How to Price Your Airbnb on the Costa del Sol (Without Leaving Money on the Table)
The Costa del Sol is one of the most in-demand holiday destinations in Europe — and if you're listing your property on Airbnb, getting your pricing strategy right is absolutely key to standing out and maximising your revenue.
Whether you own a beachside apartment in Marbella or a hillside villa in Mijas, here's how to price your Airbnb the smart way in 2025.
📊 1. Understand the Local Market (It's Not One-Size-Fits-All)
Pricing your property isn’t just about picking a number that "feels fair" — it’s about data.
The Costa del Sol has high seasonality, which means your pricing needs to flex with the rhythm of:
Peak tourist season (June–September)
Shoulder seasons (April–May, October)
Off-season months (November–March)
A 2-bed apartment in Fuengirola might fetch:
€180/night in August
€90/night in April
€65/night in January
Use tools like AirDNA, PriceLabs, or Beyond to benchmark average nightly rates in your area.
🧠 2. Use Dynamic Pricing Tools
Dynamic pricing is a game-changer.
Instead of setting a fixed price all year round, tools like PriceLabs, Wheelhouse, or DPGO adjust your nightly rate daily based on:
Local demand
Competitor availability
Upcoming events and holidays
Lead time and booking window
This means you never underprice during high demand, and you can fill gaps during quieter periods with smart last-minute deals.
→ Pro tip: Set your minimum and maximum rate boundaries so the system stays within your comfort zone.
📆 3. Adjust for Weekdays vs. Weekends
Tourists come in waves — and weekends are golden.
Charge 10–25% more for Friday and Saturday nights
Offer slight discounts for longer midweek stays (e.g. Mon–Thurs)
If you’re in an area popular with remote workers or digital nomads, offering weekly or monthly discounts (10–30%) can help fill your calendar in quieter months.
🧽 4. Factor in Cleaning Fees, Not Just Nightly Rate
Guests compare listings based on total price, not just nightly rate — so be strategic.
✔️ Keep your nightly rate competitive
✔️ Charge a fair cleaning fee (typically €50–€90 for a 2-bed property)
✔️ Don't hide costs — transparency improves conversions
If your cleaning fee is too high, guests booking shorter stays will be put off.
📸 5. Price According to Quality
Not all Airbnbs are created equal. If your property has:
A private pool
Sea views
Luxury interior or high-end appliances
Pro photography and great reviews
…you can price 15–30% higher than average properties in the area. But make sure your listing reflects the value you’re charging for.
💼 6. Adjust Based on Performance
Once you go live, monitor:
Booking rate (are you getting too many or too few?)
Occupancy %
Your calendar health (are weekends getting booked too far in advance?)
If you’re always booked, raise your prices gradually.
If your calendar is quiet, reduce your base rate or offer short-term discounts.
Airbnb's Smart Pricing is okay for beginners — but third-party dynamic pricing tools give you far more control and better results.
🧾 Summary: Airbnb Pricing Checklist for the Costa del Sol
✅ Research your area's average nightly rates
✅ Use a dynamic pricing tool and set min/max boundaries
✅ Increase rates for weekends & high season
✅ Offer longer-stay discounts
✅ Factor in cleaning fees fairly
✅ Adjust pricing based on your listing's quality and booking trends
Need Help?
If you're not sure where to start — or just want someone to handle the pricing, listings, and guest communication for you — I offer full-service holiday rental management across the Costa del Sol.
Let’s chat and make sure your property is working as hard as it should be.