San Diego, CA
Southern California beach city - year-round coastal STR demand
San Diego is Southern California's most STR-friendly major beach city, combining 70 miles of coastline, near-perfect year-round weather, and neighborhoods like Pacific Beach, Mission Beach, Ocean Beach, and La Jolla that each support distinct STR market profiles. The city regulates STRs through a tiered permit system - whole-home rentals require a license and are subject to availability caps in some zones.
Across 98 active STR-viable listings analyzed this month, San Diego shows a 1.3% median cap rate at a $2.1M median list price, 45% occupancy, and $331/night. That ranks #54 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.
San Diego real estate market right now
As of October 12, 2026, STRROI is tracking 98 homes for sale in San Diego that could run as short-term rentals, at a median list price of $2,097,500. The middle half are priced between $981K and $3.3M. Homes here have been on the market 71 days on average, shorter than the 101 days typical across the 56 markets in STRROI's ranking, so well-priced homes here tend to go quickly.
These numbers cover the homes for sale STRROI analyzes as potential short-term rentals in San Diego, mainly ZIP 92109. 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 San Diego right now
Of the 98 homes for sale we analyzed in San Diego, none 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. 2-bedroom homes are the most common (27 for sale, median $965K). They also post the best median cap rate of any bedroom count, 1.6%, against 1.0% for 3-bedroom homes. By property type, multi-family lead at a 1.9% median cap rate across 13 listings.
- Avoid: 98
| Beds | For sale | Median price | Cap rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 11 | $549K | 1.3% |
| 2 | 27 | $965K | 1.6% |
| 3 | 21 | $2.1M | 1.0% |
| 4 | 15 | $3.0M | 1.0% |
| 5+ | 23 | $3.5M | 1.6% |
| Type | For sale | Median price | Cap rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Single-family homes | 41 | $3.0M | 1.1% |
| Condos | 38 | $913K | 1.3% |
| Multi-family | 13 | $3.5M | 1.9% |
| Townhouses | 5 | $1.7M | 1.6% |
Top-ranked homes for sale in San Diego this month
Scored 1-10 against real Airbnb comps. Addresses, photos and the full underwriting are in the app.
- #1Avoid · 2/102 bd · 2 ba manufactured homeZIP 92109 · listed at $375K
- Cap rate
- 3.2%
- Cash flow
- -$1,112/mo
- Nightly
- $169 at 45%
- #2Avoid · 2/1011 bd · 6 ba multi-family propertyZIP 92109 · listed at $4.1M
- Cap rate
- 3.1%
- Cash flow
- -$12,496/mo
- Nightly
- $719 at 45%
- #3Avoid · 2/1012 bd · 6 ba multi-family propertyZIP 92109 · listed at $2.5M
- Cap rate
- 3.0%
- Cash flow
- -$7,694/mo
- Nightly
- $446 at 45%
How San Diego compares
San Diego ranks #6 of 6 West Coast markets in STRROI's live ranking; Napa Valley leads the region with a median cap rate of 5.5%. Its 1.3% cap rate is 1.6 points below the 2.9% median across all 57 ranked markets, and its $2.1M typical list price is pricier than the West Coast median of $657K.
| Rank | Market | Cap rate | Typical price |
|---|---|---|---|
| #8 | Napa Valley, CA | 5.5% | $675K |
| #18 | Lake Tahoe, CA | 4.0% | $640K |
| #26 | Palm Springs, CA | 3.4% | $575K |
| #44 | Big Bear Lake, CA | 2.2% | $549K |
| #52 | Mammoth Lakes, CA | 1.6% | $999K |
| #54 | San Diego, CA | 1.3% | $2.1M |
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 San Diego
San Diego STR investing, answered
Is San Diego, CA a good short-term rental market?
San Diego is a West Coast STR market with a 1.3% median cap rate, 45% annual occupancy, and $331/night across STR-viable listings, based on 98 active listings. It ranks #54 of 57 markets by median cap rate in STRROI's live ranking. This month none of its 98 homes for sale rate Buy or better.
What is the average Airbnb occupancy rate in San Diego?
STR-viable properties in San Diego average about 45% occupancy across the year. Peak season is Year-round (peaks: summer, Comic-Con July). 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 San Diego?
At $331/night and 45% occupancy, a typical San Diego STR grosses roughly $54,246 per year before expenses, leaving an estimated $32,548 in net operating income. Across analyzed listings the median cap rate is 1.3%. Individual results depend on property, amenities, and management.
What types of properties work best for STR in San Diego?
Among homes for sale right now, 2-bedroom homes post the strongest median cap rate by size (1.6%), and multi-family lead by property type (1.9%). With guests, the best-performing STR types here are Condo, Single Family, Beach Cottage, Townhouse. Matching the local guest profile and the amenities that drive bookings matters more than raw square footage.
How many homes for sale in San Diego cash flow as an Airbnb?
0 of 98 STR-viable listings (0%) 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 manufactured home in ZIP 92109 listed at $375K, projecting a 3.2% cap rate and -$1,112 a month.
What is the median home price in San Diego, CA right now?
The median list price of the 98 homes for sale STRROI tracks in San Diego is $2,097,500, and the middle half are priced between $981K and $3.3M. These are homes that could run as short-term rentals, mainly ZIP 92109, not every sale in the area. Against a 1.3% median cap rate, that price level sets the return baseline you'd underwrite against.
How long do homes stay on the market in San Diego?
Homes for sale in San Diego have been listed 71 days on average, shorter than the 101 days typical across the 56 markets in STRROI's ranking, so well-priced homes here tend to go quickly.
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 98 active listings · last updated Oct 12, 2026
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