Saint Augustine, Florida Short-Term Rental Market
Saint Augustine STRs averaged $245/night at 63.4% occupancy in April 2026 across roughly 13,400 active listings.
Quick Answer: Saint Augustine, Florida is an active short-term rental market. average occupancy is 63%. average monthly revenue is $4,248. average daily rate is $245. the top operator is Coastal Realty with 374 listings. market score is 90/100 (grade A).
Market Score Breakdown
Five dimensions Apivex evaluates per market.
Market Overview
Saint Augustine, Florida is the oldest continuously inhabited European-founded settlement in the United States, drawing roughly 3 million tourists annually. As of April 2026, the STR market holds approximately 13,392 active listings, with 12,169 entire-place units, 1,216 private rooms, and 7 shared rooms. The average daily rate is $245, occupancy sits at 63.4%, and RevPAR is $156.
The bedroom distribution is well-spread: 2-bedroom listings lead with 4,276, followed by 1-bedroom (3,965), 3-bedroom (3,215), 4-bedroom (1,308), and 5-bedroom-plus (615). Cross-platform listings dominate: 7,255 properties list on both Airbnb and VRBO. Airbnb-exclusive listings total 4,851 and VRBO-exclusive 1,286.
Year-over-year as of April 2026, performance is essentially flat: occupancy up 0.1%, ADR up 0.5%, and revenue up 0.3%. The market total score is 89.8 out of 100, with an investability score of 82.6 and rental demand score of 85.3. Zoning plays a critical role in this market: properties in RS-1 and RS-2 residential zones are restricted to one-week minimum stays, which effectively limits nightly STR use to specific non-residential zones.
Seasonal Patterns
| Month | Occupancy | ADR | Revenue |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 53% | $172 | $2,603 |
| Feb | 70% | $180 | $3,030 |
| Mar | 75% | $212 | $4,090 |
| Apr | 62% | $208 | $3,475 |
| May | 61% | $207 | $3,291 |
| Jun | 70% | $229 | $4,120 |
| Jul | 70% | $223 | $4,085 |
| Aug | 54% | $196 | $2,977 |
| Sep | 50% | $184 | $2,479 |
| Oct | 54% | $186 | $2,706 |
| Nov | 53% | $192 | $2,657 |
| Dec | 56% | $200 | $3,046 |
Top Short-Term Rental Operators in Saint Augustine
Ranked by total active listings. Useful for understanding the competitive landscape.
| # | Operator | Listings | Reviews | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Coastal Realty | 374 | 1,714 | ★ 4.52 |
| 2 | Vacasa | 235 | 9,190 | ★ 4.48 |
| 3 | Evolve | 153 | 5,829 | ★ 4.60 |
| 4 | Silver Street Management | 142 | 6,363 | ★ 4.63 |
| 5 | Distinctive Beach Rentals by Vtrips | 134 | 4,700 | ★ 4.39 |
What Kind of STR Should I Buy in Saint Augustine?
Revenue and pricing by property type, tier, and bedroom count.
Revenue by Bedroom Count
| 1 bed | 3,965 |
| 2 bed | 4,276 |
| 3 bed | 3,215 |
| 4 bed | 1,308 |
| 5 bed | 615 |
ADR by Property Tier
| Entire Home | $258 |
| Luxury | $424 |
| Professionally Managed | $313 |
Revenue by Dwelling Type
| Apartment | $3,583 |
| Entire Place | $4,462 |
| House | $4,804 |
Booking Channel Mix
Distribution of bookings across major STR platforms.
| Channel | Share |
|---|---|
| airbnb | 36.2% |
| vrbo | 9.6% |
| both | 54.2% |
Investment Analysis
Saint Augustine presents a strong revenue case with an important zoning caveat. The average listing earned $4,248 in April 2026, and annualizing April revenue projects to approximately $51,000 per year. Against a typical home value of $432,137, the gross yield implied by April-annualized revenue is approximately 11.8%, one of the highest in the current batch.
