Best Places in California, United States to Invest in Airbnbs, Short-Term Rentals in 2025

Last updated: January 31, 2025

Discover the most lucrative short-term rental markets in California, United States with AirROI's comprehensive investment guide. Whether you’re an experienced property investor or just starting your Airbnb journey, through detailed analysis of key metrics across premier global, our data-driven insights reveal where smart money is flowing in the short-term rental space. Using advanced market analytics and real performance data, we’ve identified investment hotspots that combine strong rental demand, favorable regulations, and optimal revenue potential.

Read on to explore the top-performing short-term rental markets that should be on every investor’s radar in 2024.

Top Short-Term Rental Cities in California, United States

Rank:#1Market:Los AngelesCountry:United StatesProperties:10,135Monthly Revenue:$2873.91Daily Rate:$276.04Occupancy:45.58%Regulation:High
Rank:#2Market:San DiegoCountry:United StatesProperties:9,167Monthly Revenue:$4618.98Daily Rate:$337.24Occupancy:52.31%Regulation:High
Rank:#3Market:San FranciscoCountry:United StatesProperties:4,301Monthly Revenue:$2623.52Daily Rate:$228.88Occupancy:48.29%Regulation:High
Rank:#4Market:Palm SpringsCountry:United StatesProperties:3,457Monthly Revenue:$4617.74Daily Rate:$442.77Occupancy:39.84%Regulation:High
Rank:#5Market:Big Bear LakeCountry:United StatesProperties:3,005Monthly Revenue:$3220.61Daily Rate:$380.03Occupancy:29.93%Regulation:High
Rank:#6Market:Mammoth LakesCountry:United StatesProperties:2,358Monthly Revenue:$3617.33Daily Rate:$364.30Occupancy:36.63%Regulation:High
Rank:#7Market:San JoseCountry:United StatesProperties:1,855Monthly Revenue:$1984.97Daily Rate:$163.99Occupancy:49.98%Regulation:Low
Rank:#8Market:South Lake TahoeCountry:United StatesProperties:1,630Monthly Revenue:$4344.19Daily Rate:$433.96Occupancy:38.13%Regulation:Low
Rank:#9Market:OaklandCountry:United StatesProperties:1,619Monthly Revenue:$1540.82Daily Rate:$144.96Occupancy:44.47%Regulation:Low
Rank:#10Market:Palm DesertCountry:United StatesProperties:1,534Monthly Revenue:$2248.18Daily Rate:$316.63Occupancy:37.94%Regulation:Moderate
Rank:#11Market:TruckeeCountry:United StatesProperties:1,518Monthly Revenue:$4067.05Daily Rate:$485.58Occupancy:34.82%Regulation:Moderate
Rank:#12Market:La QuintaCountry:United StatesProperties:1,436Monthly Revenue:$3586.14Daily Rate:$399.11Occupancy:37.88%Regulation:High
Rank:#13Market:IndioCountry:United StatesProperties:1,406Monthly Revenue:$4930.47Daily Rate:$483.15Occupancy:37.68%Regulation:High
Rank:#14Market:Big Bear CityCountry:United StatesProperties:1,313Monthly Revenue:$2500.25Daily Rate:$289.36Occupancy:32.29%Regulation:High
Rank:#15Market:Newport BeachCountry:United StatesProperties:1,268Monthly Revenue:$7104.15Daily Rate:$643.67Occupancy:45.91%Regulation:High
Rank:#16Market:OceansideCountry:United StatesProperties:1,215Monthly Revenue:$4544.67Daily Rate:$353.54Occupancy:49.12%Regulation:Low
Rank:#17Market:Long BeachCountry:United StatesProperties:1,202Monthly Revenue:$3371.03Daily Rate:$225.06Occupancy:51.86%Regulation:High
Rank:#18Market:Joshua TreeCountry:United StatesProperties:1,182Monthly Revenue:$3820.70Daily Rate:$254.86Occupancy:46.81%Regulation:High
Rank:#19Market:SacramentoCountry:United StatesProperties:1,073Monthly Revenue:$1755.59Daily Rate:$137.92Occupancy:47.33%Regulation:High
Rank:#20Market:Santa BarbaraCountry:United StatesProperties:949Monthly Revenue:$5581.40Daily Rate:$427.53Occupancy:49.42%Regulation:Low
Rank:#21Market:Santa MonicaCountry:United StatesProperties:903Monthly Revenue:$3297.97Daily Rate:$252.70Occupancy:52.39%Regulation:High
Rank:#22Market:Yucca ValleyCountry:United StatesProperties:880Monthly Revenue:$3924.64Daily Rate:$266.47Occupancy:46.13%Regulation:Moderate
Rank:#23Market:Lake ArrowheadCountry:United StatesProperties:821Monthly Revenue:$3107.44Daily Rate:$337.73Occupancy:32.62%Regulation:High
Rank:#24Market:AnaheimCountry:United StatesProperties:775Monthly Revenue:$4515.60Daily Rate:$326.60Occupancy:50.06%Regulation:High
Rank:#25Market:Tahoe CityCountry:United StatesProperties:741Monthly Revenue:$4368.52Daily Rate:$451.80Occupancy:38.78%Regulation:Moderate
Rank:#26Market:West HollywoodCountry:United StatesProperties:736Monthly Revenue:$2921.26Daily Rate:$336.74Occupancy:48.05%Regulation:High
Rank:#27Market:Santa AnaCountry:United StatesProperties:734Monthly Revenue:$3109.93Daily Rate:$209.28Occupancy:55.94%Regulation:Low
Rank:#28Market:Paso RoblesCountry:United StatesProperties:730Monthly Revenue:$4788.16Daily Rate:$394.13Occupancy:41.46%Regulation:Low
Rank:#29Market:BerkeleyCountry:United StatesProperties:725Monthly Revenue:$2049.70Daily Rate:$162.66Occupancy:53.61%Regulation:Low
Rank:#30Market:FresnoCountry:United StatesProperties:701Monthly Revenue:$1729.46Daily Rate:$126.84Occupancy:46.19%Regulation:Low

