Myrtle Beach, South Carolina Short-Term Rental Market
Myrtle Beach STRs posted a $253 average daily rate at 54.0% occupancy in April 2026 across roughly 25,800 active listings.
Quick Answer: Myrtle Beach, South Carolina is an active short-term rental market. average occupancy is 54%. average monthly revenue is $3,600. average daily rate is $253. the top operator is Elliott Realty with 1,475 listings. market score is 52/100 (grade D).
Market Score Breakdown
Five dimensions Apivex evaluates per market.
Market Overview
Myrtle Beach is one of the largest short-term rental markets on the East Coast, with approximately 25,800 active listings in the latest snapshot. The market is overwhelmingly oriented toward entire-place rentals: 25,676 of those listings (99.4%) are entire units, with private rooms accounting for just 150 listings. Bedroom distribution skews toward smaller units, with 1-bedroom (7,759) and 2-bedroom (8,422) listings together representing about 63% of supply. Three-bedroom units add another 5,766 listings, while 4-bedroom and 5-bedroom properties account for 2,079 and 1,771 respectively.
In April 2026, average occupancy across all listing types was 54.0%, the average daily rate was $252.56, and average monthly revenue per active listing was $3,600. RevPAR stood at $136.41. Year-over-year, occupancy declined 12.5 percentage points and revenue fell 4.7%, while ADR increased 3.4%.
Channel distribution shows heavy multi-platform activity: 16,597 listings appear on both Airbnb and Vrbo simultaneously, while 4,762 are Airbnb-only and 4,468 are Vrbo-only. The Grand Strand drew 18.2 million visitors in 2024, generating $13.2 billion in direct spending. The market’s investability score is 94.1 out of 100, though its seasonality score is 42.4, reflecting the strong but concentrated summer demand cycle.
Seasonal Patterns
| Month | Occupancy | ADR | Revenue |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 35% | $146 | $1,467 |
| Feb | 54% | $151 | $1,762 |
| Mar | 62% | $179 | $2,558 |
| Apr | 59% | $216 | $3,229 |
| May | 57% | $237 | $3,416 |
| Jun | 76% | $286 | $5,493 |
| Jul | 79% | $279 | $5,801 |
| Aug | 65% | $249 | $4,451 |
| Sep | 50% | $201 | $2,755 |
| Oct | 45% | $167 | $2,106 |
| Nov | 36% | $162 | $1,574 |
| Dec | 33% | $162 | $1,532 |
Top Short-Term Rental Operators in Myrtle Beach
Ranked by total active listings. Useful for understanding the competitive landscape.
| # | Operator | Listings | Reviews | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Elliott Realty | 1,475 | 12,713 | ★ 4.45 |
| 2 | Vacasa | 1,447 | 51,405 | ★ 4.30 |
| 3 | Big Fish Rentals | 699 | 34,813 | ★ 4.40 |
| 4 | The Litchfield Company | 664 | 960 | ★ 4.46 |
| 5 | Evolve | 583 | 21,406 | ★ 4.56 |
What Kind of STR Should I Buy in Myrtle Beach?
Revenue and pricing by property type, tier, and bedroom count.
Revenue by Bedroom Count
| 1 bed | 7,759 |
| 2 bed | 8,422 |
| 3 bed | 5,766 |
| 4 bed | 2,079 |
| 5 bed | 1,771 |
ADR by Property Tier
| Entire Home | $253 |
| Luxury | $381 |
| Professionally Managed | $255 |
Revenue by Dwelling Type
| Apartment | $3,184 |
| Entire Place | $3,611 |
| House | $5,239 |
Booking Channel Mix
Distribution of bookings across major STR platforms.
| Channel | Share |
|---|---|
| airbnb | 18.4% |
| vrbo | 17.3% |
| both | 64.3% |
Investment Analysis
At a typical home value of $321,339 and an average monthly revenue of $3,600 in April 2026, a full-year annualized revenue estimate of $43,202 implies a gross yield of approximately 13.4%. That figure is an estimate using the latest available single-month data and does not account for operating expenses, vacancy, or management fees; actual net yields will be lower. The 2025 annual average revenue of $3,713 per month, if sustained, implies $44,556 annualized against the same home value.
