Columbia, South Carolina Short-Term Rental Market
Columbia, SC STRs averaged $182/night at 67.2% occupancy in April 2026, with revenue up 3.5% year-over-year.
Quick Answer: Columbia, South Carolina is an active short-term rental market. average occupancy is 69%. average monthly revenue is $3,473. average daily rate is $184. the top operator is Heartwood Furnished Homes with 218 listings. market score is 93/100 (grade A).
Market data reflects the Columbia, SC regional market, which includes Columbia. Regulations, taxes, and permit details below are specific to Columbia.
Market Score Breakdown
Five dimensions Apivex evaluates per market.
Market Overview
Columbia is the capital of South Carolina and home to the University of South Carolina, drawing a diverse visitor base that includes Gamecocks athletics attendees, state government travelers, convention visitors, and tourists visiting Riverbanks Zoo, Congaree National Park, and the city’s three rivers. The region recorded 17.3 million visitors in 2024 (a record), including approximately 6.2 million overnight visitors, with lodging as the fastest-growing spending category. This scale of demand supports a well-developed STR market.
In April 2026, the Columbia STR market averaged $182/night in ADR and 67.2% occupancy, producing a RevPAR of $122.14. Year-over-year, occupancy grew 3.2 percentage points, ADR rose 1.1%, and average revenue increased 3.5% against April 2025. Longer-term, annual average ADR has grown from $131 in 2017 to $174 in 2025, and annual average revenue per listing rose from $1,757 to $2,962 over the same period.
Entire-place listings dominate at 2,283 of 2,625 total listings (87%), with 330 private rooms and 12 shared rooms. On the bedroom side, 1-bedroom units lead at 771, followed by 3-bedroom (729), 2-bedroom (679), 4-bedroom (304), and 5-bedroom (135). Airbnb leads channel distribution at 1,374 listings, 1,124 cross-listed on both platforms, and 127 on VRBO only.
Seasonal Patterns
| Month | Occupancy | ADR | Revenue |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 50% | $113 | $1,653 |
| Feb | 62% | $118 | $1,855 |
| Mar | 65% | $132 | $2,289 |
| Apr | 63% | $146 | $2,509 |
| May | 59% | $159 | $2,478 |
| Jun | 66% | $155 | $2,727 |
| Jul | 67% | $147 | $2,704 |
| Aug | 65% | $155 | $2,658 |
| Sep | 58% | $154 | $2,333 |
| Oct | 58% | $148 | $2,398 |
| Nov | 57% | $154 | $2,405 |
| Dec | 50% | $127 | $1,955 |
Top Short-Term Rental Operators in Columbia
Ranked by total active listings. Useful for understanding the competitive landscape.
| # | Operator | Listings | Reviews | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Heartwood Furnished Homes | 218 | 14,846 | ★ 4.74 |
| 2 | Evolve | 51 | 1,938 | ★ 4.70 |
| 3 | Patriot Family Homes | 44 | 2,367 | ★ 4.30 |
| 4 | Casago | 32 | 514 | ★ 4.22 |
| 5 | Be Our Guest | 29 | 1,631 | ★ 4.64 |
What Kind of STR Should I Buy in Columbia?
Revenue and pricing by property type, tier, and bedroom count.
Revenue by Bedroom Count
| 1 bed | 771 |
| 2 bed | 679 |
| 3 bed | 729 |
| 4 bed | 304 |
| 5 bed | 135 |
ADR by Property Tier
| Entire Home | $197 |
| Luxury | $323 |
| Professionally Managed | $232 |
Revenue by Dwelling Type
| Apartment | $2,402 |
| Entire Place | $3,726 |
| House | $3,806 |
Booking Channel Mix
Distribution of bookings across major STR platforms.
| Channel | Share |
|---|---|
| airbnb | 52.3% |
| vrbo | 4.8% |
| both | 42.8% |
Investment Analysis
Columbia’s STR market combines a large metropolitan demand base with moderate home values, producing attractive revenue-to-acquisition ratios. The typical home value is $229,993 (Zillow, April 2026 snapshot), with a median sale price of $230,650 and median list price of $256,117. The market has 1,189 homes for sale with a median 20 days to pending and a sale-to-list ratio of 0.901, suggesting competitive but not overheated buying conditions.
