Across Antigua and Barbuda, Airbtics put the typical Airbnb at about US$36,000 a year in early 2026, with 54% occupancy at around US$183 a night. In Jolly Harbour, AirROI shows higher rates (about US$359) but lower occupancy (about 31%). What your villa earns depends far more on pricing and management than on the island average.
Every owner wants one number. The honest answer is a range, and the gap between the top and bottom of that range is mostly down to how the villa is run.
The island-wide picture
Airbtics data for February 2025 to January 2026 puts the typical short-term rental in Antigua and Barbuda at around US$36,000 in yearly revenue. Median occupancy was 54% and the average nightly rate about US$183. The number of active listings rose by roughly 23% over the year, while revenue per listing fell slightly.
That last point matters. More supply and flat revenue means the average is being pulled apart: well-run villas hold their income, and the rest slide.
What Jolly Harbour looks like
AirROI's 2026 dataset for Jolly Harbour shows an average nightly rate around US$359 but occupancy around 31%, giving average yearly revenue of roughly US$22,000. Higher rates, fewer nights. The bottom quarter of listings there averaged about 14% occupancy.
For an owner, that 14% figure is the warning. A villa that sits at a high rate and fills one night in seven is earning less than a cheaper villa that fills half its calendar. Find out more in our Jolly Harbour rental guide.
Seasons decide most of your year
Antigua's peak runs from mid-December to April, when European and North American winters push demand up. In early 2026, January, February and March each set all-time monthly records for stay-over arrivals. Late summer and autumn are quieter, and that's when most villas lose money they never notice losing. Our low-season guide covers how to fill those months.
What moves your number
- Pricing. Rates that change daily with demand beat fixed seasonal rates almost every time.
- Minimum stays. A seven-night minimum in peak season can be right. The same rule in September leaves the villa empty.
- Listing quality. Photos, title and the first three lines of the description decide whether guests click.
- Channels. Airbnb alone misses guests who book on Vrbo, Booking.com or direct.
- Reviews and response time. Both feed into search ranking.
Costs to plan for
Gross revenue isn't what you keep. Budget for cleaning and laundry, utilities, pool and garden, repairs, insurance, platform fees, the Tourism Guest Levy collected from guests, ABST obligations and management. Ask any manager to show you a sample monthly statement with all of these on it.
Get a number for your villa
Averages are a starting point. The free property review compares your villa with similar properties nearby and gives you a yearly estimate built on your own calendar.
See what your property could earn
A yearly estimate, your prices checked against similar villas nearby, and the empty dates you should have filled. Free, and yours to keep.
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