Charleston, South Carolina Short-Term Rental Market
Charleston STRs averaged $454/night at 70.0% occupancy in April 2026 with $8,422 average monthly revenue.
Quick Answer: Charleston, South Carolina is an active short-term rental market. average occupancy is 70%. average monthly revenue is $8,422. average daily rate is $454. the top operator is Vacasa with 440 listings. market score is 75/100 (grade B).
Market Score Breakdown
Five dimensions Apivex evaluates per market.
Market Overview
Charleston, SC is one of the highest-ADR short-term rental markets in the Southeast, drawing 7.89 million annual visitors to its historic peninsula, beaches, and culinary scene. As of April 2026, the average daily rate across all Charleston STR listings was $454.23, with average occupancy at 70.0% and RevPAR at $318.12. Revenue per listing averaged $8,422 in April, among the highest monthly averages of any midsized U.S. destination market.
The market carries approximately 11,850 tracked listings. Entire-place listings dominate at 11,253 (94.9% of total), with private rooms at 596 and shared rooms at 1. Channel distribution shows strong dual-platform presence: 7,510 listings appear on both Airbnb and VRBO, 3,153 are Airbnb-only, and 1,187 are VRBO-only.
Bedroom mix is relatively balanced, with 3-bedroom units the largest segment at 3,253 listings, followed by 2-bedroom (2,761), 1-bedroom (2,652), 4-bedroom (1,898), and 5-plus bedroom (1,283).
Year-over-year performance in April 2026 was modestly negative: occupancy down 3.94 percentage points, ADR down 0.67%, and revenue down 0.49%. These declines are shallow and follow two strong years; the 2025 annual average revenue of $7,039 per month was itself above the 2024 level of $6,685. The Apivex overall market score is 75.28 out of 100, with rental demand scoring 91.16 and investability at 85.35, offset by a seasonality score of 50.42 reflecting significant seasonal swing.
Seasonal Patterns
| Month | Occupancy | ADR | Revenue |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 39% | $239 | $2,726 |
| Feb | 57% | $261 | $3,435 |
| Mar | 68% | $321 | $5,489 |
| Apr | 66% | $365 | $6,276 |
| May | 66% | $380 | $6,607 |
| Jun | 74% | $424 | $8,104 |
| Jul | 73% | $403 | $7,754 |
| Aug | 62% | $382 | $6,444 |
| Sep | 56% | $329 | $4,928 |
| Oct | 59% | $315 | $5,064 |
| Nov | 49% | $290 | $3,798 |
| Dec | 44% | $280 | $3,431 |
Top Short-Term Rental Operators in Charleston
Ranked by total active listings. Useful for understanding the competitive landscape.
| # | Operator | Listings | Reviews | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Vacasa | 440 | 27,869 | ★ 4.57 |
| 2 | Stay Duvet | 368 | 42,749 | ★ 4.84 |
| 3 | Casago | 291 | 9,129 | ★ 4.56 |
| 4 | Sweetgrass Vacation Rentals | 274 | 9,186 | ★ 4.74 |
| 5 | Akers Ellis Real Estate & Rentals | 268 | 8,693 | ★ 4.73 |
What Kind of STR Should I Buy in Charleston?
Revenue and pricing by property type, tier, and bedroom count.
Revenue by Bedroom Count
| 1 bed | 2,652 |
| 2 bed | 2,761 |
| 3 bed | 3,253 |
| 4 bed | 1,898 |
| 5 bed | 1,283 |
ADR by Property Tier
| Professionally Managed | $586 |
| Entire Home | $471 |
| Luxury | $758 |
Revenue by Dwelling Type
| Apartment | $7,141 |
| Entire Place | $8,697 |
| House | $9,144 |
Booking Channel Mix
Distribution of bookings across major STR platforms.
| Channel | Share |
|---|---|
| airbnb | 26.6% |
| vrbo | 10% |
| both | 63.4% |
Investment Analysis
Charleston’s STR investment profile is defined by high revenue per listing, very high entry costs, and the most restrictive STR enforcement posture of any major U.S. tourism city.
At a typical home value of $593,739 (Zillow, April 2026) and an April average revenue of $8,422 per listing, the annualized gross revenue runs approximately $101,064 against a $593,739 entry cost, producing a gross yield of roughly 17.0%. That figure reflects April, which is a high-season month for Charleston. The 2025 annual average of $7,039 per month would produce an annualized figure of approximately $84,468 against the same entry cost, yielding roughly 14.2%.
