Revealed: The World’s Top Airbnb Hotspots

Where are the world’s top Airbnb hotspots, as well as the most affordable and the highest rated?

Airbnb has made it possible for families to find holiday rentals, cabins, beach houses and unique homes and experiences all over the world, all facilitated by hosts on the site.

The travel site was launched in 2007 and has since grown to over 4 million hosts who have welcomed more than 1 billion guest arrivals in almost every country across the globe.

If you are fairly new to the phenomenon that is Airbnb and are susceptible to hype, you may wonder whether is it cheaper to book an Airbnb or a hotel in the US. With booming price hikes and additional fees added to hotel bookings across the US, it may be worth checking out Airbnb. 

With many different booking sites for family destination travel, you may wonder which is more suited to you. Whether you are considering Airbnb for a US trip or to experience the culture and traditions of a country abroad, it’s a great option for families who want to escape the worries of privacy and enjoy the freedom of having their own space.

We wanted to explore the relatively new home-sharing service, Airbnb, to find hotspot cities in the US and around the world; from the most affordable, the highest rated, to the most expensive. 

The Best Airbnb Cities in the U.S.

With thousands of Airbnb properties available to rent across the US, you may want to filter your options to find the best Airbnbs to enjoy your family vacation. We found that the pricier cities were not necessarily the highest rated:

1. Portland, Oregon

Total Score: 9.65

In first place for best Airbnbs, is the city of Portland, Oregon. Portland is known for having an awesome Airbnb scene with plenty of options that go above and beyond that of other cities. With a huge range of properties to choose from (4,147), one could opt for a trendy studio, magical barn living spaces, and quirky converted art spaces. Portland scored an overall Airbnb rating of 4.79, with 89% of people rating their stays at 4.5 and above.

2. Albuquerque, New Mexico

Total Score: 9.51

Close behind Portland, in second place, is New Mexico’s largest city, Albuquerque. The modern downcore city contrasts with the quaint streets of Old Town Albuquerque, dating to the city’s 1706 founding as a Spanish colony. Offering 1,714 charming town homes and modern condo Airbnbs, travelers love this city of art and its history. With the same traveler ratings as Portland, the city’s total score falls slightly lower, due to its higher price point ($149 average daily rate).

3. El Paso, Texas

Total Score: 9.45

In third place, is El Paso, a city and the county seat of El Paso County in the far southwestern part of the U.S. state of Texas. The city is called “Sun City” because on average, it has 302 days of sun every year. Choose from 1,548 modern lofty buildings and traditional townhomes, all for an affordable price. El Paso has the lowest average daily rate ($117 a night) of our top 10 hotspots. With an overall rating of 4.77, and 87% of travelers rating them 4.5 and above, El Paso is a great city to visit.  

The Most Expensive Airbnb U.S. Cities

Opting for an Airbnb vs hotel may sometimes come at a higher price point as renting out a home incurs a number of overhead costs for hosts, such as electricity bills, as well as WiFi and water rates. So which U.S. cities are the most expensive to rent out an Airbnb? We took a look at the largest U.S. cities to find out.

1. Virginia Beach, Virginia

Average Daily Rate: $336

Virginia Beach in Virginia ranks highest on our list for price point, with an average daily rate of $336. Virginia has some great cabin Airbnbs, close to the flourishing local dining scene and entertainment for families. Due to its popularity and prime location to the beach, you should expect to pay a little more for a homestay at Virginia Beach.

2. Henderson, Nevada

Average Daily Rate: $324

Henderson, Nevada, falls second on our list for its priceyness. The average daily rate is $324. Henderson, Nevada’s cost of living is 13% higher than the national average, which could be one of the main reasons why staying at an Airbnb in this city will cost you a fair buck.

3. Anaheim, California

Average Daily Rate: $315

Anaheim, California, falls just slightly below Henderson and Virginia Beach, with an average rate of $315. Best known as the home of Disneyland and for its beautiful beaches, great dining options and entertainment complexes, its prime location and wonderful climate are all indications of why staying in an Airbnb here is expensive.

The Highest-Rated Airbnb Cities in the US

Instead of scouring the internet to find the top-rated Airbnbs in the US, we did the work for you. Here are the highest-rated Airbnb cities in the country, with an overall Airbnb rating that is well above 4.5:

1. Portland & Albuquerque | Overall Airbnb Rating: 4.79

In joint first place, are the vibrant cities of Portland, Oregon, and Albuquerque, New Mexico. With both cities scoring an excellent overall Airbnb rating of 4.79, these cities both have a fantastic Airbnb scene worth checking out.

3. El Paso & Lexington  | Overall Airbnb Rating: 4.77

In joint second, are El Paso, Texas, and Lexington, Kentucky. Both cities scored 4.77 for their overall Airbnb rating.

The Best U.S. Cities for Airbnb Availability

Many cities in the US have not quite gotten up to speed with the modern staycation revelation that is Airbnb. The cities above have the most options to choose from when it comes to choices of your Airbnb, taking into account the city size:

1. Miami, Florida – 380.42 Total Airbnbs per mi²

The sunny city of Miami, Florida has a huge number of Airbnbs to choose from, considering its small size (36mi²). Opt for a magnificent beach complex complete with a rooftop pool or a cozy but stylish studio.

