In 2026, the 50,000-subscriber mark is the “sweet spot” for travel creators. You have enough authority to attract luxury hotels, but you are still “relatable” enough to maintain high engagement. However, the biggest shock for most is that at this level, YouTube AdSense is usually your smallest paycheck.

1. The AdSense Baseline: RPM vs. Reality

In the travel niche, your income is dictated by your RPM (Revenue Per Mille)—how much you earn per 1,000 views after YouTube takes its cut. In 2026, travel RPMs typically sit between $4.00 and $10.00, depending on whether your audience is in “Tier 1” countries (US, UK, Canada) or global.

• The Math: If a 50k-sub channel averages 300,000 views per month (a mix of new uploads and “evergreen” search content), at an average RPM of $7.00, the AdSense check is roughly $2,100.
• The Catch: This is purely “maintenance” money. It covers your