Cambria, California Short-Term Rental Market
Cambria's San Luis Obispo County STR market posted $381 ADR, 51.0% occupancy and $5,263 monthly revenue in September 2026.
Quick Answer: Cambria, California is an active short-term rental market. average occupancy in the San Luis Obispo market area is 51%. average monthly revenue in the San Luis Obispo market area is $5,263. average daily rate in the San Luis Obispo market area is $381. 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
This profile covers the San Luis Obispo County STR market around Cambria, using data through September 2026. The performance figures below are tracked as a shared county-level series, so they describe the San Luis Obispo County STR market rather than Cambria alone. In September 2026 the average daily rate was $381, occupancy was 51.0%, and average monthly revenue was $5,263. Entire homes averaged $396 per night. Year over year, occupancy rose 9.3%, ADR rose 5.7% and revenue rose 12.8%, so growth came from both more booked nights and higher rates.
Houses led on revenue at $5,671 per month in September 2026, followed by entire places at $5,470 and apartments at $4,242. The longer record shows how the market has settled. Occupancy peaked at 64.9% in 2021, fell to 50.6% in 2024, and has recovered to 53.2% across the first nine months of 2026. ADR climbed from $311 in 2021 to $371 in 2026 year to date, and average monthly revenue for 2026 year to date is $5,422, above the $4,943 recorded for full-year 2025.
Listing counts by bedroom, channel and listing type are tracked at a shared regional level rather than uniquely for Cambria, so this profile omits them. Visitor demand is anchored by the county as a whole. San Luis Obispo County recorded 7.7 million visitors in 2025, a record high and 3.5% growth over the prior year, with direct travel spending of $2.37 billion. Central Coast wine country and coastal towns sit within a short drive of the main population centers. Investors should read these figures as a county benchmark and confirm Cambria-specific pricing with local comparable listings before underwriting a purchase.
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
Rules differ across the San Luis Obispo County region, so confirm the jurisdiction of any specific property. Cambria sits in unincorporated San Luis Obispo County, where the profile notes that traditional vacation rentals of entire homes are allowed. Operators need a county business license, which costs $44 to $50 annually, and land use authorization from County Planning and Building. Guests are charged 9% transient occupancy tax plus a 1.5% tourism marketing district assessment. Coastal zones face additional restrictions, so a coastal property should be checked with the county before purchase.
One other jurisdiction in this data region is much stricter. The City of San Luis Obispo allows only owner-occupied homestay rentals, and non-owner-occupied vacation rentals are prohibited citywide. The Homestay Permit requires proof of owner-occupancy, renews annually, and the business license and TOT certificate together cost about $126.89. Maximum occupancy is four adult overnight guests, and the combined tax rate is 13%. The city uses HdL Companies and Host Compliance Services for proactive enforcement, and violations are grounds for permit revocation. Enforcement severity is rated moderate. That city rule does not apply to unincorporated Cambria, but it affects how the regional numbers should be read.
No significant city ordinance changes were identified in 2024 and 2025. The county updated its tourism marketing district assessment to 1.5% effective January 2024. Verify current rules with the county before buying or listing.
Market Comparison
The San Luis Obispo County STR market is a rate-driven market. September 2026 occupancy of 51.0% is moderate, while ADR of $381 is high, and professionally managed listings at $505 and luxury listings at $702 stretch rates further. Average monthly revenue of $5,263 reflects that rate premium more than it reflects high occupancy.
The direction of travel is favorable. Occupancy is up 9.3% year over year and ADR is up 5.7%, which means the market is gaining bookings while pushing rates higher. Occupancy of 53.2% for 2026 year to date is above the 50.6% recorded in 2024.
Top operators are tracked at a shared regional level rather than uniquely for Cambria, so this profile omits them. Investors should note that high rates come with high entry costs, with a typical home value of $1,020,563, and with a strong summer and weak winter pattern that is more pronounced than a steady year-round market.
Frequently Asked Questions About Cambria, California
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