San Diego, California Short-Term Rental Market
San Diego caps whole-home licenses; county-area STRs earned $7,154 a month at $361 and 69.8% occupancy in August 2026.
Quick Answer: San Diego, California is an active short-term rental market. average occupancy in the San Diego market area is 63%. average monthly revenue in the San Diego market area is $5,181. average daily rate in the San Diego market area is $303. the top operator in the San Diego market area is Evolve with 266 listings. market score is 65/100 (grade C).
Market data reflects the wider San Diego market, which covers 22 areas. Regulations, taxes, and permit details below are specific to San Diego.
Market Score Breakdown
Five dimensions StaySTRA evaluates per market.
Market Overview
San Diego shares one data series with other San Diego County towns, so the performance figures below describe the San Diego County area STR market, not the city alone. In August 2026, the latest month on file, the average daily rate (ADR) was $361 and occupancy was 69.8%. Average monthly revenue per listing was $7,154. Against August 2025, occupancy was up 4.7%, ADR was up 2.4%, and revenue was up 6.8%. Entire-place stays earned more than the all-listing average. The entire-home ADR was $388, and houses averaged $8,041 a month against $5,991 for apartments.
The city has 1,389,526 residents and drew 32 million visitors in fiscal year 2024, according to the area profile. Leisure travel made up 85% of visits, and the average visitor stay was close to 4 nights. In the STR series, the average length of stay is 4.95 nights and guests book 57.5 days ahead. July is the busiest month for visitors, with about 4 million arrivals.
Listing counts, bedroom mix, channel mix, and listing-type mix are tracked at a shared regional level rather than uniquely for San Diego, so this profile omits them. The same applies to the top operator table.
Over the long run the county-area market has moved up. Average occupancy was 55.3% in 2017 and 62.8% in 2025. ADR rose from $192 to $305 over the same years. Average monthly revenue per listing rose from $2,805 to $5,258. The 2026 figures cover January through August only. They average 68.7% occupancy at a $323 ADR, and the eight months include the summer peak.
Seasonal Patterns
| Month | Occupancy |
|---|---|
| Jan | 56% |
| Feb | 65% |
| Mar | 69% |
| Apr | 62% |
| May | 64% |
| Jun | 74% |
| Jul | 77% |
| Aug | 68% |
| Sep | 61% |
| Oct | 61% |
| Nov | 58% |
| Dec | 57% |
Month-by-month nightly rates and revenue figures for San Diego are available to StaySTRA Pro members. Unlock with StaySTRA Pro or analyze a specific address free.
Top Short-Term Rental Operators in San Diego market area
Ranked by total active listings. Useful for understanding the competitive landscape. Operator data is published for the San Diego market as a whole, which includes San Diego, so these counts are not San Diego-only figures.
| # | Operator | Listings | Reviews | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Evolve | 266 | 10,486 | ★ 4.73 |
| 2 | Surf Style Vacation Homes | 225 | 10,113 | ★ 4.77 |
| 3 | Vacasa | 179 | 8,447 | ★ 4.62 |
| 4 | Nxt Vacation Rental Management | 165 | 3,059 | ★ 4.90 |
| 5 | San Diego Rentals | 162 | 153 | ★ 4.40 |
What Kind of STR Should I Buy in San Diego?
Revenue and nightly-rate breakdowns by bedroom count, property tier, and dwelling type for San Diego 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 | 49.4% |
| vrbo | 6.2% |
| both | 44.3% |
Home Value Trends (San Diego)
Typical home values, median sale prices, and the 10-year price trend for San Diego 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 San Diego — 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
San Diego allows short-term rentals but requires a Short-Term Residential Occupancy (STRO) license for any stay under 30 days. The rule took effect in May 2023, and the profile rates enforcement as strict. The license has four tiers.
Tier 1 covers part-time hosting up to 20 nights a year and costs $226 for two years. Tier 2 covers home-sharing with the host on site for 20 or more nights and costs $317 for two years. The host may be away up to 90 days a year. Tier 3 covers whole-home rentals outside Mission Beach and costs $1,170 for two years. Tier 4 covers whole-home rentals in Mission Beach and also costs $1,170 for two years. Tier 3 does not require owner occupancy.
Each host may hold one license, and licenses cannot be transferred. Tier 3 and Tier 4 require a minimum 2-night stay and at least 90 rented nights a year. Tier 3 is capped at 1% of city housing units, about 6,592. About 5,800 were issued as of late 2025. Tier 4 is capped at 30% of neighborhood housing units, and its waitlist is closed.
Since May 1, 2025, Measure C sets transient occupancy tax by zone at 11.75%, 12.75%, or 13.75%, based on distance from the Convention Center. It replaced a flat 10.5% rate. Airbnb and VRBO collect the tax for hosts. The city’s BLUE enforcement team cross-references platform listings with license records. Penalties include fines and license revocation. The profile confirms no major rule change for 2026, so check current rules with the city before buying.
Market Comparison
This guide uses US STR figures of about 55% occupancy and a $220 ADR as a benchmark. In August 2026 the San Diego County area STR market ran well ahead of both, at 69.8% occupancy and a $361 ADR. ADR was about 64% above the benchmark, and occupancy was about 15 points higher. July averages 77.0% occupancy, which widens the gap in summer. January averages 55.5%, close to the benchmark.
The area profile reports that city hotel occupancy averaged 73% in fiscal year 2024, ahead of Los Angeles, Orange County, and San Francisco. The 2025 annual average STR occupancy in the county-area series was 62.8%, below that hotel figure.
The top operator table is tracked at a shared regional level rather than uniquely for San Diego, so this profile omits it. Operator shares drawn from that table would not describe the city itself. Investors who want city-only operator data should review license holders directly with the city.
Frequently Asked Questions About San Diego, California
How much do Airbnb hosts earn in San Diego?
Do I need a license to run a short-term rental in San Diego?
Are whole-home STR licenses still available in San Diego?
What are the best months for San Diego STRs?
What occupancy tax do San Diego STR hosts pay?
How does San Diego compare to the US STR average?
How far ahead do guests book, and how long do they stay?
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