Airbnb Market Analytics, Statistics and Data in San Luis Obispo, California, United States
Last updated: 2025-01-31
Looking to make more money with hosting or rental arbitraging Airbnbs, short-term rentals, vacation rentals in San Luis Obispo? AirROI have just the data insights! Over the last twelve months from February 2024 to January 2025, we've uncovered key trends and opportunities that successful hosts are leveraging in San Luis Obispo:
How much do Airbnb hosts make on average per month in San Luis Obispo?
The short-term rental market in San Luis Obispo shows distinct revenue patterns across different property tiers. Our analysis reveals that successful properties combine strategic pricing with quality management to maximize earnings potential. Market data demonstrates clear revenue differentiation among properties:
- Typical properties (median) earn $3,863 per month
- Strong performing properties (top 25%) make $6,280 or more
- Best-in-class properties (top 10%) achieve $9,978+ monthly
- Entry-level properties (bottom 25%) typically earn around $2,266
Revenue Variations by Month
Occupancy Rates Throughout the Year in San Luis Obispo
The market in San Luis Obispo shows distinct occupancy patterns influenced by seasonal trends and local dynamics. Properties that maintain high guest satisfaction scores and implement strategic pricing consistently achieve stronger occupancy rates. Current market data shows:
- Typical properties (median) maintain 50% occupancy rates
- Strong performing properties (top 25%) achieve 69% or higher
- Best-in-class properties (top 10%) reach 84%+occupancy
- Entry-level properties (bottom 25%) average around 27%
Occupancy Variations by Month
Average Daily Rates Seasonal Trends in San Luis Obispo
Daily rates in San Luis Obispo vary based on seasonality, property quality, and market dynamics. Properties that effectively balance competitive pricing with strong amenities typically command higher rates. Market analysis shows the following rate structure:
- Typical properties (median) generate $228 per night
- Strong performing properties (top 25%) secure $372 or more
- Best-in-class properties (top 10%) pull in $633+ per night
- Entry-level properties (bottom 25%) earn around $148
Daily Rate Variations by Month
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Seasonality patterns in San Luis Obispo
Peak Season (July, June, August)
- Revenue peaks at $6657.20 per month
- Occupancy rates reach 62.00%
- Daily rates average $345.32
Shoulder Season
- Revenue averages $5195.44 per month
- Occupancy maintains 49.02%
- Daily rates hold at $326.39
Low Season (December, February, January)
- Revenue drops to $3977.69 per month
- Occupancy decreases to 37.72%
- Daily rates adjust to $305.63
Is it still profitable to do Airbnb in San Luis Obispo in 2025?
Yes! San Luis Obispo demonstrates moderate seasonality with good off-peak opportunities, featuring a healthy occupancy rate of 49% and strong monthly revenue averaging $5195 and With 345 active listings, the market shows established demand while maintaining room for growth. There's also room for profit through rental arbitrage strategies, if you can identify competitively priced properties. To maximize your return on investment, consider employing the following strategies:
Peak Season Strategy
- Implement premium seasonal pricing strategies
- Set longer minimum stay requirements during high-demand periods
- Enforce stricter cancellation policies
Shoulder Season Strategy
- Maintain competitive market-based pricing
- Offer moderate-length stay incentives
- Target a mix of leisure and business travelers with flexible booking terms
- Focus on weekend getaway packages and mid-week business traveler promotions
Low Season Strategy
- Adjust pricing to remain competitive in the market
- Target different guest segments (business travelers, long-term stays, holiday visitors, event attendees, remote workers)
- Create targeted promotional campaigns to drive occupancy
Top Places to Start Airbnb in San Luis Obispo
| Area | Why Choose This Area | Key Attractions |
|---|---|---|
| Downtown San Luis Obispo | The heart of the city with a lively atmosphere, numerous shops, restaurants, and coffee houses. Great for visitors wanting to experience local culture and events. | Downtown SLO Farmers' Market, San Luis Obispo Museum of Art, Bubblegum Alley, SLO Historical Society, Mission San Luis Obispo de Tolosa |
| Avila Beach | A beautiful beach community close to San Luis Obispo, perfect for those looking to enjoy beach life and outdoor activities. Ideal for families and vacationers. | Avila Beach, Pirates Cove, Avila Valley Barn, Poplar Beach, Bob Jones Trail |