However, this yield is only achievable for properties in zones that permit nightly rentals. RS-1 and RS-2 residential zones require a one-week minimum stay, and HP-1 historic preservation zones require one-month minimum stays. Investors must verify zoning before purchase; properties in these restricted zones cannot generate nightly STR revenue regardless of permit status.
For eligible properties, the revenue picture is strong. House listings averaged $4,804 per month, entire-place listings averaged $4,462, and apartment listings averaged $3,583. Luxury-tier properties command a $424 ADR versus the market average of $245, a 73% premium. Professionally managed listings average $313 ADR, a 28% premium over the market average.
The housing market shows a sale-to-list ratio of 0.878 and inventory of 1,806 active listings with 54 days to pending, indicating a buyer-favorable market with meaningful negotiating room. The median sale price of $404,833 is below both the list price median ($461,333) and the typical home value ($432,137).
Revenue Trend (5 yr)
ADR & Occupancy Trends (5 yr)
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Booking Insights
Saint Augustine bookings in April 2026 averaged a lead time of 48.1 days, just under seven weeks. This reflects a mix of advance-planning cultural tourists and shorter-horizon Florida weekenders. The Nights of Lights festival and spring break periods are booked significantly further out, pulling the average up from the spontaneous spring/summer weekend market.
The average length of stay is 4.5 nights, above the typical coastal Florida weekend benchmark. The historical and cultural tourism draw, combined with the city’s walkable historic district, encourages 4 to 5 night stays as visitors explore the city on foot without needing to drive to a new destination each day.
For pricing, the 48-day lead time means rates should be set by 6 to 7 weeks before arrival. Nights of Lights (Thanksgiving through mid-January), spring break (March), and summer peak weekends (June through July) warrant pricing held 90 to 120 days out. The strict enforcement environment means operators should maintain accurate registration and documentation to avoid the 24/7 complaint hotline triggering compliance reviews.
Short-Term Rental Regulations
Saint Augustine requires dual registration: both a City of St. Augustine and a St. Johns County short-term vacation rental registration for each listing. City registration is tiered by bedroom count: $303.03 base plus $79.30 per bedroom under Resolution 2025-41 (a 1-bedroom unit costs $382.33). The registration year runs October 1 to September 30, with a $100 late fee for renewals past the deadline.
The combined lodging tax is 11%: 5% St. Johns County Tourist Development Tax plus 6% Florida state sales tax. The 5% county rate took effect October 1, 2021 under County Ordinance 2021-43.
Zoning controls are the critical variable for investors. RS-1 and RS-2 residential zones require a one-week minimum stay, effectively blocking nightly rentals. HP-1 historic preservation zones require a one-month minimum stay. All other zones permit nightly rentals with approved registration. Every property must pass an annual Life Safety Inspection by the St. Augustine Fire Department covering smoke alarms, CO detectors, and posted address numbers. At least one stabilized parking space is required per bedroom.
There is no owner-occupancy requirement and no citywide night cap. Enforcement is rated strict: the city runs a 24/7 complaint hotline (904-569-7077) and uses Host Compliance monitoring for unlicensed operators.
Market Comparison
Saint Augustine’s 63.4% April occupancy is well above the national STR median of approximately 55%, reflecting the city’s strong year-round tourism base. The ADR of $245 is above the US median of approximately $220, driven by cultural tourism premiums and the destination’s status as a top Southeast heritage site.
Among the top operators, Coastal Realty leads with 374 listings and a 4.52 average rating, representing approximately 2.8% of the market. Vacasa holds 235 listings (4.48 rating, 9,190 reviews). Evolve manages 153 listings (4.60 rating) and Silver Street Management operates 142 listings (4.63 rating). Collectively the top five operators control 1,038 listings, approximately 7.7% of the market, indicating a predominantly owner-operated market with significant independent operator presence.
The total market score of 89.8 and investability score of 82.6 reflect strong fundamentals offset by the zoning complexity and strict enforcement environment. The market suits investors who can identify properties in nightly-rental-eligible zones and maintain full regulatory compliance.
Frequently Asked Questions About Saint Augustine, Florida
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