2. Honolulu, Hawaii – 118.10 Total Airbnbs per mi²

Experience the tropical paradise that Honolulu, Hawaii, has to offer, with 7,150 Airbnb properties to enjoy, escape from the hustle and bustle of all inclusive hotels.

3. Las Vegas, Nevada – 91.70 Total Airbnbs per mi²

Explore the party capital that is Nevada in Las Vegas: whether you’re living it up on the strip or exploring the cultural attractions, you’ll be sure to come back to a comfortable living space, with over 13,000 Airbnbs to choose from.

The Best Airbnb Cities in the World

1. Singapore, Singapore

Total Score: 8.82

The city-state of Singapore scored first place for its highly rated Airbnbs, in spite of its much smaller size (733.1mi²) . Despite the city being a global financial center, and being among the most densely populated places in the world, it has one of the lowest average daily rates on our list ($120 per day). The historical city had an overall Airbnb rating of 4.44, with 63% of visitors scoring their stays at 4.5 stars or above. 

2. Florence, Italy

Total Score: 8.40

The picturesque city of Florence, Italy, scored second on our list of the best Airbnb cities in the world. With a huge 8,651 properties to choose from and an overall Airbnb rating of 4.62, with 75% agreeing so, everyone should get a chance to visit this cultural city and enjoy the renaissance art scene.

3. Toronto, Canada

Total Score: 7.78

Toronto, the capital of Ontario, is the largest city in Canada and also one of the most diverse. The city offers thousands of short-stay rentals (8,651) and has an overall Airbnb rating of 4.63, with 76% of travelers agreeing so. Home to a dynamic mix of tourist attractions, from museums and galleries to the world-famous CN Tower, Toronto is a city of endless possibilities.

The Most Expensive Airbnb Cities in the World

1. London, United Kingdom

Average Daily Rate: $221

London, England, is the most expensive Airbnb city on our list of global cities. Home to the British royal family and the financial center of the whole of Europe, it’s no wonder that London is not so easy on the pocket. For a homestay rental in London, you’re looking at $221 per night. Although, compared to our US list, London is not as steep as you might think.

2. Amsterdam, Netherlands

Average Daily Rate: $221

Amsterdam joins London in first place as the most expensive Airbnb city. It’s believed that Amsterdam is made more expensive because it doesn’t have enough room for tourists. So as more tourists visit the city, the costs rise.

3. Dublin, Ireland

Average Daily Rate: $202

Dublin comes third on our list of expensive Airbnb cities. From solely a tourist’s point of view, even a weekend away to Dublin can put a strain on your bank account. Unfortunately, even if you edge out of the city, the cost of transport in Dublin remains some of the most expensive in Europe.

The Highest Rated Airbnb Cities in the World

When you choose to travel the world to enjoy the culture and experience of a new country, you want a high-quality homestay. Here are the highest rated Airbnb cities in the world:

1. Copenhagen, Amsterdam & Beijing | Overall Airbnb Rating: 4.77

Tied in joint first place are Copenhagen, Amsterdam and Beijing. With all three cities scoring an overall Airbnb rating of 4.77, it’s worth considering a luxurious homestay in one of these top-rated cities.

The Best Global Cities for Airbnb Availability

To make your homestay hunt in another country a little easier, we’ve found the world’s best cities for Airbnb availability, so you’ll be spoilt for choice:

1. Athens, Greece – 253.93 Total Airbnbs per mi²

The Greek city of Athens has 9,893 properties to choose from, that’s a whole lot of homestays for a small city (38.96mi²). With every property to choose from, including penthouses with stunning views of Acropolis, cozy hideaways in historical villages – you’ll get more than you bargained for.

2. Nice, France – 130.23 Total Airbnbs per mi²

Nice, France, is a picturesque gem on the French Riviera offering everything you want from a summer vacation. With 9,366 Airbnb properties to choose from in a smaller-sized city (71.92mi²), it’s worth visiting this city that is rich with culture and stunning beaches.

3. Lisbon, Portugal – 129.26 Total Airbnbs per mi²

Lisbon, Portugal, is a literal breath of fresh air, known for being the city with the lowest light pollution in the world. It also has plenty of Airbnbs to enjoy, with 12,932 properties to visit in this slightly larger city (100.05mi²), with beautiful historical sites.

Methodology

We began by collating World Population Review’s 200 Largest Cities in the United States by Population 2022 to create a list of the largest cities to compare our data. We then searched each city on AirDNA Marketminder to find Airbnb data, including active rentals, average daily rates, and overall Airbnb rates for each city.

We then added in the factor of the size of each city, finding the total area (km2) compared to the number of active Airbnb listings. We also added in the ratings to find the highest rated Airbnbs in the U.S. and abroad.

We found our global cities and their total size by using Euromonitor’s Top 100 City Destinations of 2021. We utilized AirDNA once again to find Airbnb data for each city, and then compared our data by number of active listings, Airbnb ratings, and total area size.

We were then able to rank our US and global cities by factors such as its number of active rentals, Airbnb ratings, and average daily rates. All our data is accurate as of 24/08/2022.