Airbnb Market Analytics, Statistics and Data in Columbia, South Carolina, United States
Last updated: 2025-01-31
Looking to make more money with hosting or rental arbitraging Airbnbs, short-term rentals, vacation rentals in Columbia? 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 Columbia:
How much do Airbnb hosts make on average per month in Columbia?
The short-term rental market in Columbia 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 $2,312 per month
- Strong performing properties (top 25%) make $3,506 or more
- Best-in-class properties (top 10%) achieve $5,006+ monthly
- Entry-level properties (bottom 25%) typically earn around $1,359
Revenue Variations by Month
Occupancy Rates Throughout the Year in Columbia
The market in Columbia 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 54% occupancy rates
- Strong performing properties (top 25%) achieve 72% or higher
- Best-in-class properties (top 10%) reach 84%+occupancy
- Entry-level properties (bottom 25%) average around 30%
Occupancy Variations by Month
Average Daily Rates Seasonal Trends in Columbia
Daily rates in Columbia 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 $124 per night
- Strong performing properties (top 25%) secure $179 or more
- Best-in-class properties (top 10%) pull in $277+ per night
- Entry-level properties (bottom 25%) earn around $88
Daily Rate Variations by Month
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Seasonality patterns in Columbia
Peak Season (November, October, June)
- Revenue peaks at $3269.51 per month
- Occupancy rates reach 57.19%
- Daily rates average $184.42
Shoulder Season
- Revenue averages $2725.02 per month
- Occupancy maintains 51.37%
- Daily rates hold at $162.99
Low Season (September, December, January)
- Revenue drops to $1789.42 per month
- Occupancy decreases to 41.14%
- Daily rates adjust to $152.52
Is it still profitable to do Airbnb in Columbia in 2025?
Yes! Columbia demonstrates moderate seasonality with good off-peak opportunities, featuring a healthy occupancy rate of 51% and strong monthly revenue averaging $2725 and As a mature market with 784 active listings, there's strong demand despite the competition. 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 Columbia
| Area | Why Choose This Area | Key Attractions |
|---|---|---|
| Downtown Columbia | The heart of Columbia, featuring a vibrant mix of shopping, dining, and entertainment options. Ideal for visitors looking for an urban experience close to key attractions and events. | South Carolina State House, Columbia Museum of Art, Town Theatre, Eau Claire, The Vista |
| Five Points | A lively college area popular among students and young adults, known for its nightlife and eclectic shops. Perfect for those seeking a fun, youthful vibe. | The Whig, Five Points Fountain, Trenholm Plaza, Godfather's Pizza |
| Vista District | An artsy area with galleries, restaurants, and bars. A great environment for creativity and culture, attracting both locals and tourists. | Columbia's art galleries, The Hatchery, Hammer's True Value, The Colonial Life Arena |
| Irmo | A family-friendly suburb with good schools and parks. Ideal for guests looking for a quieter, residential feel while still being close to Columbia's attractions. | Lake Murray, Irmo Community Park, Harbison State Forest |
| Forest Acres | A small city with a suburban feel, popular among families and professionals. Offers a good blend of local charm and access to city amenities. | Forest Acres Park, The Shops at Forest Acres, Dreher Park |
| Lexington | Just outside Columbia, this growing area is known for its excellent schools and comfortable suburban lifestyle, as well as proximity to outdoor activities. | Lake Murray, Lexington County Museum, Timberlake Marina |
| Shandon | A historic neighborhood with beautiful homes and a strong community feel, attracting families and those wanting a peaceful retreat near the city. | Shandon Park, Rosewood Park, Columbia's historic homes |
| Blythewood | A tranquil suburban area known for its spacious properties and golf courses, appealing to those looking for comfort and nature close to Columbia. | Blythewood Country Club, Doko Meadows Park, Lake Ashwood |
Do you need a license for Airbnb in Columbia?
We recommend checking directly with Columbia's local government regarding short-term rental licensing requirements. Current market data shows limited licensing information (10% of listings), making it essential to verify current regulations before starting your Airbnb business.
Top Performing Airbnb Properties in Columbia
Midtown, Near USC & River - Paired On Pope 1 & 2!
