Villajoyosa (charming old town, less developed STR market), inland Altea, and newer Orihuela Costa urbanizations.
What local events spike demand in Costa Blanca in 2026?
As of early 2026, main events spiking Costa Blanca Airbnb demand are Hogueras de San Juan in Alicante (late June), Benidorm Fest (February 10-14, 2026), Semana Santa/Easter celebrations, and Moors and Christians festivals throughout the year.
During peak events, booking rates increase 30% to 50% and nightly prices rise 40% to 80%, with Hogueras creating the most intense accommodation pressure.
Hosts should adjust pricing 3 to 6 months before major events like Hogueras, and 2 to 3 months before Benidorm Fest or Easter.
What occupancy differences exist between top and average hosts in Costa Blanca in 2026?
As of early 2026, top-performing Costa Blanca hosts achieve 70% to 80% occupancy through professional photography, dynamic pricing, fast responses, and winter long-stay positioning.
Average hosts see 55% to 60% occupancy, meaning top performers capture 10 to 20 percentage points more bookings through better execution.
New hosts typically need 6 to 12 months of consistent operation and review accumulation to reach top-performer levels.
We give more details about the different Airbnb strategies to adopt in our property pack covering the real estate market in Costa Blanca.
Which price points are most crowded, and where's the "white space" for new hosts in Costa Blanca right now?
The most crowded price range in Costa Blanca is €80 to €140 ($85 to $150 USD), especially in Torrevieja and dense Benidorm apartment zones.
White space exists above €200 per night (small luxury apartments with hotel-level quality) and in winter long-stays where guests book 4+ weeks at monthly discounts.
Property characteristics for underserved segments include excellent heating and work-from-home setups, truly walkable beach locations, spotless modern design, and family-ready features like blackout curtains and safe outdoor spaces.
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What property works best for Airbnb demand in Costa Blanca right now?
What bedroom count gets the most bookings in Costa Blanca as of 2026?
As of early 2026, 1 to 2 bedroom properties get the most bookings in Costa Blanca because they match the largest guest pool: couples, small families, and winter long-stay visitors.
Booking breakdown shows studios at about 10%, 1-bedrooms around 30%, 2-bedrooms leading at 35%, and 3+ bedrooms at 25%, though larger properties often generate higher revenue per booking.
The 1-2 bedroom sweet spot works because Costa Blanca attracts couples on beach holidays and Northern European retirees on extended winter stays, neither needing large spaces but both booking frequently.
What property type performs best in Costa Blanca in 2026?
As of early 2026, the best-performing property type for Costa Blanca Airbnb is a 2-bedroom apartment or townhouse in a walkable beach zone, offering broadest demand appeal and easiest year-round occupancy.
Occupancy by type: apartments and townhouses in good locations achieve 58% to 65%, villas with pools reach 50% to 60% (higher RevPAR but more seasonal), and resort units run 55% to 62%.
Apartments outperform because they match Costa Blanca's dominant guest profile: international travelers arriving through Alicante airport wanting convenient beach access without villa costs and complexity.
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 Costa Blanca, 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 |
|---|---|---|
| BOE Real Decreto 1312/2024 | Spain's official gazette with legally binding national STR registry framework. | We explained national registration and data rules. We clarified national versus regional distinctions. |
| Ministry of Housing (MIVAU) | Official ministry page summarizing Spain's STR legal framework. | We cross-checked BOE text and confirmed policy scope. We connected to EU requirements. |
| EUR-Lex Regulation 2024/1028 | EU's official law repository with authoritative STR data sharing regulation. | We explained tightening registration requirements and contextualized 2026 changes. |
| BOE Horizontal Property Law | Official text governing condo/apartment community regulations. | We explained HOA restrictions on tourist rentals as a key constraint. |
| Generalitat Valenciana Registration | Official regional procedure for registering tourist-use homes in Costa Blanca. | We described registration steps and the 4 vs 5+ property distinction. |
| Turisme GVA Guidance Hub | Official regional tourism regulator's STR rules and compliance hub. | We confirmed enforcement priorities and flagged commonly missed items. |
| Turisme CV Decree Changes | Tourism industry channel referencing official registry and rule changes. | We translated regulatory changes into plain language. |
| AEAT Tax Authority | Spain's official tax authority source for VAT treatment of tourist rentals. | We explained VAT triggers and exemptions for expense planning. |
| INE EGATUR Tourist Spending | Spain's national statistics institute official tourist spending survey. | We grounded demand trends and sanity-checked pricing plausibility. |
| INE Accommodation Occupancy | INE's standard reference for provincial tourism capacity and utilization. | We triangulated Alicante occupancy and anchored seasonality patterns. |
| AirDNA Benidorm | Widely used STR dataset with transparent, comparable market dashboards. | We estimated ADR, occupancy, RevPAR, and listings for the flagship market. |
| AirDNA Torrevieja | Standardized STR metrics for direct Costa Blanca market comparison. | We represented southern Costa Blanca's budget family profile. |
| AirDNA Dénia | Standardized dataset capturing north coast marina and gastronomy mix. | We represented higher ADR, more seasonal profile. |
| AirDNA Calpe | Captures highly international, beach-and-view driven market. | We used as upper anchor for ADR/RevPAR and analyzed view premiums. |
| Banco de España Interest Rates | Central bank's official interest rate statistics portal. | We grounded financing reality for mortgaged buyers. |
| Aena Airport Statistics | Spain's primary airport operator providing passenger demand data. | We justified Costa Blanca's resilient demand via airport traffic. |
| Cadena SER Airport Coverage | Major national news outlet with explicit Aena attribution. | We confirmed airport trends with concrete 2025 numbers. |
| Cadena SER Alicante Zoning | Major outlet reporting municipal planning and saturation thresholds. | We explained restricted zone risk in Alicante city. |
We created this infographic to give you a simple idea of how much it costs to buy property in different parts of Spain. As you can see, it breaks down price ranges and property types for popular cities in the country. We hope this makes it easier to explore your options and understand the market.