Airbnb Investment Returns in Yucatán: The Real 2026 Numbers

The Question Every Investor Asks

Can you make good money running an Airbnb in Yucatán? The honest answer is yes — but the returns vary enormously by location, property type, and how professionally you operate. Yucatán isn’t Tulum, where nightly rates are sky-high and so is the competition. It’s a quieter, more resilient market driven by cultural tourism, remote workers, medical visitors, and a steady stream of people “trying on” the region before buying. That profile produces solid, sustainable returns rather than boom-and-bust spikes.

Here are the real numbers and the levers that move them in 2026.

Gross Yields: What to Expect

For a well-located, well-furnished short-term rental in Yucatán, realistic gross rental yields typically land in the 6% to 10% range on the property’s value, with standout properties in prime centro locations occasionally exceeding that. That’s before expenses. Compare this to long-term rentals, which usually yield a steadier but lower 4% to 6% gross.

The key phrase is “well-located and well-furnished.” A generic condo in an oversupplied area might struggle to clear 4%, while a characterful colonial casa with a plunge pool in a walkable Mérida neighborhood can perform far better through both higher nightly rates and stronger occupancy.

Occupancy: The Number That Decides Everything

Occupancy is where Yucatán rewards good operators. A professionally managed, well-reviewed Mérida property can achieve 60% to 75% annual occupancy, with the high season (roughly November through April, plus summer for domestic tourism) running much stronger than the hot, rainy low season of May through September.

Coastal properties in Progreso, Chicxulub, and Chelem swing more seasonally — packed during Mexican holidays and the summer beach season, quieter otherwise. Mérida city, by contrast, enjoys year-round demand from cultural tourists, digital nomads, medical visitors, and business travelers, which smooths the calendar and is why the city is often the safer bet for consistent occupancy.

Nightly Rates by Area (2026 Ballpark)

• Mérida Centro / Santiago / Santa Ana (walkable colonial neighborhoods): a stylish 1–2 bedroom casa with a pool commonly rents for 1,400 to 3,500 MXN/night, with premium homes higher.
• Mérida north (Montejo, García Ginerés, Itzimná): modern, comfortable stays, 1,200 to 2,800 MXN/night.
• Progreso / Chicxulub beachfront: highly seasonal, 1,500 to 4,000+ MXN/night in peak beach season, much less off-peak.
• Budget condos and apartments citywide: 700 to 1,400 MXN/night.

The colonial-home-with-pool product is the star of the Yucatán short-term market. Foreign guests specifically seek out the restored-hacienda-in-miniature experience, and it commands both premium rates and glowing reviews.

The Regulation Picture

Short-term rentals are legal in Yucatán, but the regulatory environment is tightening across Mexico, and investors should plan accordingly:

• Lodging tax (ISH — Impuesto Sobre Hospedaje): Yucatán levies a state lodging tax on short-term stays. Platforms increasingly collect and remit this, but owners are responsible for compliance.
• Federal income tax and IVA: Rental income is taxable in Mexico. Airbnb and similar platforms now withhold taxes on hosts, and you should be registered appropriately (often through the RFC and, for foreigners, structured correctly for the property’s ownership form). Work with a Mexican accountant (contador); this is not optional if you want to sleep at night.
• HOA and privada rules: Many gated communities restrict or prohibit short-term rentals in their reglamento. Always confirm before buying if STR is your plan.
• Coastal / restricted zone: Beachfront properties held through a fideicomiso can still be rented, but the trust and tax structure must be set up properly.

The trend is clearly toward more formalization, not less. Investors who operate legally and pay their taxes are best positioned as enforcement tightens.

Net Returns: Doing the Full Math

Gross yield is seductive; net yield is reality. From gross income, subtract:

• Management (if you don’t self-manage): typically 15% to 25% of revenue for full-service local management
• Platform fees, cleaning, and turnover costs
• Utilities (electricity is the big one — air conditioning in Yucatán’s heat can be brutal on the CFE bill; budget generously, and consider solar)
• Maintenance, pool service, and gardening
• Predial (property tax), insurance, and HOA cuota
• Taxes on income

Realistically, expenses consume 35% to 50% of gross revenue on a managed property. A property showing an 8% gross yield might net closer to 4.5% to 5.5% cash-on-cash — still healthy by international standards, and that’s before any capital appreciation, which has been strong in Mérida.

The Best Areas for Airbnb Investment in 2026

1. Mérida Centro and the historic barrios (Santiago, Santa Ana, La Ermita): walkable, characterful, year-round demand — the sweet spot for a colonial casa with a pool.
2. North Mérida (Montejo corridor, Itzimná, García Ginerés): modern comfort, close to restaurants and hospitals, appeals to longer-stay remote workers and medical visitors.
3. Progreso and the northern beaches: strong seasonal upside for beachfront, best treated as a hybrid (peak STR + off-season monthly rentals).

Bottom Line

Yucatán rewards the investor who buys the right product in the right location, furnishes it thoughtfully, operates professionally, and stays compliant on taxes. Do that, and gross yields in the 6% to 10% range with solid year-round occupancy in Mérida are entirely achievable — plus the appreciation upside of one of Mexico’s hottest markets. The lazy money underperforms here; the professional money does very well.

---

List Your Property With Us — 6 Months Free

Own a home, condo, or lot in Yucatán and thinking about selling or renting? Mexico Living is offering private owners 6 months of free listing and marketing — professional photography, SEO-optimized exposure, and a bilingual team that handles buyer inquiries for you. No upfront cost, no commission until we close.

👉 Talk to our team on WhatsApp or visit mexicoliving.mx/contacto to claim your free listing.