| Pismo Beach | Famous for its long sandy beaches and vibrant boardwalk. Popular destination for tourists seeking sun, surf, and relaxation. | Pismo Beach Pier, Dinosaur Caves Park, Pismo Preserve, Monarch Butterfly Grove, Pismo Beach Premium Outlets |
| SLO Wine Country | Renowned for its wineries and vineyards, this area attracts wine lovers and tourists looking for culinary experiences and beautiful landscapes. | Niner Wine Estates, Edna Valley Vineyard, Tolosa Winery, Kynsi Winery, SLO Wine Country Events |
| Cal Poly | Home to California Polytechnic State University, this area attracts students, parents, and visitors to various events at the university. | Cal Poly Performing Arts Center, The Crouse Art Gallery, Cal Poly State University, Study abroad programs, Student exhibitions |
| Los Osos | A charming coastal community known for its natural beauty and proximity to Morro Bay. Great for nature enthusiasts and those looking for tranquility. | Morro Bay National Estuary, Montaña de Oro State Park, Sweet Springs Nature Preserve, Los Osos State Park, Elfin Forest |
| Golf Course area | A suburban neighborhood with scenic golf courses, ideal for golfers and families seeking a quiet community vibe. | Dunes Golf Club, San Luis Obispo Country Club, Laguna Lake Golf Course, SLO Golf & Country Club, Parks and recreation areas |
| San Luis Obispo County Fairgrounds | Host to various events and festivals throughout the year, this area attracts visitors seeking entertainment and local culture. | SLO County Fair, Concerts at the Fairgrounds, Farmers’ markets, Art shows, Cultural events |
Do you need a license for Airbnb in San Luis Obispo?
We recommend checking directly with San Luis Obispo's local government regarding short-term rental licensing requirements. Current market data shows limited licensing information (0% of listings), making it essential to verify current regulations before starting your Airbnb business.
Top Performing Airbnb Properties in San Luis Obispo
The Villa at Cavalli Estates
Entire Place • 6 bedrooms
The Ranchhouse at Cavalli Estates
Entire Place • 6 bedrooms
Parker’s+Cottage Ranch Estate EPIC Views & Spa
Entire Place • 4 bedrooms
Black Barn Ranch 2.5 Acres W/Pool Near Downtown
Entire Place • 5 bedrooms
Edna Estate, Sleeps 17, Hot Tub
Entire Place • 5 bedrooms
Two homes on 41 acres! Sleeps up to 18
Entire Place • 7 bedrooms
Top Performing Professional Hosts in San Luis Obispo
| Host Name | Properties | Grossing Revenue | Stay Reviews | Avg Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lisa | 2 | $856,026 | 18 | 2.50/5.0 |
| Sean & Lindsey | 4 | $676,386 | 347 | 5.00/5.0 |
| Chrissy & Logan | 2 | $589,255 | 176 | 4.96/5.0 |
| Pauline | 5 | $447,828 | 1814 | 4.89/5.0 |
| Retreat | 5 | $422,688 | 333 | 4.88/5.0 |
| Tessa | 9 | $376,488 | 743 | 4.86/5.0 |
| David | 3 | $323,179 | 42 | 5.00/5.0 |
| The SLO Brew Lofts | 5 | $312,392 | 99 | 4.84/5.0 |
| Lindsey | 3 | $275,058 | 60 | 4.98/5.0 |
| Charles | 2 | $241,373 | 342 | 4.95/5.0 |
Additional analytics on vacation rental, real estate, short term rental data in San Luis Obispo
AirROI also have other key metrics and comprehensive data for your vacation rental, real estate needs. Go explore the advanced metrics that can help you make informed decisions:
Room Type Distribution
Property Type Distribution
Key Insights
- Market dominated by entire home listings (85.8%), with house and boutique & hotels properties comprising 71.4% of inventory
- Strong specialty sector (25.2%) combining boutique hotels, unique stays, and outdoor accommodations indicates market maturity and premium opportunities
- Untapped potential in outdoor & mobile, unique stays segments (6.6% combined)
Room Capacity Distribution
Analysis of 345 properties in San Luis Obispo shows that 1 bedroom properties are most prevalent, making up 38.6% of the market. The market tends to favor smaller properties, with 1 bedroom and 2 bedrooms together representing 64.6% of all listings.
Key Insights
- Most common: 1 bedroom (38.6%)
- Least common: 4 bedrooms (4.1%)
- Market concentration: 64.6% in top 2 sizes
- Market skew: Favors smaller properties
Guest Capacity Distribution
Analysis of 345 properties in San Luis Obispo reveals that 4 guests properties dominate the market, representing 27% of all listings. The average property accommodates 4.1 guests, with a clear trend towards larger guest capacities. Properties accommodating 4 guests and 2 guests make up 52.8% of the market.