Our Methodology

At AirROI, we leverage advanced technology to process and analyze the world’s most comprehensive short-term rental dataset, helping investors make data-driven decisions.

Data Collection

  • Real-time data aggregation from tens of millions of listings globally
  • Comprehensive tracking of market-specific performance metrics
  • Local regulatory tracking

Data Processing

  • AI-powered analysis of booking patterns
  • Advanced machine learning for trend identification
  • Forward-looking market forecasting
  • Cross-market performance benchmarking

Key Metrics We Track

  • Occupancy rates and seasonal patterns
  • Revenue performance (ADR, RevPAR)
  • Market demand indicators
  • Investment metrics (ROI, operating costs)
  • Regulatory compliance requirements

How is your STR performing?

Your vacation rental may be amazing, but is it better than your competition? Enjoy the best-in-class AI-powered analytics for free!

Discover Insights

All Markets in California, United States

AlamedaAlhambraAltadenaAnaheimArcadiaArcataArnoldArroyo GrandeAtascaderoAuburnAvalonBakersfieldBaldwin ParkBass LakeBerkeleyBermuda DunesBeverly HillsBig BearBig Bear CityBig Bear LakeBodega BayBorrego SpringsBurbankCambriaCapitolaCarlsbadCarmel ValleyCarmel-by-the-SeaCarnelian BayCarpinteriaCastro ValleyCathedral CityCayucosChicoChula VistaCitrus HeightsClovisCoachellaCoarsegoldConcordCoronadoCosta MesaCrescent CityCrestlineCulver CityDaly CityDana PointDavisDel MarDel Monte ForestDesert Hot SpringsDowneyDunsmuirEast Palo AltoEastvaleEl CajonEl MonteElk GroveEncinitasEscondidoEurekaFallbrookFolsomFontanaFort BraggFremontFresnoFullertonGarden GroveGardenaGlendaleGrass ValleyGrovelandGrover BeachGualalaGuernevilleHacienda HeightsHawthorneHaywardHealdsburgHermosa BeachHomewoodHuntington BeachIdyllwild-Pine CoveImperial BeachIndian WellsIndioInglewoodIrvineJoshua TreeJulianJurupa ValleyKings BeachKirkwoodLa MesaLa PuenteLa QuintaLaguna BeachLaguna NiguelLake ArrowheadLake ForestLancasterLandersLodiLong BeachLos AngelesLos GatosMalibuMammoth LakesManhattan BeachMarina del ReyMariposaMcKinleyvilleMendocinoMenlo ParkMercedMeyersMill ValleyMission ViejoModestoMonroviaMonte RioMontecitoMontereyMonterey ParkMoreno ValleyMorro BayMount ShastaMountain ViewMurphysMurrietaNapaNational CityNevada CityNewarkNewport BeachOakhurstOaklandOceanoOceansideOjaiOlympic ValleyOntarioOrangeOxnardPacific GrovePacificaPalm DesertPalm SpringsPalmdalePalo AltoPasadenaPaso RoblesPetalumaPine Mountain ClubPismo BeachPlacervillePleasure PointPomonaRamonaRancho CucamongaRancho MirageReddingRedondo BeachRedwood CityRichmondRio del MarRiversideRosemeadRosevilleRowland HeightsRunning SpringsSacramentoSalinasSan BernardinoSan BrunoSan ClementeSan DiegoSan FranciscoSan GabrielSan JoseSan Luis ObispoSan MarcosSan MateoSan RafaelSanta AnaSanta BarbaraSanta ClaraSanta ClaritaSanta CruzSanta MonicaSanta RosaSanta YnezSea RanchSeasideSebastopolShaver LakeSoda SpringsSolana BeachSolvangSonomaSonoraSouth Lake TahoeSouth San FranciscoSpringvilleStantonStocktonSunnyvaleTahoe CityTahoe VistaTahomaTemeculaTempletonThousand OaksThree RiversTopangaTorranceTracyTrinidadTruckeeTustinTwain HarteTwentynine PalmsTwin PeaksUnincorporated Santa Monica MountainsVallejoVenturaVernonVictorvilleVisaliaVistaWalnut CreekWest CovinaWest HollywoodWest SacramentoWestminsterWhittierWindsorWrightwoodYosemite National ParkYucca Valley