The average Airbnb cost in Maine runs from about $179 a night in Bangor to about $443 in Bar Harbor, based on AirDNA’s trailing 12-month average daily rates (ADR) for five Maine markets. Portland and Camden sit in the low-to-mid $300s, and Old Orchard Beach is near $368.
Quick Answer
Plan on roughly $180 to $445 per booked night, depending on the town. Inland cities such as Bangor are cheapest. Portland, beach towns and the Acadia area cost more, and waterfront or large group homes can run well above these market averages, especially in summer.
Key Takeaways
- ADR by market ranges from $179 in Bangor to $443 in Bar Harbor (AirDNA pages updated October 20, 2026).
- Bar Harbor also has the highest occupancy of the five markets, at 74%.
- Maine’s tax rate on lodging rentals is listed at 9%.
- July, August and September are Acadia National Park’s busiest months.
- Compare the full trip total, not only the headline nightly rate.
Average Airbnb Cost per Night in Maine
A realistic Maine budget depends on where you stay. The table below uses AirDNA’s published market pages, which report the average nightly price guests actually paid on booked nights over the trailing 12 months.
| Market | Average daily rate | Occupancy | What it suggests |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bangor | $179 | 59% | Lower-cost city base for central and eastern Maine. |
| Camden | $303 | 60% | Midcoast harbor town with a clear premium over inland markets. |
| Portland | $322 | 62% | Walkable city with restaurants and limited central supply. |
| Old Orchard Beach | $368 | 62% | Beach-season demand pushes up rates for larger units. |
| Bar Harbor | $443 | 74% | Gateway to Acadia National Park; the highest of the five. |
Note: ADR is the average price paid on nights that were actually booked. It mixes rooms, apartments, cabins and large homes, and AirDNA tracks short-term rentals in general rather than Airbnb alone. Treat these as market benchmarks, not quotes. AirDNA’s figures update regularly, so the live page may differ from the numbers above.
Bar Harbor’s $443 is about $264 higher than Bangor’s $179, which shows how much location matters. A specific listing can fall well below or above its market average depending on bedrooms, guest capacity, reviews, view, parking, minimum stays and the exact dates.
Coastal premiums and inland value
Coastal Maine costs more because summer demand is packed into a short season. Waterfront cottages, homes near a beach or harbor, and houses with enough bedrooms for several families can cost far more than the market average, so a $600 or $1,000 nightly quote is possible without being typical.
Inland cities and rural towns usually offer better value, but inland does not always mean cheap. Lakefront cabins, ski-season rentals and large lodges near popular trails can carry premiums too, so compare the same property type and guest capacity.
How Seasons and Events Change Maine Airbnb Prices
The National Park Service says Acadia’s busiest months are July, August and September, which supports demand in Bar Harbor and across Mount Desert Island. Beach towns also get pricier when warm weather, school vacations and limited waterfront supply overlap.
Portland is less seasonal than resort towns, but festivals, holidays and big events can still tighten availability. Winter can be cheaper outside ski and holiday periods, but some coastal properties close for the season and attractions may run reduced hours.
Pro Tip: Search the same destination with two or three nearby date combinations. Moving a trip off a holiday weekend can change the total more than switching between similar properties.
Property Types and Amenities That Cost More
Entire homes cost more than private rooms or studios because they add privacy, a kitchen, parking and more sleeping space. These features commonly raise the price:
- Waterfront or ocean views: a premium in coastal and lake markets.
- More bedrooms: a higher nightly price, but often cheaper per person for groups.
- Walkable location: Portland’s Old Port, downtown Camden or Bar Harbor’s village center cut transportation needs.
- Hot tubs, pools and fireplaces: popular extras that raise demand.
- Air conditioning: not every older Maine property has it, so cooled summer rentals may cost more.
- Pets and parking: pet-friendly stays may add a pet fee, and off-street parking is valuable in dense areas.
For groups, compare cost per person. A $500 three-bedroom home shared by six adults works out to about $83 per person per night before tax, while two smaller apartments may cost more in total.
Total Trip Cost: Fees, Cleaning and Taxes
The nightly rate is only part of a reservation. The total can also include cleaning, extra-guest, pet and platform fees, plus lodging tax. Airbnb says that guests in the US see a fee-inclusive total price before taxes on all listings, so mandatory fees should already be in the price you see while searching.
Warning: Do not automatically add another 20% or 25% to the total Airbnb shows in the US. That can double-count cleaning and service fees already included. Open the price breakdown and see which charges are in the displayed total.
