Short answer: in Vigo, an average tourist flat bills around €23,000–24,000 a year (about €105 a night with occupancy close to 61%, according to Airbtics estimates for September 2025 to August 2026). After the platform commission, management and running costs, a 70 m² flat bought at market price can yield around 5–6% a year before IBI, community fees and taxes, compared with about 4.8% gross for a long-term let. The difference exists, but it depends heavily on location, the quality of the listing and on the property being able to operate legally.
At CABANA we manage tourist homes in Vigo and the Rías Baixas from our office on Calle Progreso. In this article we bring together the latest public data and do the calculation step by step so that you can apply it to your own property.
How many tourist homes there are in Vigo and Galicia
- Galicia had 28,002 tourist-use homes (viviendas de uso turístico) entered in the Register of Tourist Businesses and Activities (REAT) in July 2026, 86% of all its tourist accommodation (Turismo de Galicia).
- In Vigo, tourist-use homes add up to 9,502 beds, more than double the city’s hotels (4,647 beds), according to the same Xunta (Galician government) report.
- The number of tourist homes in Vigo doubled between 2020 and 2024, from 758 to 1,616, concentrated in the Casco Vello (old town) and Alcabre (report by Ecologistas en Acción cited by Metropolitano.gal).
- Across Spain, the INE (National Statistics Institute) counted 10.7% fewer tourist homes in May 2026 than a year earlier. The market is being cleaned up: there is less supply, but it is more professional.
Nightly rate and occupancy
There is no official statistic on tourist-home occupancy by city: the INE survey only measures regulated tourist apartments. The best public references are estimates from data platforms:
| Indicator (Vigo) | Sep 2025 – Aug 2026 |
|---|---|
| Average nightly rate | €105 |
| Median occupancy | 61% |
| Median income per listing | €24,000 / year |
| Active listings | 817 |
Seasonality is marked: August is the strongest month and January the weakest. Vigo’s Christmas, with its lights, attracts visitors in November and December, and weekends and long weekends (puentes) have demand all year round.
Where the demand comes from
- Vigo airport: 1,114,810 passengers in 2025 (+5.3%), with a 26% jump in international passengers, and 838,993 between January and September 2026 (Aena).
- Cíes Islands: the National Park limits visits in high season to around 1,800 people a day with prior authorisation from the Xunta; the boats leave from the port of Vigo.
- Portuguese Coastal Way (Camino Portugués por la Costa): some 36,000 pilgrims passed through Vigo in the first half of 2025 alone, 20% more than a year earlier (Xunta). Vigo is a compulsory stage.
- Cruises: the Port of Vigo expects 119 calls in 2026.
- Vigo at Christmas: the Concello (town council) speaks of about 5 million visitors per season, a figure that is not audited but is noticeable in occupancy from November to January.
What it costs to buy and what long-term letting yields
According to RealAdvisor estimates for October 2026, the average sale price in Vigo is around €2,632/m² (flats, which are more expensive, with a median of €3,019/m²). In the centre (postcode 36201) it exceeds €3,500/m², and on the outskirts it drops to around €2,000/m². Long-term residential rent is around €11.9/m² a month.
Example: a 70 m² flat in Vigo
Suppose a 70 m² flat bought at €3,000/m² (€210,000), with the average nightly rate and occupancy from the table above. This is an illustrative example: your property may be above or below.
| Item | Tourist letting | Long-term letting |
|---|---|---|
| Annual gross income | €23,415 (223 nights × €105) | €9,996 (€833/month) |
| Platform commission (15.5%) | −€3,629 | — |
| Full management (20% + VAT on the amount received) | −€4,788 | — |
| Utilities, internet, consumables and insurance (assumption) | −€3,000 | Paid by the tenant |
| Result before IBI, community fees and taxes | €11,998 | €9,996 |
| Yield before IBI, community fees and taxes (on €210,000) | 5.7% | 4.8% |
What really drives the result is not the average but your property: a well-located flat, with good photos, prices adjusted every day and good reviews can exceed that €105 and 61% occupancy. A badly managed one can end up below a traditional let.
Regulations that affect yield in Vigo
- Tourist tax: from 1 October 2026, Vigo applies a municipal surcharge on the Galician tax on tourist stays of €1.46 per person per night in tourist-use homes (the €1.60 figure that has circulated in the press includes 10% VAT, which is not currently applied to these homes). Until 30 June 2027 it is only charged for the first two nights; afterwards, up to five. The guest pays it, but whoever operates the property has to collect it and self-assess it every six months with the Concello.
- Municipal ordinance on tourist homes: initially approved on 23 February 2026. It affects only new tourist homes: they would only be allowed on plots with hotel tertiary use under the PXOM (the municipal general urban plan), with independent access in residential buildings and no housing on the floor below. In practice, it all but prevents opening new tourist homes in residential buildings. At the date of this article, its final approval is not on record. If your property is already entered in the REAT, it does not affect you.
- Owners’ association: since 3 April 2025, opening a new tourist home in a building requires the express approval of the owners’ association (a three-fifths majority), which can also restrict it. It is not retroactive for those already operating legally.
- Regional register: in Galicia the property must be entered in the REAT (Decree 12/2017). The national single register was annulled by the Supreme Court in May 2026, so the register that counts is the regional one.
How to improve your property’s yield in Vigo
- Dynamic pricing: raise prices for events (Christmas, O Marisquiño, concerts at Castrelos, long weekends) and lower them in the January and February troughs so as not to leave nights empty.
- Mid-term stays in winter: in the weak months, letting by the week or month to professionals and students reduces gaps.
- Professional photography and a carefully prepared listing: this is what most influences the click.
- Self check-in: with a smart lock the guest arrives at any hour, and that shows in the reviews.
- Listing on several platforms, not just Airbnb.
If you want to know how much your specific property could generate, we will prepare a free analysis for your property in Vigo, with real comparables from your area. You can also try our yield calculator (in Spanish).
Frequently asked questions
Is a tourist flat in Vigo profitable in 2026?
On average figures, yes: around 5–6% before IBI, community fees and taxes, against 4.8% gross for traditional letting, with more work and more variation between months. Real profitability depends mainly on location, management and the property being legally registered.
Can I open a new tourist home in Vigo today?
It depends on the building. You need the approval of the owners’ association and, if the municipal ordinance is given final approval, to meet its requirements (including independent access in residential buildings). We recommend checking this before buying.
How much is Vigo’s tourist tax?
€1.46 per person per night in tourist-use homes from 1 October 2026 (tax ordinance no. 54). Until 30 June 2027 it is only paid for the first two nights; from 1 July 2027, up to five. Minors are exempt.
Which areas of Vigo work best for tourist letting?
The centre (Calle Príncipe, Policarpo Sanz, Areal), the Casco Vello and the beach area of Alcabre, Samil and Bouzas concentrate the demand. The centre works all year round; the beaches, mainly from June to September.
