Columbus, Georgia Short-Term Rental Market
Columbus, GA STRs averaged $175/night at 50.4% occupancy with a 95.7 investability score.
Quick Answer: Columbus, Georgia is an active short-term rental market. average occupancy is 55%. average monthly revenue is $3,064. average daily rate is $202. the top operator is Evolve with 315 listings. market score is 77/100 (grade B).
Market data reflects the Georgia Area regional market, which includes Columbus. Regulations, taxes, and permit details below are specific to Columbus.
Market Score Breakdown
Five dimensions Apivex evaluates per market.
Market Overview
Columbus, Georgia operates one of the larger short-term rental markets in the Southeast, with roughly 9,470 active listings across the metro area. The market recorded an average daily rate of $174.73 and 50.4% occupancy in the most recent data month, producing a RevPAR of $88.02. Year-over-year, occupancy declined 8.6% while ADR gained 3.6%, resulting in an overall revenue decline of 4.8% compared to the prior year. The data reflects continued normalization from the post-pandemic peak rather than a structural market problem.
Entire-place listings dominate the mix at 8,379 units (88.5% of inventory), with 1,086 private rooms and just 5 shared rooms rounding out the balance. By bedroom count, one-bedroom units lead at 2,841, followed closely by three-bedroom units at 2,710 and two-bedroom units at 2,194. Four- and five-bedroom properties account for 1,721 listings combined, indicating meaningful demand for group accommodations. Airbnb is the primary distribution channel (5,047 listings Airbnb-only), while 3,784 listings appear on both platforms, giving VRBO a meaningful but secondary presence with 639 exclusive listings.
Fort Moore (formerly Fort Benning), one of the largest US Army installations, generates year-round military relocation and visitor traffic. The Chattahoochee River corridor, the National Infantry Museum, and the National Civil War Naval Museum anchor leisure tourism alongside the 22-mile RiverWalk. Columbus attracted approximately 2.07 million visitors in 2024. The market’s total score of 77.0 out of 100 reflects solid fundamentals, with investability scoring especially high at 95.7.
Seasonal Patterns
| Month | Occupancy | ADR | Revenue |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 43% | $118 | $1,538 |
| Feb | 53% | $120 | $1,607 |
| Mar | 56% | $134 | $2,030 |
| Apr | 54% | $147 | $2,125 |
| May | 54% | $157 | $2,256 |
| Jun | 59% | $175 | $2,737 |
| Jul | 60% | $176 | $2,864 |
| Aug | 51% | $151 | $2,155 |
| Sep | 51% | $150 | $2,036 |
| Oct | 54% | $151 | $2,271 |
| Nov | 52% | $150 | $2,124 |
| Dec | 48% | $139 | $1,985 |
Top Short-Term Rental Operators in Columbus
Ranked by total active listings. Useful for understanding the competitive landscape.
| # | Operator | Listings | Reviews | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Evolve | 315 | 10,767 | ★ 4.66 |
| 2 | Orlando | 94 | 4,398 | ★ 4.70 |
| 3 | Patriot Family Homes | 70 | 3,671 | ★ 4.31 |
| 4 | Pine Mountain Chalet | 51 | 456 | ★ 4.13 |
| 5 | River Town Rentals | 46 | 937 | ★ 4.70 |
What Kind of STR Should I Buy in Columbus?
Revenue and pricing by property type, tier, and bedroom count.
Revenue by Bedroom Count
| 1 bed | 2,841 |
| 2 bed | 2,194 |
| 3 bed | 2,710 |
| 4 bed | 1,174 |
| 5 bed | 547 |
ADR by Property Tier
| Entire Home | $215 |
| Luxury | $389 |
| Professionally Managed | $256 |
Revenue by Dwelling Type
| Apartment | $2,038 |
| Entire Place | $3,271 |
| House | $3,362 |
Booking Channel Mix
Distribution of bookings across major STR platforms.
| Channel | Share |
|---|---|
| airbnb | 53.3% |
| vrbo | 6.7% |
| both | 40% |
Investment Analysis
Columbus, GA presents an unusually compelling entry-cost-to-revenue ratio compared to most Sun Belt STR markets. With a typical home value of $175,194 (April 2026 Zillow data) and average monthly STR revenue of $2,416, an entire-place listing projects annualized gross revenue of approximately $28,989 per year. That implies a gross yield of roughly 16.6% on typical home value, one of the highest ratios in the Southeast. Net yield will be considerably lower after mortgage service, management fees, maintenance, and tax, but the entry price point is a significant structural advantage.
