Tucson, Arizona Short-Term Rental Market
Tucson STRs averaged $132 a night at 57.5% occupancy, earning $2,087 in August 2026.
Quick Answer: Tucson, Arizona is an active short-term rental market. average occupancy in the Tucson market area is 53%. average monthly revenue in the Tucson market area is $1,834. average daily rate in the Tucson market area is $130. the top operator in the Tucson market area is Vacasa with 308 listings. market score is 51/100 (grade D).
Market data reflects the wider Tucson market, which covers 5 areas. Regulations, taxes, and permit details below are specific to Tucson.
Market Score Breakdown
Five dimensions StaySTRA evaluates per market.
Market Overview
Tucson, Arizona has 554,011 residents and sits between two units of Saguaro National Park, which recorded 946,000 visits in 2024. In August 2026 Tucson short-term rentals averaged an average daily rate (ADR) of $132 at 57.5% occupancy. Average revenue was $2,087 for the month. Compared with August 2025, occupancy rose 2.78%, ADR rose 5.64%, and revenue rose 4.23%. Occupancy is a percent, so 57.5% means 57.5 of every 100 available nights were booked. Summer is the soft season here. The all-history August average is 61.70% occupancy and a $109 ADR, so August 2026 ran ahead on rate. Over calendar year 2025 the market averaged 60.14% occupancy, a $154 ADR, and $2,587 in monthly revenue. From January through August 2026 it averages 61.71% occupancy, a $160 ADR, and $2,775 in monthly revenue. Occupancy peaked at 73.12% in 2021 and has eased each year since, while ADR climbed from $97 in 2017 to $154 in 2025. Demand comes from outdoor recreation, desert landscape, and cultural tourism. Tucson holds the UNESCO City of Gastronomy designation, and the Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum and the University of Arizona add visitor traffic. Pima County visitor spending reached about $2.75 billion in the 2022-23 fiscal year, and 71% of overnight visitors were non-residents. Listing-type mix, bedroom mix, and channel split are tracked at a shared regional level rather than uniquely for Tucson, so this profile omits them. Annual occupancy fell from 73.12% in 2021 to 60.14% in 2025, a drop of 13.0 points. Annual monthly revenue held between $2,411 and $2,587 from 2022 through 2025, because rate gains offset the lower occupancy.
Seasonal Patterns
| Month | Occupancy |
|---|---|
| Jan | 71% |
| Feb | 81% |
| Mar | 77% |
| Apr | 60% |
| May | 54% |
| Jun | 54% |
| Jul | 62% |
| Aug | 62% |
| Sep | 57% |
| Oct | 61% |
| Nov | 64% |
| Dec | 62% |
Month-by-month nightly rates and revenue figures for Tucson are available to StaySTRA Pro members. Unlock with StaySTRA Pro or analyze a specific address free.
Top Short-Term Rental Operators in Tucson market area
Ranked by total active listings. Useful for understanding the competitive landscape. Operator data is published for the Tucson market as a whole, which includes Tucson, so these counts are not Tucson-only figures.
| # | Operator | Listings | Reviews | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Vacasa | 308 | 7,526 | ★ 4.62 |
| 2 | Evolve | 218 | 6,689 | ★ 4.73 |
| 3 | AZ Roots Management | 91 | 4,902 | ★ 4.91 |
| 4 | Barrio Rentals | 85 | 5,349 | ★ 4.83 |
| 5 | Fig & Toast LLC | 81 | 5,087 | ★ 4.86 |
What Kind of STR Should I Buy in Tucson?
Revenue and nightly-rate breakdowns by bedroom count, property tier, and dwelling type for Tucson 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 | 48.3% |
| vrbo | 9.1% |
| both | 42.6% |
Home Value Trends (Tucson)
Typical home values, median sale prices, and the 10-year price trend for Tucson 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 Tucson — 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
Tucson is a permissive STR market. Arizona Revised Statutes 9-500.39 bars Tucson and all Arizona cities from banning STRs or restricting them by classification, use, or occupancy. Cities may regulate only for public health and safety. Operators need two licenses, a City of Tucson General Business License and an Arizona Department of Revenue Transaction Privilege Tax license. The city license costs $95 to start, a $25 application fee plus a $70 annual renewal, and it renews annually. There is no owner-occupancy or primary-residence requirement, and no cap on rental nights per year. No Pima County permit is required inside city limits. Taxes changed on March 1, 2026 under Ordinance 12215. The combined lodging tax is now 16.05%, made up of 5.5% state TPT, 0.55% Pima County transportation excise tax, and a 10% city occupational license tax. The city rate was 6% before, and the combined rate was about 12.05%. The separate 6.1% Pima County lodging tax applies only to unincorporated areas, not to Tucson city limits. Enforcement is rated minimal, and the city has no STR-specific inspection, insurance, or neighbor notification ordinance. Hotel tax also changed under Ordinance 12218, which raised the hotel rate from 6% to 9% and removed the $4 per night bed surtax. That change does not apply to STRs. Check the city site for the current license form before listing.
Market Comparison
Against the US benchmarks of about 55% occupancy and a $220 ADR, Tucson earns its position through occupancy rather than rate. August 2026 occupancy of 57.5% is 2.5 points above 55%. August ADR of $132 is 40% below $220. Calendar year 2025 shows the same pattern. Occupancy of 60.14% was 5.1 points above the benchmark, and the $154 ADR was 30% below it. The yield estimate of about 9.6% rests on a typical home value of $321,918. Top property manager data is tracked at a shared regional level rather than uniquely for Tucson, so this profile omits operator names and shares. A buyer should check local operator density on the Tucson listing pages before assuming a market share. In 2021 the market ran at 73.12% occupancy, 18.1 points above the benchmark. By 2025 that lead had narrowed to 5.1 points, while ADR growth held revenue steady. Because Tucson ADR sits well below the national figure, results depend on keeping occupancy high rather than on premium nightly rates.
Frequently Asked Questions About Tucson, Arizona
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