Charleston's 1,928-listing STR market posts $405 average daily rates with a wide performance gap between operators.
Market Overview
Charleston, SC is one of the Southeast’s most established short-term rental markets, drawing roughly 7.68 million visitors annually to a city of 139,708 residents. As of February 2026, the market holds 1,928 active listings, a figure that has grown substantially from approximately 1,669 listings in 2021. That supply growth has been the dominant story of the past five years. Average occupancy compressed from 72.6% in 2021 to 56.2% in 2025 as new inventory absorbed demand. Average daily rates moved in the opposite direction, rising from $291 in 2021 to $405 in 2025, a 39% increase that reflects both inflation and a pricing-power response to softer occupancy. Average monthly revenue held relatively steady over that stretch: $7,328 per listing in 2021 versus $7,027 in 2025, a 4% decline in nominal terms. In February 2026, the market sits at 43.0% average occupancy and a $440.80 ADR, with revenue averaging $5,170 for the month. That February figure is in line with seasonal norms; Charleston’s calendar produces meaningful variation between its slowest and busiest months. The market’s competitive structure is highly dispersed. The gap between a bottom-quartile property and a top-decile property in February 2026 spans from $1,835 to $10,811 in monthly revenue, a six-fold difference driven by location, property type, and operational quality.
Seasonal Patterns
| Month | Occupancy | ADR | Revenue | Active Listings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 45% | $332 | $4,530 | 1,901 |
| Feb | 54% | $342 | $5,185 | 1,908 |
| Mar | 71% | $337 | $7,848 | 1,825 |
| Apr | 71% | $356 | $8,083 | 1,830 |
| May | 70% | $370 | $8,356 | 1,741 |
| Jun | 70% | $364 | $8,107 | 1,864 |
| Jul | 67% | $356 | $7,909 | 1,963 |
| Aug | 62% | $335 | $6,707 | 1,963 |
| Sep | 60% | $343 | $6,376 | 1,958 |
| Oct | 64% | $367 | $7,413 | 1,874 |
| Nov | 59% | $361 | $6,466 | 1,886 |
| Dec | 53% | $363 | $6,057 | 1,897 |
Charleston follows a pronounced spring-and-early-summer demand cycle. Occupancy peaks in March and April at 70.8% average, then holds through June at 70.2% before declining through summer and into fall. May produces the highest average monthly revenue at $8,356, edging out April ($8,083) and March ($7,848). The July-to-August period shows a notable dip relative to late spring: July occupancy averages 67.4% with $7,909 in revenue, and August drops further to 62.4% and $6,707, likely reflecting the heat and hurricane-season awareness that characterizes coastal South Carolina summers. September and October produce moderate results at 60.4% and 63.8% occupancy respectively, with October seeing a revenue recovery to $7,413 as shoulder-season visitors arrive. November and December are soft months: 58.8% and 53.2% occupancy with revenue averaging $6,466 and $6,057. January is the clearest off-peak month at 45.4% occupancy and $4,530 in revenue, the only month that falls below $5,000 on average. The practical implication for operators is that roughly 60% of annual revenue is earned between March and October, and pricing strategy should concentrate yield extraction in those eight months. ADR is relatively stable throughout the year, ranging from $332 in January to $370 in May, which means occupancy drives the seasonal swings more than rate does.
Revenue Breakdown
| Metric | 25th Pctile | Median | 75th Pctile | 90th Pctile |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Revenue/mo | $1,835 | $4,107 | $6,884 | $10,811 |
| ADR | $216 | $335 | $568 | $862 |
| Occupancy | 24% | 42% | 59% | 77% |
February 2026 percentile data illustrates the wide performance distribution in Charleston’s STR market. At the 25th percentile, properties earned $1,835 for the month against a $216 ADR. The median property (50th percentile) earned $4,107 at a $335 ADR. Moving to the 75th percentile, revenue reaches $6,884 with a $568 ADR. Top-decile properties (90th percentile) posted $10,811 in revenue at an $862 ADR. The revenue gap between median and top-decile is $6,704 per month, or roughly $80,000 annualized. That gap is partially explained by ADR: top-decile properties command rates 2.6 times higher than the median. Occupancy also diverges, from 24% at the 25th percentile to 77% at the 90th percentile in the same month. The average across all listings was $5,170 in revenue and 43.0% occupancy at a $440.80 ADR. Properties at or above the 75th percentile are generating sufficient revenue to cover typical debt service on a $600,000 acquisition in most months, but median and below-median operators face months where STR income alone does not cover carrying costs.
