Cambria, California Short-Term Rental Market
Cambria STR operators averaged $355/night at 53.3% occupancy in April 2026 across a coastal market with a 89.2 revenue-growth score.
Quick Answer: Cambria, California is an active short-term rental market. average occupancy is 60%. average monthly revenue is $6,949. average daily rate is $438. the top operator is Seven Sisters Vacation Rentals with 141 listings. market score is 75/100 (grade B).
Market data reflects the San Luis Obispo regional market, which includes Cambria. Regulations, taxes, and permit details below are specific to Cambria.
Market Score Breakdown
Five dimensions Apivex evaluates per market.
Market Overview
Cambria is a coastal village in San Luis Obispo County with a well-established short-term rental market anchored almost entirely by entire-place listings. As of April 2026, the market reported an average daily rate of $354.90 and occupancy of 53.3%, producing an average monthly revenue of $4,962 per active listing. RevPAR stood at $189.29.
The listing mix is heavily concentrated in entire-place rentals: 4,176 of the 4,450 classified listings fall into that category, with 273 private rooms and just one shared room. By bedroom count, studios and 1-bedroom units lead at 1,498 listings, followed closely by 3-bedroom (1,110) and 2-bedroom (1,097) properties. Larger homes make up the remaining share: 464 four-bedroom and 277 five-bedroom listings.
Channel distribution shows 2,308 listings active on both Airbnb and VRBO, with 1,802 Airbnb-only and 340 VRBO-only, reflecting the mature, multi-platform nature of the market.
Year-over-year as of April 2026, occupancy slipped -0.45 percentage points while ADR rose 2.62% and revenue grew 3.92%, indicating that rate increases are outpacing any softness in nights booked. The market’s overall score of 74.92 out of 100 is supported by a standout revenue-growth score of 89.18 and solid rental-demand (71.65) and seasonality (71.33) ratings.
Seasonal Patterns
| Month | Occupancy | ADR | Revenue |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 38% | $264 | $2,886 |
| Feb | 47% | $269 | $2,990 |
| Mar | 50% | $282 | $3,761 |
| Apr | 54% | $299 | $4,267 |
| May | 52% | $317 | $4,313 |
| Jun | 61% | $360 | $5,673 |
| Jul | 68% | $338 | $6,183 |
| Aug | 60% | $323 | $5,282 |
| Sep | 53% | $306 | $4,324 |
| Oct | 52% | $299 | $4,260 |
| Nov | 51% | $305 | $3,960 |
| Dec | 46% | $300 | $3,796 |
Top Short-Term Rental Operators in Cambria
Ranked by total active listings. Useful for understanding the competitive landscape.
| # | Operator | Listings | Reviews | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Seven Sisters Vacation Rentals | 141 | 8,919 | ★ 4.81 |
| 2 | Paso Robles Vacation Rentals | 132 | 16,301 | ★ 4.88 |
| 3 | Beach Bum Holiday Rentals | 114 | 4,017 | ★ 4.68 |
| 4 | Scenic Coast Property Management | 88 | 5,427 | ★ 4.78 |
| 5 | Coastal Vacation Rentals & Property Management | 86 | 4,846 | ★ 4.68 |
What Kind of STR Should I Buy in Cambria?
Revenue and pricing by property type, tier, and bedroom count.
Revenue by Bedroom Count
| 1 bed | 1,498 |
| 2 bed | 1,097 |
| 3 bed | 1,110 |
| 4 bed | 464 |
| 5 bed | 277 |
ADR by Property Tier
| Entire Home | $452 |
| Luxury | $801 |
| Professionally Managed | $586 |
Revenue by Dwelling Type
| Apartment | $5,781 |
| Entire Place | $7,210 |
| House | $7,416 |
Booking Channel Mix
Distribution of bookings across major STR platforms.
| Channel | Share |
|---|---|
| airbnb | 40.5% |
| vrbo | 7.6% |
| both | 51.9% |
Investment Analysis
At a typical home value of approximately $1,009,000 (Zillow, April 2026) and median list price near $1,235,000, Cambria is a high-entry-cost coastal market. Using the April 2026 average monthly revenue of $4,962 and annualizing, a well-performing listing could generate roughly $59,500 per year before operating expenses, implying a gross yield of approximately 5.9% on a purchase at typical home value.