At April 2026 average monthly revenue of $3,348/month, annualized revenue projects to approximately $40,180/year. Against a $229,993 typical home value, the implied gross revenue yield is roughly 17.5% before expenses. Entire-place and house listings outperform the average: entire-place listings generate approximately $43,346/year and house listings approximately $42,868/year annualized.
Tier differences are material. All-listings ADR is $182/night while entire-home listings average $195/night (a 7.4% premium). Professionally managed properties average $236/night (a 30% premium) and luxury-tier listings average $298/night (a 64% premium), indicating that positioning and management quality have meaningful revenue impact.
The market scores 93.3 out of 100 overall, with strong rental demand (88.0) and investability (91.3). The regulation score of 59.7 reflects the active and strict regulatory environment detailed in the regulatory summary.
Revenue Trend (5 yr)
ADR & Occupancy Trends (5 yr)
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Booking Insights
The April 2026 data shows an average booking lead time of 41.5 days, just under six weeks in advance. This reflects a market where guests plan with moderate lead time, consistent with a mix of event-driven bookings (sporting events, graduations, government sessions) and leisure travelers. University of South Carolina football games and Riverbanks Zoo visits likely drive shorter-notice weekend bookings, while convention and government travel books further out.
Average length of stay is 3.94 nights, close to a four-night average and suggesting a mix of long-weekend leisure stays and week-partial business trips. This LOS is slightly above the typical urban market and reduces per-stay cleaning costs relative to 1-2 night turnovers.
For pricing strategy, the 41-day lead window means revenue management should be actively adjusted 5-6 weeks ahead. USC home football games (fall Saturdays) and graduation weekends represent premium pricing opportunities. The relatively strong January floor (50.3% occupancy) suggests sustained year-round demand that makes dynamic floor pricing viable throughout the year.
Short-Term Rental Regulations
Columbia has one of the more structured and actively enforced STR regulatory frameworks in South Carolina. Every short-term rental (any stay under 30 consecutive days) requires a City of Columbia STR permit plus a business license and zoning approval. Permits must be renewed annually by July 1 on the city fiscal year, with a $100 late fee for renewals after that date. Non-owner-occupied STRs pay $250/unit per year; owner-occupied STRs pay $100/unit. A $50 application fee and $10 zoning fee also apply. Two parking spaces per unit are required, and the permit holder or a designated local representative must live or operate within 45 miles of the property.
There is no owner-occupancy or primary-residence requirement; non-owner-occupied STRs are explicitly permitted at the higher fee tier.
Important: Ordinance 2025-054 (effective June 17, 2025) imposed a 365-day moratorium on NEW STR permits in residentially zoned districts through approximately June 2026. Existing permit holders in those zones may renew but may not transfer permits to new owners. STRs remain permittable in non-residential and commercial zones. As of December 2025, the city council was discussing revisions that would raise the minimum renter age from 18 to 25, impose a two-night minimum stay, and allow permit revocation after violent incidents.
On taxes: operators collect approximately 10% in combined accommodations taxes (South Carolina state accommodations tax plus a 3% local tax). Enforcement is rated strict. Investors considering new residential-zone acquisitions should treat permitting as effectively frozen until mid-2026 and verify zoning status before purchasing.
Market Comparison
Columbia’s 67.2% occupancy in April 2026 is well above the US STR median of approximately 55%, placing it among the higher-performing urban/university markets in the Southeast. The $182/night ADR is below the national median of approximately $220 but is improving: the 2025 annual average ADR was $174, up from $109 in 2018, reflecting a sustained pricing recovery.
The market’s total score of 93.3 reflects balanced fundamentals, with rental demand (88.0) and investability (91.3) as the strongest dimensions. Revenue growth scores 69.7, which is moderate and reflects a maturing market in the post-COVID pricing correction phase. The regulation score of 59.7 is a drag, appropriately reflecting the active permitting and moratorium environment.
Heartwood Furnished Homes dominates professional management with 218 listings and a 4.74 average rating across 14,846 reviews, far larger than the next operator. Evolve manages 51 listings at 4.70, and Patriot Family Homes operates 44 listings at a 4.30 average. Together the top three operators control 313 listings, approximately 11.9% of total active listings. The top five operators combined account for 374 listings in the market.
Frequently Asked Questions About Columbia, South Carolina
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When is the strongest season for short-term rentals in Columbia, SC?
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