Investment Analysis
Revenue Trend
RevPAR & ADR Trend
| Date | Revenue | RevPAR | ADR |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 2021 | $6,818 | $220 | $255 |
| Apr 2021 | $7,060 | $235 | $277 |
| May 2021 | $7,906 | $255 | $288 |
| Jun 2021 | $8,134 | $271 | $299 |
| Jul 2021 | $8,187 | $264 | $310 |
| Aug 2021 | $7,800 | $252 | $299 |
| Sep 2021 | $7,119 | $237 | $294 |
| Oct 2021 | $7,660 | $247 | $314 |
| Nov 2021 | $6,600 | $220 | $295 |
| Dec 2021 | $5,994 | $193 | $283 |
| Jan 2022 | $4,713 | $152 | $269 |
| Feb 2022 | $5,488 | $196 | $305 |
| Mar 2022 | $7,962 | $257 | $322 |
| Apr 2022 | $8,537 | $285 | $354 |
| May 2022 | $9,122 | $294 | $377 |
| Jun 2022 | $8,549 | $285 | $345 |
| Jul 2022 | $8,759 | $283 | $352 |
| Aug 2022 | $7,291 | $235 | $319 |
| Sep 2022 | $7,122 | $237 | $335 |
| Oct 2022 | $7,556 | $244 | $330 |
| Nov 2022 | $6,458 | $215 | $312 |
| Dec 2022 | $5,889 | $190 | $294 |
| Jan 2023 | $4,607 | $149 | $287 |
| Feb 2023 | $5,425 | $194 | $300 |
| Mar 2023 | $8,300 | $268 | $334 |
| Apr 2023 | $8,145 | $272 | $337 |
| May 2023 | $7,728 | $249 | $339 |
| Jun 2023 | $8,010 | $267 | $347 |
| Jul 2023 | $7,846 | $253 | $330 |
| Aug 2023 | $6,432 | $208 | $317 |
| Sep 2023 | $5,775 | $193 | $329 |
| Oct 2023 | $6,525 | $211 | $347 |
| Nov 2023 | $6,118 | $204 | $388 |
| Dec 2023 | $5,780 | $186 | $402 |
| Jan 2024 | $4,598 | $148 | $381 |
| Feb 2024 | $4,763 | $164 | $323 |
| Mar 2024 | $7,770 | $251 | $378 |
| Apr 2024 | $7,728 | $258 | $385 |
| May 2024 | $8,428 | $272 | $406 |
| Jun 2024 | $7,886 | $263 | $405 |
| Jul 2024 | $7,034 | $227 | $385 |
| Aug 2024 | $5,774 | $186 | $360 |
| Sep 2024 | $5,928 | $198 | $365 |
| Oct 2024 | $7,242 | $234 | $392 |
| Nov 2024 | $6,289 | $210 | $377 |
| Dec 2024 | $6,245 | $201 | $385 |
| Jan 2025 | $4,156 | $134 | $323 |
| Feb 2025 | $5,079 | $181 | $342 |
| Mar 2025 | $8,389 | $271 | $395 |
| Apr 2025 | $8,948 | $298 | $426 |
| May 2025 | $8,595 | $277 | $441 |
| Jun 2025 | $7,955 | $265 | $427 |
| Jul 2025 | $7,719 | $249 | $402 |
| Aug 2025 | $6,236 | $201 | $380 |
| Sep 2025 | $5,934 | $198 | $393 |
| Oct 2025 | $8,080 | $261 | $453 |
| Nov 2025 | $6,863 | $229 | $432 |
| Dec 2025 | $6,376 | $206 | $450 |
| Jan 2026 | $4,578 | $148 | $400 |
| Feb 2026 | $5,170 | $185 | $441 |
Occupancy vs Supply
| Date | Occupancy | Active Listings |
|---|---|---|
| Mar 2021 | 74% | 1,506 |
| Jun 2021 | 79% | 1,662 |
| Sep 2021 | 73% | 1,716 |
| Dec 2021 | 64% | 1,742 |
| Mar 2022 | 75% | 1,790 |
| Jun 2022 | 75% | 2,138 |
| Sep 2022 | 65% | 2,115 |
| Dec 2022 | 60% | 2,075 |
| Mar 2023 | 75% | 2,077 |
| Jun 2023 | 73% | 2,050 |
| Sep 2023 | 59% | 2,001 |
| Dec 2023 | 46% | 1,768 |
| Mar 2024 | 64% | 1,699 |
| Jun 2024 | 63% | 1,336 |
| Sep 2024 | 54% | 1,894 |
| Dec 2024 | 50% | 1,968 |
| Mar 2025 | 66% | 2,051 |
| Jun 2025 | 61% | 2,136 |
| Sep 2025 | 51% | 2,063 |
| Dec 2025 | 46% | 1,933 |
Charleston STR investment math depends heavily on which segment of the market a property lands in. At the February 2026 median ($4,107/month), an annualized run-rate of roughly $49,000 to $55,000 per year is realistic for a mid-tier operator, accounting for seasonality. Top-quartile properties (p75) generated $6,884 in February alone; top-decile (p90) reached $10,811. On the acquisition side, the typical home value in Charleston sits at $575,699 and the median sale price is $600,666. At a $600,000 purchase price with a 25% down payment, an investor carries roughly $450,000 in debt. At current rates that translates to approximately $2,700 to $3,000 per month in debt service, meaning a median-performing STR in a slow month barely covers costs and a top-quartile property generates meaningful cash flow year-round. Entry costs beyond the purchase price include the city’s STR permit fees, a 3% city accommodations tax, a 2% county accommodations tax, and required safety upgrades. The market’s key risk factor is ongoing supply growth: listings grew from 1,669 in 2021 to over 2,025 at the 2025 peak, which absorbed demand and compressed occupancy by more than 16 percentage points over four years. Investors buying today face a market where ADR strength is partially offsetting occupancy headwinds, but that trade-off is not guaranteed to continue.
