ABNB · 10-Q · 2026Q2 · Full report

Operating Expense Trends

Airbnb, Inc. · 2026-08-06 · Importance 64 · Surprise 56 · In source text

Six-month total costs and expenses increased 15% to $5.442 billion from $4.718 billion, while second-quarter operating expenses increased 15% year over year. Six-month sales and marketing expense rose 30%, or $372 million, including $258 million of additional marketing spend in emerging markets and partnerships and $90 million of higher payroll costs. Six-month product development expense increased 11%, or $132 million, primarily from higher average headcount. Six-month operations and support expense increased 8%, or $52 million, as payroll, customer-relations, and insurance costs rose, partly offset by a $15 million reduction in third-party service-provider costs from greater AI use in community support.

Key facts

• Sales and marketing expense increased $372 million, or 30%, for the six months ended June 30, 2026, including a $258 million increase in marketing spend, $90 million increase in payroll-related expenses, and $10 million increase in third-party service provider expenses source
• Sales and marketing expense increased $184 million, or 27%, for the three months ended June 30, 2026, including a $132 million increase in marketing spend and $48 million increase in payroll-related expenses source
• Cost of revenue for the six months ended June 30, 2026 increased $164 million, or 16%, including a $131 million increase in merchant fees, $25 million increase in chargebacks, and $15 million increase in server costs source
• Product development expense increased $132 million, or 11%, for the six months ended June 30, 2026, due to a $132 million increase in payroll-related expenses from higher average headcount source
• Cost of revenue for the three months ended June 30, 2026 increased $89 million, or 16%, including a $68 million increase in merchant fees, $13 million increase in chargebacks, and $12 million increase in server costs source
• Product development expense increased $62 million, or 10%, for the three months ended June 30, 2026, due to a $62 million increase in payroll-related expenses from higher average headcount source
• Operations and support expense increased $52 million, or 8%, for the six months ended June 30, 2026, including a $41 million increase in payroll-related expenses and a $15 million decrease in third-party service provider costs due to AI source
• Merchant fees increased $68 million for the three months and $131 million for the six months ended June 30, 2026, driven by higher net pay-in volume source

Impact estimates