Brownsville, Texas Short-Term Rental Market
Rio Grande Valley STR market averaged $224 ADR, 43.4% occupancy and $2,724 monthly revenue in September 2026.
Quick Answer: Brownsville, Texas is an active short-term rental market. average occupancy in the South Padre Island market area is 43%. average monthly revenue in the South Padre Island market area is $2,724. average daily rate in the South Padre Island market area is $224. the top operator in the South Padre Island market area is Vacasa with 381 listings. market score is 49/100 (grade D).
Market data reflects the South Padre Island regional market, which includes Brownsville. Regulations, taxes, and permit details below are specific to Brownsville.
Market Score Breakdown
Five dimensions StaySTRA evaluates per market.
Market Overview
Brownsville sits at the southern tip of Texas on the US-Mexico border, across from Matamoros, and is a gateway to South Padre Island. Performance figures on this page describe the Rio Grande Valley STR market, a regional series, rather than Brownsville alone. In September 2026 the Rio Grande Valley STR market posted an average daily rate of $224, occupancy of 43.4%, and average monthly revenue of $2,724 per listing. Compared with September 2025, occupancy rose 18.3%, ADR rose 4.2%, and revenue rose 8.9%. Entire-home listings averaged $231 per night, while houses averaged $3,302 in monthly revenue and apartments $2,495.
Brownsville has a population of 189,177 and reports about 10.2 million annual visitors, a figure that includes substantial cross-border day visitation. Demand drivers include nature and birding tourism, the Gladys Porter Zoo, historic downtown near the Matamoros crossing, and space tourism around SpaceX’s Starbase facility at Boca Chica, about 20 miles east. Brownsville has been designated a Tourism Friendly Texas Certified Community by Travel Texas, and more than 400 new hotel rooms are under development to capture SpaceX-related demand. That new hotel supply is competition STR hosts should watch.
Through the first nine months of 2026, the market averaged 56.9% occupancy, a $252 ADR, and $3,872 in monthly revenue per listing. That is ahead of the full-year 2025 figures of 52.6%, $232, and $3,402. September itself is a seasonally soft month, so the 43.4% reading should be compared with other Septembers rather than with the summer peak. Listing counts by bedroom, channel, and listing type are tracked at a shared regional level rather than uniquely for Brownsville, so this profile omits them.
Seasonal Patterns
| Month | Occupancy |
|---|---|
| Jan | 51% |
| Feb | 69% |
| Mar | 58% |
| Apr | 44% |
| May | 50% |
| Jun | 65% |
| Jul | 72% |
| Aug | 48% |
| Sep | 38% |
| Oct | 36% |
| Nov | 39% |
| Dec | 41% |
Month-by-month nightly rates and revenue figures for Brownsville are available to StaySTRA Pro members. Unlock with StaySTRA Pro or analyze a specific address free.
Top Short-Term Rental Operators in South Padre Island market area
Ranked by total active listings. Useful for understanding the competitive landscape. Operator data is published for the South Padre Island market as a whole, which includes Brownsville, so these counts are not Brownsville-only figures.
| # | Operator | Listings | Reviews | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Vacasa | 381 | 19,054 | ★ 4.41 |
| 2 | RedAwning | 253 | 2,069 | ★ 4.51 |
| 3 | SPI Rentals LLC | 213 | 8,264 | ★ 4.63 |
| 4 | Padre Island Rentals | 210 | 9,703 | ★ 4.55 |
| 5 | South Padre Trips | 159 | 3,494 | ★ 4.45 |
What Kind of STR Should I Buy in Brownsville?
Revenue and nightly-rate breakdowns by bedroom count, property tier, and dwelling type for Brownsville 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 | 36% |
| vrbo | 9.5% |
| both | 54.6% |
Home Value Trends (Brownsville)
Typical home values, median sale prices, and the 10-year price trend for Brownsville 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 Brownsville — 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 Brownsville. On November 12, 2024, the city adopted its first STR ordinance, which requires every operator renting for fewer than 30 consecutive days to register and hold an STR permit before operating. The change aligns STRs with hotels and is partly aimed at capturing tourism revenue.
The permit application carries a $50 non-refundable fee. Applicants submit a completed form, proof of ownership or a management agreement, a floor plan and site map, a local 24/7 emergency contact, and proof of liability insurance. Permits are valid for one year. On-time annual renewal is free, while late renewal requires another $50 fee. STRs are allowed only in zoning districts within the Brownsville city limits, and operators should confirm eligibility with the Planning and Redevelopment Department at 956-548-6167.
Operators must also register with the city Finance Department and collect and remit Hotel Occupancy Tax monthly, as hotels do. This is in addition to the Texas state hotel tax of 6%. The Brownsville city add-on rate was not confirmed from a primary source and should be verified with the Finance Department.
The city does not require owner occupancy or a primary residence. Some third-party sources describe an owner-occupied exemption from the permit, but the city’s own materials do not list one, so confirm directly with the city. Permits must be displayed prominently. Operating without a permit can bring fines and legal action, and tax nonpayment, noise violations, or safety issues can lead to revocation. Enforcement is rated moderate.
Market Comparison
The Rio Grande Valley STR market posted 43.4% occupancy and a $224 ADR in September 2026. September is seasonally weak here, with a typical occupancy of 38.3%, so the month understates the full-year position.
Over the first nine months of 2026 the market averaged 56.9% occupancy and a $252 ADR, ahead of full-year 2025 at 52.6% occupancy and a $232 ADR. Year-over-year gains of 18.3% in occupancy and 4.2% in ADR show the market improving from a softer 2024 and 2025 base.
The luxury tier at $386 and the professionally managed tier at $285 both price well above the $224 all-listings ADR, which points to room for quality-focused operators. Brownsville also carries a $50 permit fee and monthly Hotel Occupancy Tax remittance. Top operator names are tracked at a shared regional level rather than uniquely for Brownsville, so this profile omits them.
Frequently Asked Questions About Brownsville, Texas
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