You know you need to keep an eye on the competition—but what if you’ve been looking in the wrong direction? Learn how to compare Airbnb listings the right way and price with confidence.

How to Compare Airbnb Prices of Similar Listings

Not all listings in your area are true comparisons. Focus on properties that actually match yours in size, features, and guest experience.

Airbnb gives you a basic snapshot, but tools like AirDNA let you filter, customize, and compare listings in a way that’s way more useful.

Use what you learn to build a real pricing strategy that reflects your property, your market, and your goals.

Pricing your place shouldn’t feel like a shot in the dark. But for most hosts, it does. You scroll through nearby listings, take a wild guess somewhere in the middle, and hope for the best.

Here’s the thing: That might get you started, but it won’t keep you competitive. If you want to earn more, book consistently, and stand out in search results, you need to know exactly who you're up against and how your listing stacks up.

This guide will show you how to compare Airbnb listings with purpose and price like you mean it.

Your vacation rental may be amazing, but is it better than your competition? Connect your Airbnb listing to AirDNA to see its Booking Performance Score.

What Makes a Listing “Similar” on Airbnb?

When you’re trying to compare Airbnb prices of similar listings, it’s tempting to scroll every nearby listing and aim for the middle. But “nearby” doesn’t always mean “comparable”—and comparing the wrong listings can throw off your pricing fast.

To get a clearer picture, you need to look at what actually makes a listing similar. It’s not just about zip codes. It’s about how guests search, what they value, and what kind of stay your property really offers.

Ask yourself: If someone’s booking in my area, what would they consider instead of my place?

You need to think like your guests. Here’s what they look for in a listing and what you should too: 

Guest capacity and similar amenities: Guests often search based on how many people they’re traveling with and what features they need—like a full kitchen, outdoor space, or fast Wi-Fi. Compare your listing to others with a similar setup and similar perks.

Bedroom count and property type: A two-bedroom apartment won’t compete with a two-bedroom house the same way. Stick to listings that match your layout and style.

Location details: Even within the same city, pricing can shift block by block. Think about proximity to attractions, views, walkability, or whether it’s in a quiet neighborhood or the center of the action.

Ratings and reviews: A listing with 100 five-star reviews has a different level of trust than one that’s brand new. That difference affects both how guests perceive value and how Airbnb ranks your listing.

Audience and experience level: Are you targeting luxury travelers, families, or budget-conscious guests? Even if two listings are the same size, their pricing will reflect the experience they offer.

Getting these details right helps you understand where your listing fits and how to set a price that aligns with what guests expect. It’s also key to how Airbnb places you in search results. Your pricing, along with listing quality and features, influences your Airbnb search result ranking—and ultimately, how often your place gets seen and booked.

Once you know what makes a listing truly comparable, the next step is figuring out how to actually compare prices in a way that’s useful—not overwhelming.

There’s no single “right” method—but some approaches give you more clarity, more control, and a lot more confidence in your pricing decisions. Let’s take a look at what that can look like.

Start with Airbnb’s price comparison tool (but don’t stop there)

If you’re just getting started, Airbnb gives you a built-in way to compare your price to the average prices of similar listings nearby. You’ll find this inside the Pricing tab of your calendar—just select a date range (up to 31 days) and tap “View similar listings.”

From there, you’ll see a map showing the average booked or unbooked price of listings Airbnb considers similar to yours. These comparisons are based on location, guest capacity, amenities, reviews, and what guests typically browse alongside your place.

This tool can be helpful if you’re looking for a quick snapshot—and many hosts use it as a way to check that their pricing is competitive.

But there are some limits to keep in mind:

You can’t see which listings you’re being compared to, so it’s hard to know how accurate the match really is

You can’t adjust filters or define what “similar” means—you’re relying on Airbnb’s default algorithm

Even small differences (like a hot tub or a second bathroom) can shift what guests are willing to pay, but may not be reflected here

In short: Airbnb’s pricing tool is a great starting point. But if your listing is unique or if you want more control over how you compare, Airbnb alone will not give you the full picture.

Use AirDNA to compare listings more accurately 

Airbnb shows you which listings it considers “similar,” but it doesn’t explain why or let you adjust the comparison. You can’t decide what “similar” means based on what you actually know about your property or your market.

When you connect your listing to AirDNA, it automatically builds a comp set of up to 100 nearby properties based on features like location, size, and amenities. Each listing comes with a Match Score, so you can see exactly how closely it aligns with your space and why.

Plus, AirDNA pulls in data from both Airbnb and Vrbo, so you're not limited to what’s happening on a single platform. You get a more complete picture of what similar listings are charging and earning across your entire market. If you want even more precision, you can build your own custom comp set.

Without reliable rental comps, you're making pricing decisions in the dark. Use real data to compare your listing performance to similar properties and discover your true market position

Create a custom comp set to compare Airbnb prices with precision

Sometimes your listing doesn’t quite fit the average—and that’s exactly why AirDNA lets you create a custom comp set.

