Cincinnati, Ohio Short-Term Rental Market
The Greater Cincinnati STR market posted a $178 ADR, 60.2% occupancy and $2,984 monthly revenue in September 2026.
Quick Answer: Cincinnati, Ohio is an active short-term rental market. average occupancy in the Cincinnati market area is 60%. average monthly revenue in the Cincinnati market area is $2,984. average daily rate in the Cincinnati market area is $178. the top operator in the Cincinnati market area is Liberty Hill Management with 170 listings. market score is 87/100 (grade A).
Market data reflects the wider Cincinnati market, which covers 6 areas. Regulations, taxes, and permit details below are specific to Cincinnati.
Market Score Breakdown
Five dimensions StaySTRA evaluates per market.
Market Overview
This profile covers Cincinnati, Ohio using September 2026 data. Short-term rental performance is tracked at the Greater Cincinnati level, a metro series shared with neighboring Covington, Kentucky, so every performance number below describes the Greater Cincinnati STR market rather than the city limits alone. Bedroom, channel, and listing-type counts are tracked at a shared regional level rather than uniquely for Cincinnati, so this profile omits them.
In September 2026 the average daily rate was $178 and occupancy was 60.2%. Average monthly revenue per listing was $2,984. Compared with September 2025, occupancy rose 8.4%, ADR rose 3.8%, and revenue rose 18.9%. Occupancy gained more than rate over the year.
Entire places averaged $193 per night and $3,203 in monthly revenue. Houses averaged $3,452 per month, while apartments averaged $2,515. Summing the typical seasonal months gives annualized revenue of $25,490 for a typical listing in this market.
Demand rests on a large visitor base. The Cincinnati region hosts roughly 25.9 million visitors a year, who spend about $6.5 billion across Hamilton County and Northern Kentucky. That figure covers the broader region, not the city of Cincinnati alone. Draws include the Cincinnati Zoo and Botanical Garden, the Cincinnati Museum Center at Union Terminal, Findlay Market, and Reds home games at Great American Ball Park, plus convention and meetings travel anchored by the Duke Energy Convention Center. The city itself has a population of 314,915.
The longer record gives useful context. Average monthly revenue per listing grew from $1,465 in 2017 to $2,575 in 2025. Through nine months of 2026 the average is $2,743, with 59.4% occupancy and a $166 ADR.
Seasonal Patterns
| Month | Occupancy |
|---|---|
| Jan | 48% |
| Feb | 55% |
| Mar | 59% |
| Apr | 60% |
| May | 60% |
| Jun | 67% |
| Jul | 69% |
| Aug | 62% |
| Sep | 60% |
| Oct | 59% |
| Nov | 54% |
| Dec | 54% |
Month-by-month nightly rates and revenue figures for Cincinnati are available to StaySTRA Pro members. Unlock with StaySTRA Pro or analyze a specific address free.
Top Short-Term Rental Operators in Cincinnati market area
Ranked by total active listings. Useful for understanding the competitive landscape. Operator data is published for the Cincinnati market as a whole, which includes Cincinnati, so these counts are not Cincinnati-only figures.
| # | Operator | Listings | Reviews | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Liberty Hill Management | 170 | 16,967 | ★ 4.80 |
| 2 | Plum Tree Property Management | 148 | 5,216 | ★ 4.80 |
| 3 | Grand Welcome | 129 | 5,853 | ★ 4.72 |
| 4 | Casual Nomad | 113 | 1,262 | ★ 4.18 |
| 5 | Drew & Ingrid Group | 102 | 11,494 | ★ 4.88 |
What Kind of STR Should I Buy in Cincinnati?
Revenue and nightly-rate breakdowns by bedroom count, property tier, and dwelling type for Cincinnati 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 | 53.1% |
| vrbo | 4.1% |
| both | 42.8% |
Home Value Trends (Cincinnati)
Typical home values, median sale prices, and the 10-year price trend for Cincinnati 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 Cincinnati — 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
Short-term rentals are permitted in the City of Cincinnati, and registration is required. Every unit rented for fewer than 30 consecutive days must register with the City through its OpenCounter portal before operating. Registration costs $250 per unit and is valid for three years rather than annually. Operators self-certify code compliance, and no in-person inspection is required at registration. The registration ID must appear in every online listing, and the printed permit and a Short-Term Rental Advisory must be displayed inside the unit.
There is no owner-occupancy requirement and no primary-residence requirement. Each rental must name a responsible person who lives or has a place of business within 50 miles. Occupancy is capped at 2 guests per bedroom, and 2 for studios. There is no outright citywide zoning prohibition, but units must meet building, housing, and fire code requirements.
Multi-unit buildings with 5 or more units face concentration caps: 4 STR registrations are permitted, plus 1 more for every 4 units over 4. A 12-unit building, for example, caps at about 6 STR units. Buildings with 4 or fewer units have no concentration limit.
Cincinnati levies a 7% short-term rental excise tax on gross revenue, filed quarterly. Airbnb collects and remits it for hosts. Operators on other platforms must report and pay it themselves.
Enforcement is rated moderate and uses escalating fines: $300 for failure to register, rising to $750 per day, and $500 for tax violations. Penalties can include suspension or revocation, a 12-month ban after revocation, and misdemeanor prosecution. The framework dates to Ordinance 125-2019, and no major overhaul was identified in the last 24 months. These rules apply to the City of Cincinnati, so confirm local rules before buying elsewhere in the metro.
Market Comparison
September 2026 occupancy in the Greater Cincinnati STR market was 60.2% at a $178 ADR. The market is built on bookings more than on rate.
Steady occupancy supports cash flow, but revenue per listing of $2,984 depends on keeping the calendar full, with demand from business, sports, and convention travel. Luxury listings at $303 per night and professionally managed listings at $205 show that rate is available to operators who differentiate their product.
The entry cost also favors Cincinnati investors. The typical home value of $254,955 is moderate for a market with 60.2% occupancy and revenue growing 18.9% year over year. Investors comparing metros should weigh nightly rates against purchase prices and a steady visitor base of about 25.9 million regional visitors a year.
The data is tracked at a shared regional level rather than uniquely for Cincinnati, so this profile omits it for top operators.
Frequently Asked Questions About Cincinnati, Ohio
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