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Airbnb: How much do you earn from temporary rentals to tourists? - La Nacion Propiedades
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www.lanacion.com.ar
July 01, 2025
A snapshot of the current short-term rental market shows whether owning a short-term rental apartment is a good investment today.
By Maria Josefina Lanzi
A few years ago, tourism was growing and short-term rentals were a better business than traditional rentals, but is that still the case?
Following the repeal of the rental law in December 2023, Argentina's rental market underwent a metamorphosis. The supply of traditional rental properties on real estate platforms experienced exponential growth, doubling in just two months . The current regulation has generated many changes and even made investment in this sector more attractive, with a 5.23% annual rent in dollars, according to Zonaprop. But many are wondering, what happened to the vacation or temporary rental market?
Until Javier Milei's DNU, there was a risk, in the case of traditional rentals, of having a tenant for three years, tied to a contract with rents adjusted once a year, which, in a context of annual inflation exceeding 200%, would devalue the property within a few months. This led many people to turn to temporary rentals , which, at a time when Argentina was cheap for foreign tourism, promised rents above 7% annually in dollars. "In 2023, there were 60% more temporary rentals than in 2022," says Daniel Bryn, head of Invertire, according to figures recorded through November of that year.
Traditional rentals currently yield an annual income of 5.23%, according to ZonapropFabian Marelli
However, the picture today is different. Tourism has dropped considerably , as evidenced by the INDEC figures from December last year, which stated that the number of tourists arriving in Argentina that month was 9.6% lower than the same month a year earlier. In this context, and considering that investing in a temporary rental like Airbnb requires equipment and many fixed maintenance costs for the owner , many are now turning to traditional rentals.
Currently, there are 22,594 temporary rental units in the city of Buenos Aires, which represents a year-over-year decrease of 8.68% (May 2024-May 2025). “After a peak in early 2024, the inventory began to adjust, possibly due to market saturation or a migration of units to traditional rentals or sales,” explains Bryn.
The occupancy rate for temporary rental apartments also showed a decline, hovering around 53% , with 14 to 15 days of vacancy per unit per month. This directly impacts profitability, as many utilities or fixed expenses continue to be paid, even if the apartment doesn't have a tenant on those days. Compared to occupancy in 2022-2023, a significant decline is seen, as it was above 75% at the time.
Thus, the profitability of a temporary rental currently hovers at 6.58% annually, which is a very small difference compared to the profitability of a traditional rental, which stands at 5.23%. Monthly income for temporary rentals is also declining, averaging US$564, which represents a year-over-year drop of 11.14% .
Gross annual investment income from a temporary rental and a traditional rentalBryn
If you look at it a little more, according to Zipcode figures, the temporary employment business currently generates around US$20 million per month gross in Buenos Aires City, although at the end of 2022 it had a record US$32 million per month.
“For a long time, short-term rentals were the preferred refuge for investors looking to maximize their dollar income. But today, with declining occupancy and stagnant rates , the profitability of short-term rentals is approaching that of traditional rentals. The difference is minimal, and with lower turnover and less management effort, many owners are reconsidering the traditional model as a more stable alternative,” Bryn analyzes.
In general, owners hire a property manager, who handles all the issues related to a temporary rental. “Generally, the host, the person who manages the temporary rental, charges 10% to 20%, depending on their role in managing it (showing the apartment, replacing broken items, or handling repairs). Added to this are maintenance costs, which are usually another 10% to 15% of the apartment's gross revenue. Ultimately, these costs can reach 30% of income,” Bryn quantifies.
Investing in a temporary rental requires maintenance costs, expenses, utilities, Wi-Fi, ABL, among other services.Gonzalo Colini
In this regard, Silvina Ovalles, founder of BA Rent, a business that manages more than 50 properties for temporary rentals from one day to three months (for property owners who cannot or do not want to occupy them) explains that “there is a first major cost for a temporary rental, which is the investment to equip it , which will depend on the size of the unit, the age of the building, the area, the owner's taste, among other factors.”
In addition, he assures that other elements that generate expenses must be taken into account, among which the following can be listed:
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Source:
Airbnb: cuánto se gana con el alquiler temporario a turistas
Una radiografía actual del mercado de alquileres temporarios muestra si es una buena inversión hoy tener un departamento para renta de corto plazo
www.lanacion.com.ar
July 01, 2025
A snapshot of the current short-term rental market shows whether owning a short-term rental apartment is a good investment today.
By Maria Josefina Lanzi
A few years ago, tourism was growing and short-term rentals were a better business than traditional rentals, but is that still the case?