Tier data illustrates significant upside for premium operators. The ADR for entire-home tier listings is $470.65, versus $585.53 for professionally managed properties (a 29% premium) and $758.02 for luxury-tier listings (a 67% premium over the market average).
April revenue by property type: apartments averaged $7,141, entire-place listings $8,697, and houses $9,144. Houses outperform the market average by approximately 9%.
The housing market shows 1,633 active listings for sale, a sale-to-list ratio of 0.887, and only 28 median days to pending, indicating active buyer competition despite high prices. Investors should note the regulatory landscape described below before underwriting any Charleston STR acquisition.
Revenue Trend (5 yr)
ADR & Occupancy Trends (5 yr)
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Booking Insights
Charleston STR bookings show an average lead time of 70.56 days and an average length of stay of 4.03 nights as of April 2026.
The 70-day lead time is among the longest in the Southeast, reflecting a high-value destination where travelers plan further ahead. This extended booking window gives operators nearly 10 weeks of pricing visibility before a typical reservation is confirmed. For peak months (March-July), the window matters most: rates set at 90-plus days out should reflect peak demand, with the 30-60 day window used for final adjustments.
The 4.03-night average stay suggests a mix of long-weekend and midweek vacation trips rather than either pure weekend stays or week-long bookings. For a 30-night month at 70.0% occupancy (approximately 21 booked nights), a 4.03-night average implies roughly five check-in/check-out cycles per month.
Operators should note that the 70-day lead time supports dynamic pricing strategies with multiple rate tiers across the booking horizon. Setting premium rates at 90-plus days out for peak weekends, with planned compression as the dates approach, is a common approach in markets like Charleston where guests accept booking well in advance.
Short-Term Rental Regulations
Charleston has among the most restrictive and most actively enforced STR ordinances of any major U.S. tourism market. The city ordinance took effect July 10, 2018, and enforcement has intensified since August 2024.
Residential STR Permits (Categories 1, 2, and 3, covering different parts of the peninsula and off-peninsula areas) require the property to be the owner’s primary residence. The owner must reside at the property for at least 183 days per year. Whole-house rentals where the owner is absent are not permitted in residential zones. Maximum occupancy is four adults regardless of property size. The initial permit fee is $350; annual renewal is $200.
Commercial STR Permits are available only within the designated STR Overlay Zone on the peninsula. These do not require owner-occupancy but are limited to a small geographic area and properties are typically valued at $1 million or more.
All permitted operators must display the permit number in all listings, maintain $1 million in liability insurance, pass a fire safety inspection, and maintain a 24/7 local contact available within 30 minutes. No events or parties are permitted and at least three off-street parking spaces are required for single-family homes with an STR unit.
Total accommodations tax in Charleston County is 14%. Enforcement is rated strict. Charleston is reported to be the only U.S. city criminally prosecuting illegal STR operators, with 60-100 active cases at a time. An enforcement sweep identified approximately 1,300 of an estimated 1,600 online Charleston STR listings as unpermitted.
Market Comparison
At $454.23 ADR and 70.0% occupancy, Charleston is well above national STR medians (approximately $220 ADR, 55% occupancy). RevPAR of $318.12 is roughly double the national median, placing Charleston among the highest-performing midsized destination markets in the U.S.
The Apivex total market score of 75.28 reflects Charleston’s mixed profile: rental demand at 91.16 (exceptional) and investability at 85.35, but seasonality at 50.42 (wide swing) and regulation at 67.02 (restrictive enforcement). Revenue growth scored 66.63, reflecting the slight year-over-year softness in April 2026.
Professional management is well-established. The top five operators by listing count are: Vacasa (440 listings, 27,869 reviews, 4.573 average rating), Stay Duvet (368 listings, 42,749 reviews, 4.841 rating), Casago (291 listings, 9,129 reviews, 4.562 rating), Sweetgrass Vacation Rentals (274 listings, 9,186 reviews, 4.744 rating), and Akers Ellis Real Estate and Rentals (268 listings, 8,693 reviews, 4.729 rating).
Stay Duvet leads in review volume at 42,749 despite ranking second by listings, and maintains the highest rating among the top five at 4.841. Together, the top five operators manage approximately 1,641 of 11,850 total listings, or about 13.8% of the market.
Frequently Asked Questions About Charleston, South Carolina
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