Kansas City, Missouri Short-Term Rental Market
Kansas City, MO STRs averaged $212/night at 63.6% occupancy in April 2026, with strict registration rules and 2026 World Cup demand.
Quick Answer: Kansas City, Missouri is an active short-term rental market. average occupancy is 61%. average monthly revenue is $4,115. average daily rate is $268. the top operator is Karat Vacation Rental Management with 100 listings. market score is 94/100 (grade A).
Market Score Breakdown
Five dimensions Apivex evaluates per market.
Market Overview
Kansas City, Missouri is a major Midwest destination with a population of 510,704, drawing more than 28 million visitors in 2024 and generating approximately $4 billion in visitor spending. Demand is driven by barbecue culture, jazz heritage, sports tourism (Chiefs, Royals, Sporting KC), museums including the Nelson-Atkins and the National WWI Museum, and the Country Club Plaza. Kansas City is also a FIFA 2026 World Cup host city, with matches at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium running June 11 through July 19, 2026, a period expected to drive exceptional STR demand across the metro.
As of April 2026, the short-term rental market recorded an average daily rate of $212, occupancy of 63.6%, and RevPAR of $135. Average monthly revenue across all listing types reached $3,598. Year-over-year, occupancy rose 1.4 percentage points, ADR rose 7.9%, and revenue surged 38.6%, the second-highest year-over-year revenue gain in this batch and directly linked to World Cup demand.
The listing mix includes 3,998 entire-place listings, 675 private rooms, and 5 shared rooms, totaling approximately 4,678 tracked listings. Airbnb dominates distribution with 2,590 Airbnb-only listings, 1,870 dual-platform (both Airbnb and VRBO), and 218 VRBO-only. Bedroom composition skews to 1-bedroom (1,586) and 3-bedroom (1,074) units, with 2-bedroom (1,108), 4-bedroom (561), and 5-bedroom (345) rounding out supply.
The market scores a 94.2 total rating with a 95.2 rental demand score and 91.6 seasonality score, the highest rental demand score of all five markets covered.
Seasonal Patterns
| Month | Occupancy | ADR | Revenue |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 50% | $108 | $1,610 |
| Feb | 56% | $115 | $1,667 |
| Mar | 63% | $131 | $2,293 |
| Apr | 60% | $134 | $2,183 |
| May | 65% | $143 | $2,504 |
| Jun | 69% | $150 | $2,754 |
| Jul | 70% | $134 | $2,597 |
| Aug | 61% | $131 | $2,239 |
| Sep | 61% | $131 | $2,164 |
| Oct | 62% | $134 | $2,305 |
| Nov | 57% | $131 | $2,082 |
| Dec | 58% | $129 | $2,098 |
Top Short-Term Rental Operators in Kansas City
Ranked by total active listings. Useful for understanding the competitive landscape.
| # | Operator | Listings | Reviews | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Karat Vacation Rental Management | 100 | 9,523 | ★ 4.72 |
| 2 | Cozy in KC | 93 | 10,800 | ★ 4.84 |
| 3 | OwlStays | 85 | 3,517 | ★ 4.54 |
| 4 | Short Term Rental Manager | 76 | 1,278 | ★ 4.84 |
| 5 | Evolve | 59 | 2,064 | ★ 4.60 |
What Kind of STR Should I Buy in Kansas City?
Revenue and pricing by property type, tier, and bedroom count.
Revenue by Bedroom Count
| 1 bed | 1,586 |
| 2 bed | 1,108 |
| 3 bed | 1,074 |
| 4 bed | 561 |
| 5 bed | 345 |
ADR by Property Tier
| Entire Home | $298 |
| Luxury | $478 |
| Professionally Managed | $270 |
Revenue by Dwelling Type
| Apartment | $3,363 |
| Entire Place | $4,523 |
| House | $4,439 |
Booking Channel Mix
Distribution of bookings across major STR platforms.
| Channel | Share |
|---|---|
| airbnb | 55.4% |
| vrbo | 4.7% |
| both | 40% |
Investment Analysis
Kansas City, MO offers an accessible urban STR entry point with above-average demand fundamentals. The typical home value is approximately $253,000, with a median sale price of $257,000 and a median list price of $246,000. Homes are selling at 104.2% of list price in a median of 9 days to pending, making this one of the most competitive housing markets covered in this batch, with buyers routinely paying above asking.
At April 2026 average monthly revenue of $3,598, the current-period gross yield against the typical home value is approximately 17.0%, elevated by World Cup demand. Using the 2025 annual average revenue of $2,885 per month, a normalized gross yield estimate is approximately 13.7%. Both measures are strong for an urban Midwest market with a $253,000 typical entry price. Entire-place listings averaged $3,945 per month in April 2026, houses averaged $4,119, and apartment-style units averaged $2,524.
