Charleston, SC
Historic charm meets coastal demand - premium SE market
Charleston consistently ranks among America's top travel destinations, blending antebellum architecture, world-class dining, and proximity to barrier island beaches. The Peninsula, French Quarter, and Cannonborough neighborhoods drive the highest STR rates, while beach communities like Sullivan's Island and Isle of Palms offer coastal alternatives. City STR regulations require a license and limit non-owner-occupied rentals.
Across 103 active STR-viable listings analyzed this month, Charleston shows a 1.8% median cap rate at a $2.5M median list price, 59% occupancy, and $432/night. That ranks #50 of 57 markets in STRROI's live ranking. At typical prices, cash flow is tight: most listings only pencil out with a large down payment, a below-list purchase, or above-market nightly rates.
Charleston real estate market right now
As of October 16, 2026, STRROI is tracking 103 homes for sale in Charleston that could run as short-term rentals, at a median list price of $2,495,000. The middle half are priced between $935K and $4.8M. That works out to a median of $1,090 per square foot for a typical 2,487 square foot home. Homes here have been on the market 100 days on average, close to the 101 days typical across the 56 markets in STRROI's ranking. 32 of them were listed in the last 30 days.
These numbers cover the homes for sale STRROI analyzes as potential short-term rentals in Charleston, mainly ZIP 29401. They are not every home sale in the area, so they can differ from MLS-wide figures. Month-by-month price history starts Oct 2026 and fills in as the market is re-checked each month.
What's for sale in Charleston right now
Of the 103 homes for sale we analyzed in Charleston, 4 (4%) project positive monthly cash flow with 20% down at a 7.5% rate, and none rate Buy or better on STRROI's 1-10 scale. 3-bedroom homes are the most common (28 for sale, median $3.6M). Returns are strongest in 1-bedroom homes at a 3.1% median cap rate, and weakest in 5+ bedroom homes at 1.0%. By property type, condos lead at a 3.0% median cap rate across 40 listings.
- Weak: 9
- Avoid: 94
| Beds | For sale | Median price | Cap rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 14 | $557K | 3.1% |
| 2 | 27 | $989K | 2.9% |
| 3 | 28 | $3.6M | 1.2% |
| 4 | 14 | $4.0M | 1.7% |
| 5+ | 18 | $9.7M | 1.0% |
| Type | For sale | Median price | Cap rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Single-family homes | 41 | $6.0M | 1.1% |
| Condos | 40 | $737K | 3.0% |
| Townhouses | 18 | $3.6M | 1.0% |
| Multi-family | 4 | $3.7M | 1.6% |
Top-ranked homes for sale in Charleston this month
Scored 1-10 against real Airbnb comps. Addresses, photos and the full underwriting are in the app.
- #1Weak · 4/102 bd · 2 ba condoZIP 29401 · listed at $100K
- Cap rate
- 21.5%
- Cash flow
- +$1,233/mo
- Nightly
- $201 at 59%
- #2Weak · 4/102 bd · 2 ba townhouseZIP 29401 · listed at $200K
- Cap rate
- 10.8%
- Cash flow
- +$673/mo
- Nightly
- $201 at 59%
- #3Weak · 4/102 bd · 2 ba condoZIP 29401 · listed at $285K
- Cap rate
- 7.3%
- Cash flow
- +$132/mo
- Nightly
- $191 at 59%
How Charleston compares
Charleston ranks #19 of 21 Southeast markets in STRROI's live ranking; St. Augustine leads the region with a median cap rate of 5.7%. Its 1.8% cap rate is 1.1 points below the 2.9% median across all 57 ranked markets, and its $2.5M typical list price is pricier than the Southeast median of $633K.
| Rank | Market | Cap rate | Typical price |
|---|---|---|---|
| #43 | Anna Maria Island, FL | 2.2% | $3.5M |
| #46 | Hilton Head Island, SC | 2.2% | $950K |
| #47 | Sarasota, FL | 2.1% | $1.2M |
| #49 | Miami Beach, FL | 1.8% | $2.4M |
| #50 | Charleston, SC | 1.8% | $2.5M |
| #53 | 30A / Santa Rosa Beach, FL | 1.5% | $633K |
| #56 | Clearwater Beach, FL | 0.6% | $1.1M |
Rank is national, by median cap rate across active STR-viable listings. Cash flow uses STRROI's default financing assumptions. See the full ranking
Estimated Annual Performance
* Estimates based on market averages. Individual property performance varies. Always run a full underwriting analysis.
Why Investors Choose Charleston
Charleston STR investing, answered
Is Charleston, SC a good short-term rental market?
Charleston is a Southeast STR market with a 1.8% median cap rate, 59% annual occupancy, and $432/night across STR-viable listings, based on 103 active listings. It ranks #50 of 57 markets by median cap rate in STRROI's live ranking. This month none of its 103 homes for sale rate Buy or better.
What is the average Airbnb occupancy rate in Charleston?
STR-viable properties in Charleston average about 59% occupancy across the year. Peak season is Mar - May, Sept - Nov. Occupancy here reflects availability-adjusted booking performance, not raw calendar occupancy, so it represents what a full-time operated rental can realistically achieve.
How much do short-term rentals earn in Charleston?
At $432/night and 59% occupancy, a typical Charleston STR grosses roughly $93,347 per year before expenses, leaving an estimated $56,008 in net operating income. Across analyzed listings the median cap rate is 1.8%. Individual results depend on property, amenities, and management.
What types of properties work best for STR in Charleston?
Among homes for sale right now, 1-bedroom homes post the strongest median cap rate by size (3.1%), and condos lead by property type (3.0%). With guests, the best-performing STR types here are Single Family, Cottage, Condo, Historic Home. Matching the local guest profile and the amenities that drive bookings matters more than raw square footage.
How many homes for sale in Charleston cash flow as an Airbnb?
4 of 103 STR-viable listings (4%) project positive monthly cash flow after the mortgage, assuming 20% down at a 7.5% rate on a 30-year loan. The top-ranked listing this month is a 2-bedroom condo in ZIP 29401 listed at $100K, projecting a 21.5% cap rate and +$1,233 a month.
What is the median home price in Charleston, SC right now?
The median list price of the 103 homes for sale STRROI tracks in Charleston is $2,495,000, and the middle half are priced between $935K and $4.8M. The median price per square foot is $1,090. These are homes that could run as short-term rentals, mainly ZIP 29401, not every sale in the area. Against a 1.8% median cap rate, that price level sets the return baseline you'd underwrite against.
How long do homes stay on the market in Charleston?
Homes for sale in Charleston have been listed 100 days on average, close to the 101 days typical across the 56 markets in STRROI's ranking. 32 of them were listed in the last 30 days.
Market averages, not guarantees. Cap rates, occupancy, and nightly rates are market-wide averages based on active STR listings and historical data. Individual property performance depends on location, amenities, management, and listing quality. Always run a full underwriting analysis before purchasing.Stats sourced from 103 active listings · last updated Oct 16, 2026
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