Instead of relying only on an auto-generated list, you can hand-pick properties that truly match your space using filters for things like location, size, guest capacity, and amenities. 

Once you’ve saved your custom comp set, you can use it to better understand how your pricing and performance compare with similar listings. You’ll be able to:

See how your nightly rate, booking pace, and earnings stack up

Look back at how other listings performed during busy seasons or slower months

Check how they’re pricing for upcoming weekends, holidays, and local events

Use what you learn to adjust your own prices and stay competitive throughout the year

Want a step-by-step walkthrough? Here’s how to create a custom comp set in AirDNA.

You’ve Compared Your Airbnb to Similar Listings—Now What?

You’ve spent some time looking at similar listings and seeing how your place compares. Now the big question is: What do you do with that information?

Here’s how to take what you’ve learned and start setting prices that make sense for your property, your market, and your goals.

Before you set a price, take a step back and think about your overall approach. What do you want your pricing to do for you?

Are you trying to fill your calendar as much as possible? Earn more per night? Attract longer stays with fewer turnovers? Your answers will help shape how you set and adjust your prices going forward.

This is also where you’ll want to think about the balance between profitability and visibility. If your price is too high compared to similar listings in your market, your place might not show up in searches—or might get passed over. But if you price too low just to stay booked, you could leave money on the table.

Not sure where to start? Many hosts choose a pricing model—a simple way to decide how to charge, based on things like demand, value, or cost.

Choosing your pricing strategy first gives you a clear direction, so every price you set has a reason behind it.

Use rate recommendations to optimize your pricing strategy.

Your base rate is your starting point: The price you’d charge per night under normal conditions, before applying seasonal adjustments, discounts, or last-minute changes. It’s the foundation of your pricing strategy.

Your base rate should reflect the value your listing offers and the goals you’re aiming for, whether that’s steady bookings, higher nightly revenue, or a mix of both.

In AirDNA, you can choose from three common base pricing styles:

Conservative: Lower rates that encourage more frequent bookings

Balanced: A middle ground that blends occupancy and revenue

Aggressive: Higher rates for standout listings or peak travel periods

Once you choose a style, AirDNA uses that to guide your Recommended Rates—adjusting your suggested nightly prices based on your strategy, market demand, seasonality, and booking trends.

Your base rate keeps on you on track to meet your goals while still responding to what’s happening in your market.

By now, you’ve seen how useful a comp set can be—a group of listings that closely match yours in size, location, features, and guest experience. And if you’ve created one in AirDNA, you’re already one step ahead.

But comparing once isn’t enough. Similar listings in your area are always adjusting their prices—raising rates for busy weekends, dropping them midweek, or shifting around local events. To stay competitive, your pricing needs to keep up.

That’s where AirDNA’s Recommended Rates come in. Once your comp set is in place—whether automatically created or built by you—AirDNA uses it to suggest nightly prices based on:

What your competition is actually earning

You’ll see suggested prices up to four months out, so you can plan ahead instead of reacting last minute.

And unlike other dynamic pricing tools that automatically change your prices, AirDNA gives you full control. You review the recommendations and manually update your listing—so nothing changes without your say. That means you can keep your pricing aligned with your goals, adjust only when it makes sense, and avoid unexpected shifts that might hurt your visibility or bookings.

AirDNA’s vacation rental pricing tool uses data-driven recommendations to propose the best daily rates.

No matter how often your price changes, it’s important to set some personal guardrails. These are the boundaries that keep your pricing strategy consistent even as demand shifts.

Your minimum price should make sure you’re covering your basic costs, like cleaning fees, utilities, and platform fees. It’s your safety net so you’re not losing money just to fill a night.

Your maximum price helps you stay competitive during peak periods. It can be tempting to raise prices when demand is high, but pushing too far can backfire. If you price well above what guests are used to seeing, your listing might get skipped in search results.

Setting both minimums and maximums gives your pricing strategy structure and protects your bottom line. It also works whether you’re adjusting prices manually or using tools like AirDNA to help you set or update your price.  For any pricing strategy for Airbnb hosts, these limits make sure your rates reflect your goals—without second-guessing every change.

How do I compare similar listings on Airbnb?

Compare similar listings on Airbnb using its built-in tool, which automatically finds homes like yours based on location, size, features, and guest activity. But you can’t control how those listings are chosen. For better accuracy, use tools like AirDNA, which lets you compare similar listings based on specific filters you choose.

Price your Airbnb competitively by tracking average nightly rates for similar listings in your area. Tools like AirDNA show what comparable properties charge and how often they’re booked. This helps you adjust your pricing to stay competitive without sacrificing value or occupancy.

How often should I compare my pricing compared to other listings?

Compare your Airbnb pricing to similar listings in your area at least once a month. If your market has seasonal shifts or event-driven demand, check weekly. Regularly reviewing local pricing for Airbnb listings helps you stay competitive, avoid underpricing, and capture high-demand dates.

Comparing Airbnb prices of similar listings sounds simple, but many hosts get it wrong. Learn how to find the right comps and set smarter, more competitive rates.

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