Maine lodging tax
Maine Revenue Services lists a 9% rate for rentals of lodging in its sales and use tax rate table (effective January 1, 2026). Airbnb may collect and remit applicable taxes, so check the checkout breakdown for the exact taxable amount.
Service and cleaning fees
Airbnb’s help center says that under the split-fee structure the guest service fee ranges from 14.1% to 16.5% of the booking subtotal. Under the single-fee structure, the fee is deducted from the host’s payout instead of being shown to the guest.
A cleaning fee is usually a flat charge per reservation, so short stays cost more per night. For example, a $150 cleaning fee is $75 per night on a two-night stay but about $21 per night on a seven-night stay.
Sample three-night cost
Assume a Portland stay with a pre-tax total equal to the $322 market ADR for three nights:
- Three-night pre-tax total: $322 x 3 = $966
- Maine lodging tax at 9%: $966 x 0.09 = $86.94
- Estimated trip total: $1,052.94
- Effective nightly cost: about $351
This is an illustration, not a quote. Real totals vary with dates, discounts, guest count, pet charges and the taxable amount.
Ways to Lower Your Maine Airbnb Price
No single booking day guarantees the lowest price, so compare the full cost across dates, towns and property types.
- Compare total prices, not headline rates. A lower base rate can cost more after fees or minimum-stay rules.
- Check nearby towns. Bangor or towns a short drive from Bar Harbor, Camden or Portland can offer better value.
- Avoid peak weekends. Midweek and shoulder-season dates face less competition.
- Try a longer stay. A flat cleaning fee spreads out over more nights, and some hosts offer weekly discounts.
- Adjust the property type. A studio or one-bedroom may meet your needs without the whole-home premium.
- Limit premium filters. Waterfront, hot tubs and extra bedrooms narrow supply and raise prices.
- Read cancellation terms. A slightly higher flexible rate can beat a cheaper nonrefundable one if plans may change.
Hotel stays are another option; see our guides to hotel costs in Maine, Bar Harbor hotel prices and Portland hotel prices. For a wider comparison, read hotel vs Airbnb cost in the USA or compare with a neighboring state in our Vermont Airbnb guide.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a good price per night for an Airbnb in Maine?
Under about $200 is good value in an inland market such as Bangor, where AirDNA shows an ADR of $179. Portland, Camden and beach towns run roughly $300 to $370, and Bar Harbor averages about $443. Judge value by location, bedrooms, guest capacity and the fee-inclusive trip total.
Does Airbnb include cleaning fees in the displayed price?
For US guests, Airbnb shows a fee-inclusive total price before taxes, so mandatory charges such as cleaning fees are reflected in the displayed total. The price breakdown still lists the individual charges.
How much tax is charged on a Maine Airbnb?
Maine Revenue Services lists a 9% sales tax rate for rentals of lodging. Check your reservation’s checkout breakdown for the exact taxable amount and any other disclosed charges.
When are Maine Airbnb prices highest?
Coastal and Acadia-area prices are generally highest in summer and early fall. The National Park Service lists July, August and September as Acadia National Park’s busiest months, which raises demand in Bar Harbor and nearby towns.
Is an Airbnb cheaper than a hotel in Maine?
It depends on the trip. An Airbnb can be better value for families or groups that need bedrooms, a kitchen and shared space. A hotel may cost less for one traveler or a short stay with no separate cleaning charge. Compare the full after-tax total for the same dates and guests.
How can I find a cheaper Airbnb in Maine?
Look at inland cities and towns near the coast instead of the busiest harbor villages, travel midweek or in the shoulder season, try a longer stay so the cleaning fee is spread out, and choose a smaller property type if you do not need a whole house.
Conclusion
For planning, expect Maine short-term-rental averages from about $179 per booked night in Bangor to about $443 in Bar Harbor, with Camden, Portland and Old Orchard Beach in between. Your price can be lower or much higher depending on dates, bedrooms, waterfront access and guest count.
Compare the fee-inclusive trip total, allow for the 9% lodging tax, and test nearby dates and towns before booking.
Sources
- AirDNA Bangor, Camden, Portland, Old Orchard Beach and Bar Harbor market pages – ADR and occupancy, trailing 12 months, pages updated October 20, 2026.
- Maine Revenue Services: sales and use tax rates – 9% rate for rentals of lodging.
- Airbnb: pricing display in the United States – fee-inclusive total price before taxes.
- Airbnb: service fees – guest service fee range under the split-fee structure.
- National Park Service: Acadia facts – busiest months.