Luxury-tier operators command substantially higher rates: the tier_luxury ADR reached $643.60 in April 2026, compared to $354.90 across all listings. Professionally managed properties averaged $459.92 per night, a 30% premium over the all-listing average. Entire-place monthly revenue averaged $5,128, and houses averaged $5,307, both above the all-listing average of $4,962.
From a trend perspective, 2025 annual average revenue of $4,928 represents a recovery from the 2023 trough of $4,542 and is approaching the 2021 peak of $5,309. ADR has increased steadily from $253 in 2017 to $354.90 in April 2026, demonstrating consistent pricing power over time. Occupancy peaked at 64.87% in 2021 and has since stabilized in the 50-53% range.
The investability score of 57.21 is the market’s lowest dimension score, reflecting the high acquisition cost relative to rental income. Investors considering entry should underwrite conservatively given the $1M+ price point and the current occupancy plateau.
Revenue Trend (5 yr)
ADR & Occupancy Trends (5 yr)
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Booking Insights
Cambria guests book an average of 48.9 days in advance as of April 2026, nearly seven weeks of lead time. This is a meaningful planning window for operators: pricing decisions made 6-7 weeks out directly affect what guests pay, so dynamic pricing adjustments should be applied well before peak weekends rather than in the final days before check-in.
Average length of stay is 3.44 nights, consistent with a weekend-to-long-weekend coastal destination. At that stay length, a property can accommodate roughly 8-9 guest groups per month at full capacity, with turnover cleaning costs factored into pricing. Operators should ensure cleaning fees are appropriately set for a 3-night average, as under-priced cleaning on short stays compresses net revenue.
The combination of nearly 7-week lead time and sub-4-night stays suggests that blocking nights in advance for personal use should be done early, and that minimum-stay requirements of 2-3 nights are appropriate for this market to reduce turnover friction without materially restricting bookable windows.
Short-Term Rental Regulations
Short-term rentals are permitted in Cambria, which falls under unincorporated San Luis Obispo County jurisdiction (not the City of San Luis Obispo). In unincorporated SLO County, traditional vacation rentals of entire homes are allowed. Operators must obtain a county business license and land use authorization from County Planning and Building. Coastal zones, including portions of Cambria, face additional California Coastal Commission review requirements.
A permit is required. The permit type listed is a Homestay Permit; however, investors should verify current county requirements directly with SLO County Planning and Building, as the unincorporated county rules differ from the City of SLO’s owner-occupied-only homestay policy. The permit cost on file is $126.89.
The occupancy tax rate is 13%, which includes the base Transient Occupancy Tax plus Tourism Business Improvement District and Tourism Marketing District assessments. Enforcement severity is rated moderate. No maximum nights-per-year cap, owner-occupancy requirement, or primary-residence requirement is recorded for this area in the dataset.
Prospective operators should consult SLO County Planning and Building directly to confirm current permit requirements, as coastal zone regulations and county policies are subject to change. No major regulatory changes were noted for 2024-2025.
Market Comparison
Cambria’s April 2026 ADR of $354.90 is well above the US STR median of approximately $220, reflecting the premium coastal California location. Occupancy at 53.3% is near the national median of roughly 55%, indicating Cambria fills at average rates despite commanding above-average nightly prices.
RevPAR of $189.29 is a useful cross-market comparison point. At the national median (55% occupancy, $220 ADR), RevPAR would be approximately $121, placing Cambria about 56% above that benchmark.
The market has five active professional management companies among the top operators. Seven Sisters Vacation Rentals leads with 141 listings and 8,919 reviews at a 4.807 rating. Paso Robles Vacation Rentals holds 132 listings with 16,301 reviews at a 4.876 rating, the highest review volume among top operators. Beach Bum Holiday Rentals manages 114 listings with a 4.684 rating. Combined, the top three operators account for 387 listings. The presence of multiple established local management firms indicates a mature market with professional infrastructure for owner-investors seeking third-party management.
The total market score of 74.92 and revenue-growth score of 89.18 position Cambria favorably among California coastal markets for operators already active or considering entry.
Frequently Asked Questions About Cambria, California
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