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| Date | Typical Home Value |
|---|---|
| Mar 2021 | $395,116 |
| Dec 2021 | $450,078 |
| Sep 2022 | $527,635 |
| Jun 2023 | $539,590 |
| Mar 2024 | $576,142 |
| Dec 2024 | $597,145 |
| Sep 2025 | $602,760 |
Booking Insights
Charleston guests book an average of 52.6 days in advance, with a median of 37 days. The gap between average and median indicates that a segment of longer-horizon planners (likely spring and summer bookings made months ahead) is pulling the average upward, while a significant share of reservations are made within five weeks of arrival. Average length of stay is 5.3 nights, with a median of 3.0 nights. That spread signals a dual market: a large volume of short weekend stays alongside a smaller number of week-plus bookings that lift the average. For operators, the 37-day median lead time suggests keeping calendars open and pricing dynamic well beyond the near-term window. Properties that lock in rates too early or close availability too far out risk underperforming relative to last-minute demand. The 3-night median stay also means higher turnover costs relative to longer-stay markets, which should be factored into net revenue projections. Minimum stay settings of two to three nights are likely optimal for most Charleston properties to balance turnover costs against occupancy fill rate.
Short-Term Rental Regulations
Charleston has a structured short-term rental permit system with three license categories. Owner-occupied permits require the host to reside on the property for at least 180 days per year. Non-owner-occupied permits apply to investment properties where the owner does not live on-site. Accessory dwelling unit permits cover secondary structures on a property. All three categories require a city business license in addition to the STR-specific permit. Permits are valid for one year and must be renewed annually, including documentation updates and payment of applicable fees. The city enforces occupancy limits: no more than four unrelated adults per stay are permitted under the regulations. All listings and advertisements must display the STR permit number. On the tax side, operators are required to collect and remit a 3% city accommodations tax and a 2% county accommodations tax, in addition to state-level lodging taxes. Safety compliance is mandatory, including operational smoke detectors and fire extinguishers on the property. Zoning restrictions determine where each permit type can operate; not all residential zones permit non-owner-occupied STRs, making zoning verification a critical step before purchase. Violations can result in fines and permit revocation. The full permit criteria are published on the City of Charleston’s official website under Short Term Rental Categories. Prospective operators should confirm current zoning eligibility directly with the city before acquiring a property for STR use.
Market Comparison
Charleston’s current 56.2% average annual occupancy (2025) places it in a competitive but not top-tier position among major coastal STR markets. Many high-demand beach destinations routinely post occupancy in the 60% to 70% range on an annual basis. Charleston’s strength relative to those markets is ADR: the $405 average daily rate in 2025 reflects the premium that a historic urban destination commands over purely beach-focused markets. As a point of reference, US STR market averages reported by industry trackers generally fall in the 50% to 55% occupancy range and $200 to $250 ADR range for non-resort markets; Charleston outperforms on ADR by roughly 60% to 80%. However, Charleston’s occupancy compression from 72.6% in 2021 to 56.2% in 2025 is steeper than the national average decline over the same period, suggesting the local supply expansion has been more aggressive than typical. Active listings grew from 1,669 to over 2,000 between 2021 and 2025. Investors comparing Charleston to peer markets should weigh its strong ADR and tourism base against the supply-driven occupancy headwind that has characterized the post-2021 period.
Frequently Asked Questions About Charleston, South Carolina
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