Mesa, Arizona Short-Term Rental Market
Mesa sits in a Phoenix metro STR market averaging $189 ADR, 57.9% occupancy, $2,841 monthly revenue in September 2026.
Quick Answer: Mesa, Arizona is an active short-term rental market. average occupancy in the Phoenix/Scottsdale market area is 58%. average monthly revenue in the Phoenix/Scottsdale market area is $2,841. average daily rate in the Phoenix/Scottsdale market area is $189. the top operator in the Phoenix/Scottsdale market area is Evolve with 981 listings. market score is 50/100 (grade D).
Market data reflects the Phoenix/Scottsdale regional market, which includes Mesa. Regulations, taxes, and permit details below are specific to Mesa.
Market Score Breakdown
Five dimensions StaySTRA evaluates per market.
Market Overview
Mesa, Arizona is part of the Phoenix metro short-term rental market, and every performance figure on this page describes that metro area. As of September 2026, the Phoenix metro STR market averaged an average daily rate (ADR) of $189, occupancy of 57.9%, and monthly revenue of $2,841 per listing. Compared with September 2025, occupancy rose 3.6%, ADR rose 4.6%, and revenue rose a smaller 2.1%.
Over the longer record, annual average occupancy climbed from 52.0% in 2017 to a peak of 68.7% in 2021, then settled between 61.4% and 63.3% from 2023 through the first nine months of 2026. ADR moved from $137 in 2017 to $226 in 2025, and the 2026 year to date figure is $232. Average monthly revenue reached $3,924 in 2025 and $4,093 for 2026 through September. Those annual figures sit above the September reading because winter and spring months carry the strongest rates and occupancy.
Mesa itself draws about 4.4 million visitors in its most recent reported year, with a $1.2 billion economic impact and $749 million in direct visitor spending. The top reasons for overnight trips are visiting friends or relatives (51%), sightseeing (10%), and special events (8%). In-state Arizonans make up 28% of domestic visitors, followed by California at 15%, Texas at 6%, Colorado at 4% and Illinois at 4%. Cactus League spring training, with the Chicago Cubs and the Athletics based in Mesa, adds a concentrated late winter surge, and the Sonoran Desert trails around Usery Mountain draw outdoor visitors.
Bedroom, booking channel, and listing-type counts are tracked at a shared regional level rather than uniquely for Mesa, so this profile omits them.
Seasonal Patterns
| Month | Occupancy |
|---|---|
| Jan | 65% |
| Feb | 74% |
| Mar | 76% |
| Apr | 57% |
| May | 56% |
| Jun | 58% |
| Jul | 60% |
| Aug | 59% |
| Sep | 59% |
| Oct | 63% |
| Nov | 63% |
| Dec | 58% |
Month-by-month nightly rates and revenue figures for Mesa are available to StaySTRA Pro members. Unlock with StaySTRA Pro or analyze a specific address free.
Top Short-Term Rental Operators in Phoenix/Scottsdale market area
Ranked by total active listings. Useful for understanding the competitive landscape. Operator data is published for the Phoenix/Scottsdale market as a whole, which includes Mesa, so these counts are not Mesa-only figures.
| # | Operator | Listings | Reviews | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Evolve | 981 | 34,553 | ★ 4.74 |
| 2 | Vacasa | 505 | 9,989 | ★ 4.56 |
| 3 | CozySuites | 332 | 4,498 | ★ 4.00 |
| 4 | Zona Multifamily | 297 | 1,788 | ★ 2.67 |
| 5 | Park Royal | 229 | 17 | ★ 4.65 |
What Kind of STR Should I Buy in Mesa?
Revenue and nightly-rate breakdowns by bedroom count, property tier, and dwelling type for Mesa are available to StaySTRA Pro members. Unlock with StaySTRA Pro or analyze a specific address free.
Booking Channel Mix
Distribution of bookings across major STR platforms.
| Channel | Share |
|---|---|
| airbnb | 42.9% |
| vrbo | 9.2% |
| both | 47.9% |
Home Value Trends (Mesa)
Typical home values, median sale prices, and the 10-year price trend for Mesa are available to StaySTRA Pro members. Unlock with StaySTRA Pro or analyze a specific address free.
Booking Insights
Booking-window and length-of-stay analysis for Mesa — how far ahead guests book and how to price around it — is available to StaySTRA Pro members. Unlock with StaySTRA Pro or analyze a specific address free.
Short-Term Rental Regulations
Short-term rentals (stays under 30 days) are legal in Mesa, and Arizona law (A.R.S. 9-500.39) prevents the city from banning them or confining them to specific zones. Mesa regulates through licensing instead. Since the ordinance took effect February 1, 2023, owners must hold a City of Mesa Short-Term Rental License under Mesa City Code Title 5, Chapter 15. The license costs $250 per unit, must be held by the property owner, and renews annually.
Owners also need an Arizona TPT license and a Maricopa County registration, must provide a local emergency contact reachable 24/7, and must notify adjacent neighbors that the property will operate as a short-term rental. There is no owner-occupancy requirement, no primary-residence requirement, and no annual night cap. Properties on unincorporated county islands fall outside Mesa’s licensing and are governed by Maricopa County.
Lodging tax on stays under 30 days is about 14.27%, combining state TPT, Maricopa County, and Mesa transient lodging tax. Airbnb and VRBO generally collect and remit it. Since January 1, 2025, owners no longer collect city TPT on stays of 30 days or longer.
State civil penalties for verified violations within 12 months escalate to up to $500 for the first, $1,000 for the second, and $3,500 for the third and later violations, or one, two or three nights of advertised rent, whichever is greater. Mesa also charges monthly penalties for operating without a license: $250, $500, $750 and $900 per month. Enforcement is rated moderate, and mid-2025 reporting indicated most active listings still lacked the license, so compliance conditions can change. These rules apply to Mesa only; neighboring towns set their own.
Market Comparison
The Phoenix metro STR market that includes Mesa shows 57.9% occupancy and a $189 ADR in September 2026.
The longer view is stronger. The 2026 year to date ADR is $232 and year to date occupancy is 63.3%. The September numbers are lower because summer is the off season for this desert market, while winter and spring months such as March (76.3% occupancy, $274 ADR) run well above them.
Growth is positive. Occupancy is up 3.6%, ADR up 4.6%, and revenue up 2.1% from September 2025. Operator rankings are tracked at a shared regional level rather than uniquely for Mesa, so this profile omits the top operator names. Investors should compare Mesa listings against this metro baseline, then adjust for neighborhood, property type and licensing costs.
Frequently Asked Questions About Mesa, Arizona
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