Moscow, Idaho Short-Term Rental Market
Moscow, ID STRs averaged $167/night at 40.2% occupancy in April 2026, with summer peaks reaching 67.7% occupancy and $251 ADR.
Quick Answer: Moscow, Idaho is an active short-term rental market. average occupancy in the Idaho Area market area is 57%. average monthly revenue in the Idaho Area market area is $4,751. average daily rate in the Idaho Area market area is $294. the top operator in the Idaho Area market area is Vacasa with 240 listings. market score is 50/100 (grade D).
Market data reflects the Idaho Area regional market, which includes Moscow. Regulations, taxes, and permit details below are specific to Moscow.
Market Score Breakdown
Five dimensions StaySTRA evaluates per market.
Market Overview
Moscow, Idaho is a university and outdoor recreation market with approximately 6,847 active listings, anchored by the University of Idaho and the Palouse region’s summer outdoor draw. In April 2026, the market averaged $167.15 per night at 40.2% occupancy, producing a RevPAR of $67.26 and average monthly revenue of $1,907. April is among the weaker months in the annual cycle due to the end of the academic year and the onset of spring.
Year-over-year for April 2026, all three core metrics improved: occupancy rose 9.5%, ADR rose 5.4%, and monthly revenue climbed 7.7%. This is a positive reversal from the 2022-2024 occupancy softness, when annual average occupancy declined from 51.8% to 47.9%.
Entire-place listings dominate at 6,529 (95% of total), with 317 private rooms and just 1 shared room. Bedroom distribution: 1-bedroom leads at 2,071, followed by 3-bedroom (1,760), 2-bedroom (1,568), 4-bedroom (846), and 5-plus-bedroom (591). Cross-listed properties are the largest channel segment at 3,450 (listed on both Airbnb and VRBO), followed by Airbnb-only (2,948) and VRBO-only (449).
The overall market score is 49.87 out of 100, with investability at 68.45, rental demand at 66.23, and regulation at 66.33. Revenue growth scores 62.85, reflecting the positive recent trend.
Seasonal Patterns
| Month | Occupancy |
|---|---|
| Jan | 41% |
| Feb | 48% |
| Mar | 41% |
| Apr | 39% |
| May | 48% |
| Jun | 61% |
| Jul | 68% |
| Aug | 60% |
| Sep | 46% |
| Oct | 42% |
| Nov | 41% |
| Dec | 46% |
Month-by-month nightly rates and revenue figures for Moscow are available to StaySTRA Pro members. Unlock with StaySTRA Pro or analyze a specific address free.
Top Short-Term Rental Operators in Idaho Area market area
Ranked by total active listings. Useful for understanding the competitive landscape. Operator data is published for the Idaho Area market as a whole, which includes Moscow, so these counts are not Moscow-only figures.
| # | Operator | Listings | Reviews | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Vacasa | 240 | 14,816 | ★ 4.59 |
| 2 | Evolve | 199 | 8,726 | ★ 4.76 |
| 3 | Tamarack Resort | 153 | 120 | ★ 4.63 |
| 4 | Done Right Management | 149 | 3,553 | ★ 4.82 |
| 5 | FrostCabins | 117 | 7,347 | ★ 4.78 |
What Kind of STR Should I Buy in Moscow?
Revenue and nightly-rate breakdowns by bedroom count, property tier, and dwelling type for Moscow 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 | 43.1% |
| vrbo | 6.6% |
| both | 50.4% |
Home Value Trends (Moscow)
Typical home values, median sale prices, and the 10-year price trend for Moscow 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 Moscow — 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
Moscow, Idaho imposes no city-level STR permit, license, or registration requirement. Idaho Code Section 67-6539, significantly strengthened by House Bill 583 (signed March 16, 2026, effective July 1, 2026), prohibits local governments from requiring any STR-specific permit, fee, certification, or registration. The law also bars owner-occupancy requirements, night caps, density caps, and STR-specific parking or insurance mandates.
STRs are classified as a nontransient residential use for zoning purposes statewide, meaning they must be treated identically to long-term residential occupancy in all zoning districts that permit residential use. Cities retain authority only to enforce health and safety standards applied equally to all residential properties: smoke alarms, fire extinguishers, carbon monoxide detectors, and occupancy limits per state building codes.
Tax obligations: operators must collect and remit Idaho state sales tax at 6% plus Idaho Travel and Convention Tax at 2%, for a combined state rate of 8% on stays of 30 days or fewer. Latah County and the City of Moscow do not impose a local option lodging tax beyond the state-combined rate. Airbnb and VRBO are responsible for collecting and remitting these taxes on facilitated bookings under Idaho law, reducing the operator’s tax compliance burden.
No owner-occupancy, primary-residence requirement, or night cap applies. Enforcement severity is rated minimal.
Market Comparison
Against national STR benchmarks, Moscow’s 40.2% occupancy in April is below the US median of approximately 55%. At peak summer occupancy of 67.7% in July, the market significantly exceeds the national median. The April ADR of $167.15 is below the national median of roughly $220.
Within Idaho, Moscow differs fundamentally from the Sawtooth Mountains/Hailey market: Moscow is a university-town market with lower ADR and entry cost, while Hailey is a luxury resort market with $906,000 typical home values and $327 ADR. Moscow’s investability score of 68.45 is lower than Hailey’s 54.83 (in absolute terms Moscow scores higher despite a lower total market score), reflecting a more accessible entry point.
Among professional operators, Vacasa leads with 240 listings and 14,816 reviews at a 4.59 average rating, the highest review volume of any operator in this market. Evolve manages 199 properties with 8,726 reviews at 4.76. Tamarack Resort operates 153 listings, likely reflecting the Tamarack Mountain Resort’s lodging inventory near the market area. Done Right Management operates 149 listings with 3,553 reviews at 4.82. The top four operators together manage approximately 741 listings, or about 10.8% of total market supply, a moderate professional concentration for a market of this size.
Frequently Asked Questions About Moscow, Idaho
What is the average daily rate for Airbnb rentals in Moscow, Idaho?
When is the strongest season for short-term rentals in Moscow, ID?
Does Moscow, Idaho require a permit to operate a short-term rental?
What taxes do Moscow, ID short-term rental hosts owe?
What is the gross investment yield for an STR in Moscow, Idaho?
How fast-moving is the Moscow, ID real estate market for buyers?
How professionally managed is the Moscow, Idaho STR market?
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