ADR varies meaningfully by operator tier. The market-wide average of $174.73 compares to $185.93 for entire-home listings and $216.36 for professionally managed properties, a 24% premium over the all-in average. Luxury-tier properties command $336.61, more than double the market average, indicating that the upper end of the Columbus market is undersupplied relative to demand. Houses outperform apartments at $2,581 vs. $1,923 average monthly revenue.
Year-over-year revenue was down 4.8% in the latest period, consistent with the broader 2025-2026 normalization trend across secondary markets. The 2024 annual average revenue of $2,435 and 2025 annual average of $2,530 show underlying growth, with the recent decline driven primarily by the 8.6% occupancy dip. ADR growth of 3.6% YoY demonstrates operators have pricing power. The investability score of 95.7 out of 100 reflects the combination of low purchase price, consistent demand from Fort Moore, and an uncapped STR permit structure.
Revenue Trend (5 yr)
ADR & Occupancy Trends (5 yr)
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Booking Insights
Columbus STR guests book an average of 38.4 days in advance, placing this market in the moderate lead-time category. A nearly six-week booking window gives operators reasonable pricing leverage: rates can be set at full ask early and discounted strategically in the 1-2 week window to fill remaining availability without leaving revenue on the table at peak periods.
Average length of stay is 4.0 nights, which is slightly above the national average for non-resort urban markets. This is consistent with military-related temporary housing stays and extended leisure visits. At four nights per stay, a property at 50% occupancy averages roughly 3-4 bookings per month. Turnover costs and cleaning fees are a meaningful line item at this LOS but not as burdensome as markets with predominant 1-2 night stays. Operators pricing for a 4-night minimum or mid-week minimum can reduce turnover costs without materially impacting occupancy given the demand profile.
Short-Term Rental Regulations
Short-term rentals are legal and permitted in Columbus, GA under Chapter 4, Article 9 of the Unified Development Ordinance. Every STR unit requires its own Short-Term Rental Permit from the Inspections and Code Department. The annual permit fee is $75 for a primary residence or $150 for a non-primary residence, plus a $40 non-refundable application fee. Background checks at $20 per person are required for the owner, applicant, and the designated 24/7 local contact, with denials for felony convictions within the past 10 years or certain misdemeanors within the past 5 years.
Operators must carry a minimum of $500,000 in liability insurance and must post the permit and local contact information visibly inside the unit. Occupancy is capped at two guests per bedroom plus one additional guest. There is no owner-occupancy requirement, no primary-residence restriction, and no cap on annual rental nights, making Columbus relatively open to investment-property STRs. Properties in local historic districts face additional restrictions for non-owner-occupied units.
On the tax side, Columbus imposes an 8% local hotel-motel excise tax plus the $5 per night Georgia State Hotel-Motel Fee and applicable state and local sales taxes (state rate 4%). The combined effective tax burden can reach the mid-to-high teens percentage. Enforcement is rated moderate. Non-compliance is a criminal offense under city code. The dedicated STR ordinance has been in place without major changes in the past 24 months; operators should verify current fee schedules with the Inspections and Code Department before applying.
Market Comparison
Columbus, GA’s 50.4% average occupancy sits below the US STR median of approximately 55%, reflecting the market’s secondary-city status and the current YoY softness. However, the market’s ADR of $174.73 is 21% below the national median of roughly $220, which is partly offset by the significantly lower entry cost: Columbus home values at $175,194 are 40-50% below national averages, creating a better gross-yield profile than most higher-occupancy markets.
Among the top operators, Evolve leads Columbus with 315 listings and 10,767 reviews at a 4.66 average rating, representing roughly 3.3% of total market inventory. Evolve’s footprint confirms this is an institutionally recognized market. Second-ranked operator Orlando manages 94 listings with 4,398 reviews at 4.70 stars, a strong rating. Patriot Family Homes, at rank three with 70 listings, is notable for its military-housing specialization consistent with Fort Moore demand. Pine Mountain Chalet (51 listings, 4.13 stars) and River Town Rentals (46 listings, 4.70 stars) round out the top five. The top five operators collectively hold approximately 576 listings, representing about 6.1% of inventory, indicating a fragmented market where independent operators remain competitive.
Frequently Asked Questions About Columbus, Georgia
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