Following the repeal of the rental law in December 2023, Argentina's rental market underwent a metamorphosis. The supply of traditional rental properties on real estate platforms experienced exponential growth, doubling in just two months . The current regulation has generated many changes and even made investment in this sector more attractive, with a 5.23% annual rent in dollars, according to Zonaprop. But many are wondering, what happened to the vacation or temporary rental market?
Until Javier Milei's DNU, there was a risk, in the case of traditional rentals, of having a tenant for three years, tied to a contract with rents adjusted once a year, which, in a context of annual inflation exceeding 200%, would devalue the property within a few months. This led many people to turn to temporary rentals , which, at a time when Argentina was cheap for foreign tourism, promised rents above 7% annually in dollars. "In 2023, there were 60% more temporary rentals than in 2022," says Daniel Bryn, head of Invertire, according to figures recorded through November of that year.
Traditional rentals currently yield an annual income of 5.23%, according to ZonapropFabian Marelli
However, the picture today is different. Tourism has dropped considerably , as evidenced by the INDEC figures from December last year, which stated that the number of tourists arriving in Argentina that month was 9.6% lower than the same month a year earlier. In this context, and considering that investing in a temporary rental like Airbnb requires equipment and many fixed maintenance costs for the owner , many are now turning to traditional rentals.
Currently, there are 22,594 temporary rental units in the city of Buenos Aires, which represents a year-over-year decrease of 8.68% (May 2024-May 2025). “After a peak in early 2024, the inventory began to adjust, possibly due to market saturation or a migration of units to traditional rentals or sales,” explains Bryn.
The occupancy rate for temporary rental apartments also showed a decline, hovering around 53% , with 14 to 15 days of vacancy per unit per month. This directly impacts profitability, as many utilities or fixed expenses continue to be paid, even if the apartment doesn't have a tenant on those days. Compared to occupancy in 2022-2023, a significant decline is seen, as it was above 75% at the time.
Thus, the profitability of a temporary rental currently hovers at 6.58% annually, which is a very small difference compared to the profitability of a traditional rental, which stands at 5.23%. Monthly income for temporary rentals is also declining, averaging US$564, which represents a year-over-year drop of 11.14% .
Gross annual investment income from a temporary rental and a traditional rentalBryn
If you look at it a little more, according to Zipcode figures, the temporary employment business currently generates around US$20 million per month gross in Buenos Aires City, although at the end of 2022 it had a record US$32 million per month.
“For a long time, short-term rentals were the preferred refuge for investors looking to maximize their dollar income. But today, with declining occupancy and stagnant rates , the profitability of short-term rentals is approaching that of traditional rentals. The difference is minimal, and with lower turnover and less management effort, many owners are reconsidering the traditional model as a more stable alternative,” Bryn analyzes.
What expenses are included in the investment of an apartment for temporary rental?
"They have maintenance costs, utilities, Wi-Fi, cable, and ABL, among others. In other words, there are fixed costs, and even if the property is unoccupied and the electricity isn't being used, you have to pay a minimum," explains Victoria Gómez, a property manager who has worked in the sector for over 21 years, offering short-term rentals from a few days to three months (although in some cases they can last up to six).In general, owners hire a property manager, who handles all the issues related to a temporary rental. “Generally, the host, the person who manages the temporary rental, charges 10% to 20%, depending on their role in managing it (showing the apartment, replacing broken items, or handling repairs). Added to this are maintenance costs, which are usually another 10% to 15% of the apartment's gross revenue. Ultimately, these costs can reach 30% of income,” Bryn quantifies.
Investing in a temporary rental requires maintenance costs, expenses, utilities, Wi-Fi, ABL, among other services.Gonzalo Colini
In this regard, Silvina Ovalles, founder of BA Rent, a business that manages more than 50 properties for temporary rentals from one day to three months (for property owners who cannot or do not want to occupy them) explains that “there is a first major cost for a temporary rental, which is the investment to equip it , which will depend on the size of the unit, the age of the building, the area, the owner's taste, among other factors.”
In addition, he assures that other elements that generate expenses must be taken into account, among which the following can be listed:
- Direct cost of the unit (ordinary expenses) : ABL (real estate tax, lighting, sweeping and cleaning), expenses, consumption of services (water, electricity, gas).
- Marketing cost or remuneration to channels/platforms
- Property manager fees .
- Washing of whites , after each stay.
- Finally, it's important to calculate the cost of cleaning after each stay . It's suggested to estimate two to four hours per apartment, depending on the size and level of dirt.
www.buysellba.com
