Airbnb says short-term rentals account for only a tiny share of Hungary’s housing stock, while making a significant contribution to tourism and the wider economy. According to the platform’s latest analysis, Hungarian hosts welcomed 1.4 million guests in 2025, with Airbnb-related activity contributing an estimated €351 million to the country’s GDP and supporting around 13,600 jobs.
The company argues that Hungary’s housing affordability problems are rooted primarily in insufficient new construction, rising property prices and the large number of vacant homes, rather than short-term holiday rentals. According to Portfolio, its findings come amid continuing debate over restrictions on Airbnb-style accommodation, particularly in Budapest.
How many homes are actually rented out?
Airbnb estimates that entire properties rented out for at least 120 nights in 2025 accounted for just 0.12% of Hungary’s approximately 4.6 million homes. The company describes the 120-night threshold as a strict illustrative measure, while acknowledging that it does not necessarily mean these properties would otherwise have been available for long-term tenants.
By comparison, the company cites Hungarian Central Statistical Office (KSH) figures showing around 564,000 vacant residential properties nationwide, equivalent to nearly 12% of the housing stock.
Airbnb also points to the scale of property price increases: between 2015 and the fourth quarter of 2025, Hungarian house prices rose by 290%, according to Eurostat data cited in its analysis. Rents increased by 105% over the same period.
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What Airbnb guests bring to local businesses
The platform estimates that guests staying in Hungarian Airbnb accommodation spent more than €438.9 million in the country in 2025. Beyond accommodation, 38% of their spending went to restaurants and other hospitality businesses, while 20% was spent on entertainment and cultural activities.
Retail accounted for 18% of additional spending, groceries for 14% and local transport for 10%.
The company also says that around 80% of Hungarian hosts rented out just one entire property last year. Their average annual hosting income was approximately €4,600. In Airbnb’s own survey, 70% of respondents said they used the extra income to cover rising living costs.
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Would tighter restrictions make accommodation more affordable?
Airbnb argues that restrictions alone do not necessarily improve housing affordability. Citing its analysis of Amsterdam and Barcelona, the company says the number of Airbnb listings fell by 54% and 24% respectively following tighter rules, while long-term rents continued to rise by 34% and 37%.
These comparisons reflect Airbnb’s interpretation of the data and do not establish that short-term rentals have no effect on housing availability in particular neighbourhoods.
The company is calling for proportionate, data-based regulation that takes local conditions into account. For travellers, the debate matters because changes to short-term rental rules could affect the availability of alternatives to hotels, particularly in popular urban destinations such as Budapest.