Key Insights
- Most common capacity: 4 guests (27% of market)
- Least common capacity: 7 guests (1.2% of market)
- Average guest capacity: 4.1 guests per property
- Market concentration: 52.8% in top 2 capacity sizes
- Market segmentation: Predominantly larger guest capacities
Booking and Availability Patterns
Available Days Distribution
Booked Days Distribution
Among 345 properties in San Luis Obispo, the most common availability pattern is 91-180 days (29.9% of properties). For actual bookings, properties most frequently secure bookings for 181-270 days (31% of properties).
Key Insights
- Most common availability window: 91-180 days (29.9%)
- Most common booking duration: 181-270 days (31%)
- Properties with high availability (180+ days): 57.7%
- Properties with long-term bookings (180+ days): 44.3%
Minimum Stay Distributions
1 Night
87 listings
27.9% of total
2 Nights
143 listings
45.8% of total
3 Nights
26 listings
8.3% of total
4-6 Nights
3 listings
1% of total
7-29 Nights
15 listings
4.8% of total
30+ Nights
38 listings
12.2% of total
Key Insights
- Short stays (1-2 nights) dominate the market at 73.7%
- Mid-length stays (4-6 nights) represent 1% of listings
- Monthly+ stays (12.2%) suggest a stable extended-stay market
- High market flexibility with 82.0% accepting 3 nights or less
Recommendations
- Set minimum stays between 2-3 nights to align with market standards
- Adjust minimum stays seasonally based on demand patterns
- Consider monthly stay discounts to capture the growing extended-stay market
- Implement different minimum stays for weekends vs. weekdays
Cancellation Policy Distribution
Super Strict 30 Days
1 listings
0.3% of total
Flexible
44 listings
14.3% of total
Moderate
117 listings
38.1% of total
Firm
71 listings
23.1% of total
Strict
74 listings
24.1% of total
Key Insights
- Moderate is the preferred policy at 38.1% of listings
- The market shows a balanced distribution between guest-friendly (52.4%) and strict (47.2%) policies
- Strong market consensus around Moderate policies
- Super Strict 30 Days policies are least common at 0.3% of listings
Recommendations
- Market supports various policies - choose based on your property type and target guests
- Strong market preference for Moderate policies suggests this should be your baseline
- Consider generous cancellation terms as a competitive advantage
Booking Lead Time Trends
Key Insights
- Peak booking lead times occur in Jun, Jul, May, averaging 82 days
- Shortest booking windows are in Mar, Feb, Jan, averaging 47 days
- Summer shows the longest average booking window at 79 days, while Winter has the shortest at 49 days
Recommendations
- Implement dynamic pricing strategies for Summer bookings at least 79 days in advance
- Consider early bird discounts during Winter to encourage longer lead times
- Focus on last-minute booking promotions during Mar-Jan when lead times are shortest
Popular Airbnb Amenities in San Luis Obispo
Every property in San Luis Obispo comes standard with Wifi. Below shows the distribution of other amenities:
Traveler Demographics
Key Insights
- Domestic travelers make up 95.9% of total guests, indicating a dominant local market share.
- Primary international markets: United Kingdom (0.8%) and Germany (0.5%)
- English is the top language at 73.5%, followed by Spanish (15.7%)
- Notable demographic segment in <=1950s (Pre-1950s (Silent Gen)) at 6.5%
Recommendations
- Target marketing campaigns for Los Angeles and San Francisco markets
- Develop localized content for United Kingdom and Germany
- Prioritize English and Spanish language support
- Tailor experiences for Pre-1950s (Silent Gen) while maintaining broad age appeal
- Implement seasonal promotions aligned with key market travel patterns
Nearby Markets
Explore short-term rental performance in markets surrounding San Luis Obispo. These nearby markets offer diverse opportunities for property investors and hosts:
| Market | Properties | Monthly Revenue | Daily Rate | Occupancy |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Carmel Point | 14 | $17,197 | $1060.21 | 54% |
| Big Sur | 10 | $13,758 | $1307.48 | 49% |
| Del Monte Forest | 102 | $10,351 | $907.23 | 47% |
| Los Olivos | 24 | $9,227 | $687.47 | 50% |
| Montecito | 135 | $9,116 | $825.14 | 48% |
| Carmel-by-the-Sea | 309 | $8,776 | $666.30 | 48% |
| Santa Ynez | 95 | $7,898 | $539.36 | 48% |
| Castroville | 17 | $7,310 | $487.40 | 52% |
| Carmel | 34 | $7,238 | $515.98 | 51% |
| Marina | 58 | $6,665 | $379.64 | 53% |
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