Cathedral City, California Short-Term Rental Market
Cathedral City limits new rentals, and Coachella Valley hit $379 ADR, 37.7% occupancy and $3,643 monthly revenue in September 2026.
Quick Answer: Cathedral City, California is an active short-term rental market. average occupancy in the Coachella Valley market area is 38%. average monthly revenue in the Coachella Valley market area is $3,643. average daily rate in the Coachella Valley market area is $379. the top operator in the Coachella Valley market area is Vacasa with 593 listings. market score is 44/100 (grade D).
Market data reflects the Coachella Valley regional market, which includes Cathedral City. Regulations, taxes, and permit details below are specific to Cathedral City.
Market Score Breakdown
Five dimensions StaySTRA evaluates per market.
Market Overview
Performance figures on this page describe the Coachella Valley STR market, which includes Cathedral City. Cathedral City itself has a population of 52,517 and sits roughly 10 miles from Palm Springs in the Greater Palm Springs resort corridor. In September 2026, the Coachella Valley STR market averaged an ADR of $379, occupancy of 37.7% and monthly revenue of $3,643 per listing. September is a shoulder month, and it sits well below the 2026 year-to-date averages of 50.1% occupancy and a $440 ADR. Year over year, September occupancy rose 11.2% and ADR rose 5.3%, while revenue per listing was nearly flat, down 0.2%. Entire-place listings earned $3,697 in September, houses earned $4,264 and apartments earned $1,780. Demand follows the snowbird calendar. Cathedral City has an estimated 17,000 seasonal residents who swell the population from November through April, and visitors skew toward leisure travelers drawn to desert golf, arts and culture, LGBTQ+ travel and casino gaming. Local draws include the Downtown Arts & Entertainment District, the Agua Caliente Casino, Cimarron Golf Resort, the November Hot Air Balloon Festival and spring LGBT Days. No city-specific annual visitor count is published. Bedroom, channel and listing-type counts and top operator names are tracked at a shared regional level rather than uniquely for Cathedral City, so this profile omits it. Over the long run the market moved from 36.1% occupancy and a $324 ADR in 2017 to 50.1% occupancy and a $440 ADR in 2026 year to date, with average monthly revenue per listing rising from $2,936 to $5,937. Read every number here alongside the city’s strict permit rules, covered in the regulatory section.
Seasonal Patterns
| Month | Occupancy |
|---|---|
| Jan | 56% |
| Feb | 70% |
| Mar | 72% |
| Apr | 57% |
| May | 39% |
| Jun | 45% |
| Jul | 47% |
| Aug | 44% |
| Sep | 40% |
| Oct | 46% |
| Nov | 55% |
| Dec | 49% |
Month-by-month nightly rates and revenue figures for Cathedral City are available to StaySTRA Pro members. Unlock with StaySTRA Pro or analyze a specific address free.
Top Short-Term Rental Operators in Coachella Valley market area
Ranked by total active listings. Useful for understanding the competitive landscape. Operator data is published for the Coachella Valley market as a whole, which includes Cathedral City, so these counts are not Cathedral City-only figures.
| # | Operator | Listings | Reviews | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Vacasa | 593 | 14,029 | ★ 4.49 |
| 2 | Evolve | 340 | 9,820 | ★ 4.71 |
| 3 | AvantStay | 252 | 5,366 | ★ 4.80 |
| 4 | Acme House | 188 | 6,138 | ★ 4.78 |
| 5 | Park Royal Indian Palms Intervals | 170 | 0 | ★ 0.00 |
What Kind of STR Should I Buy in Cathedral City?
Revenue and nightly-rate breakdowns by bedroom count, property tier, and dwelling type for Cathedral City 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 | 31.6% |
| vrbo | 12.3% |
| both | 56.1% |
Home Value Trends (Cathedral City)
Typical home values, median sale prices, and the 10-year price trend for Cathedral City 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 Cathedral City — 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
Cathedral City restricts short-term vacation rentals, and enforcement is rated strict. Short-term rentals are permitted, but a Short-Term Vacation Rental (STVR) permit is required and must be renewed annually. New permits are limited to Home Shares or units in HOA or common-interest developments in the Resort Residential (RR) zone. STVRs are prohibited in standard residential zones (R-1/R-2). Under the February 9, 2022 urgency ordinance, new whole-home STVR permits are issued only for units within common-interest developments whose CC&Rs allow STVRs. The only by-right option in ordinary residential neighborhoods is a Home Share, which requires the property to be the owner’s primary residence with an owner occupying the dwelling during the rental. All previously issued whole-home residential permits terminated on January 1, 2023, completing the phase-out begun under Ordinance 842 (effective October 9, 2020). Reported permit fees vary by source: roughly $525 plus a $78 inspection for a Home Share and roughly $1,950 plus a $78 inspection for a standard STVR. Permits require a Health & Safety inspection and proof of $500,000 per occurrence commercial liability insurance, and the permit number must appear in the first line of every listing. Operators collect a 12% Transient Occupancy Tax on stays of 30 days or less, plus a 1% Tourism Business Improvement District assessment on stays under 28 days. Renewals are blocked for unresolved liens, code cases, fines or fees. For investors, buying a typical R-1/R-2 home only to run it as a non-owner-occupied rental is not permitted. Confirm current rules with the city before buying.
Market Comparison
The Coachella Valley STR market shows a split profile of modest occupancy and strong rates. In September 2026 occupancy was 37.7% and ADR was $379. Using 2026 year-to-date averages, occupancy is 50.1% and ADR is $440. March occupancy reaches 72.2%, while May falls to 38.8%. Average monthly revenue per listing of $3,643 in September and $5,937 year to date reflects that high-rate model. The strength comes with a trade-off: results depend heavily on the winter and spring season, and Cathedral City’s own permit rules limit how many new whole-home operators can enter. Bedroom, channel and listing-type counts and top operator names are tracked at a shared regional level rather than uniquely for Cathedral City, so this profile omits them.
Frequently Asked Questions About Cathedral City, California
What is the average Airbnb rate in Cathedral City?
What is the occupancy rate for short-term rentals in Cathedral City?
Can I buy a home in Cathedral City and rent it on Airbnb?
How much does a Cathedral City STR permit cost?
What taxes apply to short-term rentals in Cathedral City?
What are the best and worst months for Cathedral City rentals?
What does a typical home cost in Cathedral City?
Analyze Cathedral City Rentals
Use our free calculator to estimate Airbnb revenue for any property in Cathedral City.
Free Cathedral City STR Calculator →
