Airbnb in Ioannina combines two characteristics that matter to short-term rental professionals: a market with genuine winter demand and some of the lowest rates among comparable European winter destinations. For property managers, the question is not simply whether the city offers affordable accommodation. It is whether that position leaves room for stronger pricing and, more importantly, higher net revenue.
AirDNA’s latest research provides a starting point for that discussion. However, it does not, on its own, prove that the city’s rental properties are underpriced or that every host can raise their rates.
What rates reveal about the coming winter
Ioannina ranks as the second-cheapest of the 145 winter destinations identified by AirDNA, with an average daily rate of €71.51 between December 2025 and February 2026. For reservations already on the books for winter 2026/27, the average rate stood at €97.14 as of October 14.
The ranking covers markets where daily demand, occupancy and rates during winter exceed their respective March-to-November levels. The data comes from Airbnb and Vrbo, and average daily rates include cleaning fees.
This distinction matters. Ioannina is a destination where the market strengthens during winter, rather than a summer destination trying to attract off-season visitors through lower prices.
However, the €97.14 figure does not, by itself, establish a year-on-year increase over €71.51. The former reflects an early portion of bookings for the coming winter, while the latter covers the entire previous winter. Differences in travel dates, length of stay and the mix of properties booked can all affect the comparison.
Higher rates, but for which dates?
For a company managing Airbnb properties in Ioannina, the most useful analysis starts with its own booking calendar.
If bookings for certain dates are arriving earlier than last year, managers should consider whether they are selling too quickly at rates that are too low. Conversely, if weekdays remain empty, an across-the-board rate increase could make attracting bookings more difficult.
The comparison should cover the same stay dates at the same point in the booking cycle. How many nights have already been sold? At what average rate? And how much revenue has been secured overall?
This helps managers avoid being misled by an impressive average rate driven by a handful of high-value reservations, while the rest of the calendar remains largely unfilled.
The European average is not your competitive set
A market’s position in a European ranking does not determine the right price for an individual property. Nor does an apartment need to approach the average rate in other countries to be considered commercially successful.
For property managers, a small, carefully selected competitive set is more useful: properties in the same area with similar capacity, amenities, quality and booking terms.
Managers should also compare the total price guests pay for their intended length of stay. A lower nightly rate can lose its competitive advantage once cleaning fees and other charges are added.
From higher nightly rates to better returns
The next question is whether stronger pricing translates into better financial performance.
During winter, heating, cleaning, consumables, commissions and maintenance must all be factored in before assessing a promotion or an additional booking. More occupied nights do not automatically mean higher profits, just as a higher average daily rate does not guarantee greater total revenue.
For Airbnb in Ioannina, the research therefore raises a business question rather than providing a ready-made formula for rate increases. The city’s affordable positioning can be an advantage. The challenge for operators is to recognise when to preserve that advantage and when demand allows them to achieve a higher rate for their property.