Galveston, Texas Short-Term Rental Market
The Galveston County coast averaged $296 ADR, 37.4% occupancy and $3,093 monthly revenue in September 2026.
Quick Answer: Galveston, Texas is an active short-term rental market. average occupancy in the Galveston market area is 37%. average monthly revenue in the Galveston market area is $3,093. average daily rate in the Galveston market area is $296. the top operator in the Galveston market area is Vacasa with 386 listings. market score is 54/100 (grade D).
Market data reflects the wider Galveston market, which covers 9 areas. Regulations, taxes, and permit details below are specific to Galveston.
Market Score Breakdown
Five dimensions StaySTRA evaluates per market.
Market Overview
Performance figures on this page describe the Galveston County Texas coast STR market, a shared regional series that also covers Port Bolivar, Dickinson, Kemah and Gilchrist. Galveston’s own regulations, home values and visitor profile are specific to the city. Bedroom, channel, and listing-type counts and top operators are tracked at a shared regional level rather than uniquely for Galveston, so this profile omits them.
In September 2026 the average daily rate was $296 and occupancy was 37.4%, producing average monthly revenue of $3,093 per listing. Compared with September 2025, occupancy rose 20.8%, ADR rose 6.8%, and revenue rose 15.9%. September is a shoulder month after the summer peak, so the monthly level sits well below the annual picture. Seasonal averages across the year add up to $39,913 in annualized revenue.
Year to date 2026 (nine months) is running ahead of recent years, with 47.2% occupancy, a $308 ADR, and $4,199 in average monthly revenue. For comparison, full year 2025 averaged 43.3% occupancy, a $286 ADR and $3,603 per month, while 2021 reached 51.4% occupancy with a $274 ADR. Since 2017, ADR has stayed between $241 and $308, while occupancy has moved between 34.3% and 51.4%.
Galveston has a population of 53,538 residents and draws about 8.1 million visitors a year, a record set in 2022. The island is a leading cruise port and a drive-market beach destination for travelers from Houston and the wider Gulf region. Overnight visitors spend about $261 per person compared with $57 for day visitors, which is the core argument for lodging demand. Demand is seasonal and peaks in spring and summer.
Houses are the strongest property type in the data, averaging $3,528 a month against $2,129 for apartments.
Seasonal Patterns
| Month | Occupancy |
|---|---|
| Jan | 27% |
| Feb | 39% |
| Mar | 52% |
| Apr | 41% |
| May | 51% |
| Jun | 67% |
| Jul | 69% |
| Aug | 46% |
| Sep | 35% |
| Oct | 38% |
| Nov | 31% |
| Dec | 32% |
Month-by-month nightly rates and revenue figures for Galveston are available to StaySTRA Pro members. Unlock with StaySTRA Pro or analyze a specific address free.
Top Short-Term Rental Operators in Galveston market area
Ranked by total active listings. Useful for understanding the competitive landscape. Operator data is published for the Galveston market as a whole, which includes Galveston, so these counts are not Galveston-only figures.
| # | Operator | Listings | Reviews | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Vacasa | 386 | 21,460 | ★ 4.39 |
| 2 | Ryson Vacation Rentals by Vtrips | 370 | 7,450 | ★ 4.33 |
| 3 | Evolve | 354 | 17,277 | ★ 4.57 |
| 4 | Sand `N Sea Properties | 195 | 1,185 | ★ 4.66 |
| 5 | Cobb Real Estate | 190 | 3,899 | ★ 4.79 |
What Kind of STR Should I Buy in Galveston?
Revenue and nightly-rate breakdowns by bedroom count, property tier, and dwelling type for Galveston 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 | 23.4% |
| vrbo | 11.5% |
| both | 65% |
Home Value Trends (Galveston)
Typical home values, median sale prices, and the 10-year price trend for Galveston 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 Galveston — 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
Galveston is an STR-friendly market with a clear registration regime rather than caps. Short-term rentals are permitted, and any dwelling rented for fewer than 30 consecutive days must register as a short-term rental and obtain a GVR registration number. The number must be displayed on all advertisements, including Airbnb, Vrbo, management sites and social media.
Registration costs $250 per property per year and renews annually. Renewals open December 1 and are due by December 31, with a $500 late fee for missing the deadline. As of October 1, 2025, registration and Hotel Occupancy Tax collection moved from the Galveston Park Board to the City of Galveston.
The total lodging tax is 15% (6% state plus 9% city), charged on gross rental revenue including cleaning, pet and other fees, and filed monthly or quarterly. There is no owner-occupancy or primary-residence requirement, and no stated cap on nights or number of rentals. STRs are prohibited in the R-0 zoning district, and rentals elsewhere must comply with local zoning.
Ordinance 25-060, adopted November 13, 2025, requires a 24/7 local contact who responds to complaints within one hour and resolves them within two hours. It also requires platform registration-number verification, house rules covering occupancy, parking, noise, emergency numbers and flood-evacuation guidance, and created a new STR licensing board.
Enforcement is moderate. Violations are Class C misdemeanors with fines up to $500 per offense, each day counting as a separate offense, and up to $2,000 for health, sanitation, zoning or fire-safety violations. Three violations within 12 months can trigger a license-revocation review.
Market Comparison
In September 2026 the Galveston County coast series showed 37.4% occupancy and a $296 ADR.
The seasonal picture shows a wide range. June (67.1%) and July (69.5%) are the strongest months, while January (27.4%) is the weakest. Year to date 2026 occupancy is 47.2% with a $308 ADR.
Trend direction is favorable. Occupancy is up 20.8% year over year, ADR is up 6.8%, and revenue is up 15.9%. The 2026 year to date average of $4,199 a month is the highest annual figure in the data since 2017.
Top operator names are tracked at a shared regional level rather than uniquely for Galveston, so this profile omits them. Investors comparing Galveston with other markets should weigh its high rates and strong summer against its long off-season.
Frequently Asked Questions About Galveston, Texas
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