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.
26 active listings in San Diego are analyzed and ranked right now
Scored 1-10 against real Airbnb comps. See which properties rank highest and why.
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 averaging a 2.3% cap rate, 47% annual occupancy, and $410/night across STR-viable listings, based on 26 active listings. 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.
What is the average Airbnb occupancy rate in San Diego?
STR-viable properties in San Diego average about 47% 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 $410/night and 47% occupancy, a typical San Diego STR grosses roughly $70,336 per year before expenses, leaving an estimated $42,202 in net operating income against a $2.4M average price, an implied 1.8% cap rate. Individual results depend on property, amenities, and management.
What types of properties work best for STR in San Diego?
The strongest-performing STR property types in San Diego are Condo, Single Family, Beach Cottage, Townhouse. Near-perfect year-round weather - no meaningful off-season. Matching the local guest profile and the amenities that drive bookings in this market matters more than raw square footage.
What is the median STR-viable home price in San Diego?
STR-viable listings in San Diego average around $2.4M. Primary STR ZIP codes include 92109, 92107, 92037. Combined with the market's 2.3% average cap rate, that price level sets the return baseline you'd underwrite against.
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 26 active listings · last updated Sep 1, 2026
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