Listing-type revenue differs meaningfully. Houses generated $5,239 per month in April 2026, compared to $3,611 for entire-place listings overall and $3,184 for apartment-style units. At the tier level, luxury ADR reached $381.07 versus $252.56 for the market average and $254.81 for professionally managed properties, indicating limited ADR premium for PM engagement at the market level.
The housing market shows a sale-to-list ratio of 1.025, meaning properties are closing above asking price on average. With 2,965 homes for sale and a median days-to-pending of 60, entry is accessible compared to tighter coastal markets. Median sale price was $271,667 in April 2026. Year-over-year occupancy is down 12.5 points, which represents real compression and deserves scrutiny in any underwriting model.
Revenue Trend (5 yr)
ADR & Occupancy Trends (5 yr)
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Booking Insights
Myrtle Beach guests book an average of 45 days in advance (44.95-day lead time) and stay an average of 3.86 nights. Both figures reflect a classic leisure beach market: guests plan far enough ahead to secure summer availability but trips are short, turnover-intensive stays rather than extended work-from-anywhere bookings.
The 45-day lead window creates a meaningful pricing dynamic. Operators who set rates too conservatively early may leave money on the table during the compressed June-July peak, when demand fills quickly. The 3.86-night average stay also implies frequent cleaning and turnover costs that should be factored into net yield calculations. Pricing software that adjusts rates in the 30-to-60-day window before arrival dates is particularly relevant in this market.
Short-Term Rental Regulations
Myrtle Beach takes a restrictive approach to short-term rentals. STRs are prohibited in all residential zoning districts with an ‘R’ prefix, with one exception: the RMV (Residential Multifamily Visitor) zone. Fewer than 30 residential-zone properties hold grandfathered status based on prior consistent use. The bulk of permissible STR inventory sits in commercial zones, particularly the 114-block coastal corridor east of Kings Highway to the ocean.
Operators must obtain a City of Myrtle Beach Business License. License fees are calculated on gross receipts rather than a flat rate; no fixed dollar amount is published. Operators must also register with the South Carolina Department of Revenue for a Retail License to collect and remit state accommodations taxes. Owner-occupied and primary-residence requirements do not apply.
The combined tax burden on guests stacks multiple layers: SC state sales tax (5%), SC state accommodations tax (2%), Horry County school district tax (1%), Horry County transportation tax (1%), City local accommodations tax (0.5%), City hospitality fee (1%), and Horry County hospitality fee inside city limits (1.5%), totaling a confirmed minimum of approximately 12%. Some sources cite totals as high as 16%; operators should verify current rates with the SCDOR and Horry County Treasurer.
In January 2025, Myrtle Beach enacted a zoning overlay across those 114 city blocks east of Kings Highway, prohibiting hotels and multi-unit STR buildings (2 or more units) from converting to long-term rentals. Individual units used as primary or second homes are exempt. Enforcement severity is rated strict, with violations carrying fines up to $500 and potential misdemeanor charges.
Market Comparison
Myrtle Beach’s April 2026 ADR of $252.56 sits above the US national median ADR of approximately $220 for all STR listings, while its 54.0% occupancy is broadly in line with the national median of roughly 55%. The market’s scale at approximately 25,800 listings makes it one of the densest STR concentrations on the East Coast.
The operator landscape is concentrated at the top. Elliott Realty leads with 1,475 listings and an average rating of 4.45, followed closely by Vacasa with 1,447 listings and 51,405 reviews at a 4.30 rating. Those two operators together hold approximately 11.3% of the market’s total listing inventory. Big Fish Rentals (699 listings, 4.40 rating), The Litchfield Company (664 listings, 4.46 rating, 960 reviews), and Evolve (583 listings, 4.56 rating, 21,406 reviews) round out the top five.
Evolve’s 4.56 rating across 21,406 reviews is the highest combined quality signal among the top five operators. The presence of five operators each managing 583 or more listings signals a professional management ecosystem that typically raises baseline quality standards across a market.
Frequently Asked Questions About Myrtle Beach, South Carolina
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