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 is 40%. average monthly revenue is $1,907. average daily rate is $167. the top operator is Vacasa with 240 listings. market score is 50/100 (grade D).
Market Score Breakdown
Five dimensions Apivex 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 | ADR | Revenue |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 41% | $211 | $2,383 |
| Feb | 48% | $218 | $2,603 |
| Mar | 41% | $179 | $2,143 |
| Apr | 39% | $151 | $1,655 |
| May | 48% | $162 | $1,815 |
| Jun | 61% | $220 | $3,181 |
| Jul | 68% | $251 | $4,441 |
| Aug | 60% | $239 | $3,897 |
| Sep | 46% | $190 | $2,375 |
| Oct | 42% | $161 | $1,921 |
| Nov | 41% | $161 | $1,706 |
| Dec | 46% | $208 | $2,295 |
Top Short-Term Rental Operators in Moscow
Ranked by total active listings. Useful for understanding the competitive landscape.
| # | 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 pricing by property type, tier, and bedroom count.
Revenue by Bedroom Count
| 1 bed | 2,071 |
| 2 bed | 1,568 |
| 3 bed | 1,760 |
| 4 bed | 846 |
| 5 bed | 591 |
ADR by Property Tier
| Entire Home | $171 |
| Luxury | $369 |
| Professionally Managed | $240 |
Revenue by Dwelling Type
| Apartment | $1,533 |
| Entire Place | $1,949 |
| House | $2,087 |
Booking Channel Mix
Distribution of bookings across major STR platforms.
| Channel | Share |
|---|---|
| airbnb | 43.1% |
| vrbo | 6.6% |
| both | 50.4% |
Investment Analysis
Moscow’s investment profile is shaped by its university-town demand base and Idaho’s permissive STR regulatory environment. The typical home value is $482,427 and the median list price is $486,167. Inventory is extremely tight at just 44 for-sale properties, and median days to pending is 7, indicating a highly competitive acquisition market where properties rarely sit.
Using the 2025 annual average monthly revenue of $2,908 (annualized to approximately $34,896) against a typical home value of $482,427, the gross yield is approximately 7.2%. The April run-rate yield using the current month’s $1,907 would understate annual performance significantly given April is one of the weakest months; the 2025 annual average is the appropriate planning baseline.
ADR tiers show a meaningful professionally managed premium. The all-listings ADR of $167.15 compares to $171.43 for entire-home listings, $239.50 for professionally managed properties, and $369.33 for luxury-tier listings. The professionally managed premium of 43% above the market average is the second largest in this batch, behind only the Sawtooth Mountains market.
Annual average revenue has grown from $1,923/month in 2017 to $2,908/month in 2025, a 51% increase. After a softening period in 2022-2024, the 2025 recovery to $2,908 and the positive April 2026 YoY trend are constructive signals for investors evaluating entry.
Revenue Trend (5 yr)
ADR & Occupancy Trends (5 yr)
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Booking Insights
Moscow STR guests book an average of 36 days in advance, and the average length of stay is 3.5 nights. The 36-day lead time is consistent with a market driven by university events, outdoor recreation, and regional travelers who typically plan several weeks ahead.
A 3.5-night average stay is the shortest in this batch, reflecting the mix of short academic-visit trips, 2-night weekend outdoor recreation stays, and 4-5 night summer leisure visits. Minimum stays of 2-3 nights are appropriate for this market to maintain occupancy without creating gaps. Longer minimums of 4-5 nights are appropriate for peak summer weeks and graduation weekend in May.
The 36-day lead time means operators need to price their calendar at least 5-6 weeks out to capture the majority of bookings. Dynamic pricing adjustments in the 2-3 week window before arrival will address last-minute fill-in demand but should be calibrated carefully to avoid training guests to book late.
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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