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 in the San Luis Obispo market area is 60%. average monthly revenue in the San Luis Obispo market area is $6,949. average daily rate in the San Luis Obispo market area is $438. the top operator in the San Luis Obispo market area 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 StaySTRA 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 |
|---|---|
| Jan | 38% |
| Feb | 47% |
| Mar | 50% |
| Apr | 54% |
| May | 52% |
| Jun | 61% |
| Jul | 68% |
| Aug | 60% |
| Sep | 53% |
| Oct | 52% |
| Nov | 51% |
| Dec | 46% |
Month-by-month nightly rates and revenue figures for Cambria are available to StaySTRA Pro members. Unlock with StaySTRA Pro or analyze a specific address free.
Top Short-Term Rental Operators in San Luis Obispo market area
Ranked by total active listings. Useful for understanding the competitive landscape. Operator data is published for the San Luis Obispo market as a whole, which includes Cambria, so these counts are not Cambria-only figures.
| # | 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 nightly-rate breakdowns by bedroom count, property tier, and dwelling type for Cambria 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 | 40.5% |
| vrbo | 7.6% |
| both | 51.9% |
Home Value Trends (Cambria)
Typical home values, median sale prices, and the 10-year price trend for Cambria 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 Cambria — 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 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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