The professionally managed tier ADR of $201 is slightly below the all-listings average of $212, consistent with Kansas City, KS (64419), where professional managers appear to compete on occupancy scale rather than rate premium. The luxury tier commanded $510 in ADR, serving high-value corporate, sports, and World Cup hospitality travelers.
The long-run revenue trend confirms steady acceleration: annual average revenue was $1,527 in 2017, grew to $2,198 in 2021, moderated to $2,395 in 2023, then jumped to $2,841 in 2024 and $2,885 in 2025. ADR tracked from $100 in 2017 to $158 in 2025 on an annual average basis. The 94.2 total market score, 86.1 investability score, and 17-year revenue CAGR reflect a structurally improving urban STR market.
Note: Non-Resident STRs are now banned from residential zones under Ordinance 250965 (November 2025). Investors should verify that any target property either qualifies as a Resident STR or is in a commercially zoned area before purchasing.
Revenue Trend (5 yr)
ADR & Occupancy Trends (5 yr)
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Booking Insights
Kansas City, MO guests book an average of 37 days in advance as of April 2026, consistent with the urban event-and-business-travel booking pattern seen on the Kansas City, KS side. The average length of stay is 4.6 nights, the longest among the five markets covered, notable for an urban market and reflecting multi-night event blocks (Chiefs game weekends, World Cup match days, Royals series) and weekly corporate stays.
The 37-day lead time gives operators roughly five weeks of forward booking visibility. For predictable event-based demand such as NASCAR race weekends or World Cup match dates, operators who set elevated rates well ahead of the booking window capture the most price-inelastic bookings. Setting rates for Chiefs game weekends in October and November, or for Royals home series in summer, 6 to 8 weeks in advance aligns with the typical booking window.
The 4.6-night average stay means fewer turnovers per month and lower per-stay cleaning costs. A property with a 3-night minimum can still generate 6 to 7 distinct stays per month at this average, while a 4-night minimum maintains consistent revenue without excessive cleaning frequency. Weekly and extended minimums during corporate relocation periods can further reduce turnover.
Short-Term Rental Regulations
Kansas City, MO requires all short-term rentals to register annually with the city. The registration fee is $200 per unit and must be renewed every 12 months. The city distinguishes between Resident STRs and Non-Resident STRs.
A Resident STR is the operator’s primary residence, requiring cumulative personal occupancy of at least 270 days per calendar year with two forms of documentation (vehicle registration, tax returns, voter registration, or a utility bill). Resident STRs may operate in residential zones. A Non-Resident STR has no on-site resident. Under Ordinance No. 250965, adopted November 13, 2025, Non-Resident STRs are no longer permitted in residentially zoned neighborhoods. New Non-Resident STRs are allowed only where zoning permits and applicable density limits are met, and multi-family buildings of three or more units may register no more than 25% of units as STRs. Previously approved Non-Resident STRs in residential zones may continue as grandfathered.
Hosts must collect and remit a 7.5% Transient Boarding and Accommodation Tax plus a $3.00 per-room-night occupancy fee, filed quarterly on Form RD-306. Enforcement is strict: unregistered operation carries fines of $200 to $1,000 per violation with each day as a separate violation. Booking platforms including Airbnb and VRBO are required to delist unregistered units. Enforcement transferred to the Neighborhood Services Department effective June 15, 2026.
A discounted $50 STR registration was available for the 2026 FIFA World Cup period (May through July 2026). Investors who missed this window pay the standard $200 annual fee.
Market Comparison
Kansas City, MO’s April 2026 occupancy of 63.6% substantially exceeds the U.S. STR median of approximately 55%, placing it among the stronger urban STR markets by occupancy nationally. The ADR of $212 is just below the national median of roughly $220, producing a RevPAR of $135 that is well above average for a Midwest city.
Kansas City, KS (64419) and Kansas City, MO (69604) are effectively one metro market with closely matched metrics: KS shows 63.7% occupancy versus MO’s 63.6%, $213 ADR versus $212, and total scores of 94.2 versus 94.2. The practical differences are the housing values ($203K KS versus $253K MO), lodging tax rates (10% KS versus 7.5% plus $3/night MO), and regulatory structures.
The operator landscape mirrors the KS side. Karat Vacation Rental Management leads with 100 listings and a 4.72-star average across 9,523 reviews. Cozy in KC holds 93 listings with a 4.84-star average across 10,800 reviews. OwlStays has 85 listings at a 4.54-star average. Short Term Rental Manager operates 76 listings at a 4.84-star average. Evolve rounds out the top five with 59 listings at a 4.60 average. The top five collectively manage 413 listings, approximately 9% of total tracked inventory.
For investors comparing KCK versus KCMO, the Missouri side offers a larger city, higher population, 28-million-plus annual visitors, and a more liquid housing market (homes sell above list in 9 days), but at a higher typical home value ($253K versus $203K) and with stricter Non-Resident STR zoning rules.
Frequently Asked Questions About Kansas City, Missouri
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