Airbnb Occupancy Rate in San Diego, United States, Data & Trends 2026

Over the analysis period June 2025 to May 2026, San Diego ran 64% average occupancy, a few points above the roughly 60% US average across the cities ListingOK tracks, on 232 booked nights a year. Where the city really separates itself is rate: an ADR of €262 (about $238) sits near the top of the national table, around 30% above the ~€202 US average, and it lifts average monthly revenue to €4,627 (about $4,206) versus a national mean near €3,327. In short, San Diego is a high-rate, solid-occupancy market rather than a high-turnover one.

Revenue was down 5% year over year, a milder slide than many US markets posted over the same window, suggesting demand held up better than average. A seasonality reading of 78% confirms a pronounced summer peak around July and June and a January-February trough, so pricing should swing hard across the year rather than sit flat.

San Diego's Airbnb demand is built on year-round beach tourism, a deep convention calendar at the downtown San Diego Convention Center, and steady leisure travel drawn by the zoo, Balboa Park, SeaWorld, LEGOLAND in nearby Carlsbad, and 70 miles of coastline. Visitors skew toward families, couples on long weekends, surf and watersports travellers, and conference attendees, with a reliable secondary stream of military families visiting the large Navy and Marine presence. Because the climate is mild every month, the city avoids the dead-season collapse that hits colder US markets, which keeps whole-home rentals viable as a primary business rather than a summer-only play.

The coastal location and high cost of housing push average daily rates well above the national norm, so San Diego behaves like a premium leisure market: managers compete on location, parking, and proximity to a specific beach rather than on price alone. Listings within walking distance of the sand or the Gaslamp nightlife command a clear premium over inland equivalents.

The coastal neighbourhoods drive the strongest short-term-rental economics. Mission Beach and Pacific Beach are the classic boardwalk markets, family-friendly and walkable, with Belmont Park and the beachfront pulling steady bookings, though Mission Beach carries its own stricter licence regime. Pacific Beach adds a lively nightlife layer that broadens the guest mix. La Jolla sits at the upscale end, with dramatic coves, boutique dining, and the highest nightly rates, while Coronado offers a resort-town feel anchored by the Hotel del Coronado and a wide, calm beach that suits families.

Downtown's Gaslamp Quarter and Little Italy are the urban-stay core: convention, nightlife, and Comic-Con demand concentrate here, favouring condos and apartments over houses. Inland and East County areas trade lower rates for easier licensing and more space, making them a value play rather than a premium one. Choosing a district is effectively choosing your guest: beach families, nightlife couples, or convention business travellers.