Entire Place • 8 bedrooms
Charleston Home-Walk to 5pts/USC
Entire Place • 5 bedrooms
The Rosa House
Entire Place • 4 bedrooms
USC Football Game Available 2.5 mi to Dtwn Cola
Entire Place • 3 bedrooms
Downtown! Walk to USC/Downtown/Tennis
Entire Place • 4 bedrooms
Off-Devine Townhome near USC, Ft Jackson & COLA
Entire Place • 3 bedrooms
Top Performing Professional Hosts in Columbia
| Host Name | Properties | Grossing Revenue | Stay Reviews | Avg Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wendy (Heartwood Homes) | 74 | $2,751,808 | 4495 | 4.67/5.0 |
| Heartwood | 34 | $1,023,466 | 1796 | 4.68/5.0 |
| Joseph | 11 | $715,993 | 848 | 4.65/5.0 |
| Vanessa | 8 | $432,175 | 514 | 4.92/5.0 |
| Ben & Andres | 11 | $344,917 | 1009 | 4.77/5.0 |
| Rachel | 7 | $316,442 | 342 | 4.47/5.0 |
| Cason Development Group | 9 | $278,340 | 227 | 4.82/5.0 |
| Megan | 7 | $238,648 | 848 | 4.88/5.0 |
| Brad | 7 | $237,855 | 56 | 3.51/5.0 |
| Galo | 5 | $206,886 | 274 | 3.89/5.0 |
Additional analytics on vacation rental, real estate, short term rental data in Columbia
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 (88.8%), with house and apartment & condo properties comprising 92.0% of inventory
- Untapped potential in boutique & hotels, others, outdoor & mobile, unique stays segments (7.9% combined)
Room Capacity Distribution
Analysis of 784 properties in Columbia shows that 2 bedrooms properties are most prevalent, making up 29.5% of the market. The market tends to favor smaller properties, with 2 bedrooms and 3 bedrooms together representing 54.3% of all listings.
Key Insights
- Most common: 2 bedrooms (29.5%)
- Least common: 5+ bedrooms (3.7%)
- Market concentration: 54.3% in top 2 sizes
- Market skew: Favors smaller properties
Guest Capacity Distribution
Analysis of 784 properties in Columbia reveals that 4 guests properties dominate the market, representing 23% of all listings. The average property accommodates 4.5 guests, with a clear trend towards larger guest capacities. Properties accommodating 4 guests and 8+ guests make up 42.2% of the market.
Key Insights
- Most common capacity: 4 guests (23% of market)
- Least common capacity: 1 guest (1.1% of market)
- Average guest capacity: 4.5 guests per property
- Market concentration: 42.2% in top 2 capacity sizes
- Market segmentation: Predominantly larger guest capacities
Booking and Availability Patterns
Available Days Distribution
Booked Days Distribution
Among 784 properties in Columbia, the most common availability pattern is 91-180 days (34.9% of properties). For actual bookings, properties most frequently secure bookings for 181-270 days (34.4% of properties).
Key Insights
- Most common availability window: 91-180 days (34.9%)
- Most common booking duration: 181-270 days (34.4%)
- Properties with high availability (180+ days): 50.3%
- Properties with long-term bookings (180+ days): 51.8%
Minimum Stay Distributions
1 Night
224 listings
32% of total
2 Nights
303 listings
43.2% of total
3 Nights
43 listings
6.1% of total
4-6 Nights
15 listings
2.1% of total
7-29 Nights
35 listings
5% of total
30+ Nights
81 listings
11.6% of total
Key Insights
- Short stays (1-2 nights) dominate the market at 75.2%
- Mid-length stays (4-6 nights) represent 2.1% of listings
- Monthly+ stays (11.6%) suggest a stable extended-stay market
- High market flexibility with 81.3% 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
0.1% of total
Flexible
187 listings
27% of total
Moderate
206 listings
29.7% of total
Firm
115 listings
16.6% of total
Strict
184 listings
26.6% of total
Key Insights
- Moderate is the preferred policy at 29.7% of listings
- The market shows a balanced distribution between guest-friendly (56.7%) and strict (43.2%) policies
- Strong market consensus around Moderate policies
- Super Strict 30 Days policies are least common at 0.1% 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 May, Apr, Sep, averaging 53 days
- Shortest booking windows are in Dec, Feb, Jan, averaging 30 days
- Spring shows the longest average booking window at 51 days, while Winter has the shortest at 30 days
Recommendations
- Implement dynamic pricing strategies for Spring bookings at least 51 days in advance
- Consider early bird discounts during Winter to encourage longer lead times
- Focus on last-minute booking promotions during Dec-Jan when lead times are shortest
Popular Airbnb Amenities in Columbia
Below is the distribution of amenities across listings in Columbia:
Traveler Demographics
Key Insights
- Domestic travelers make up 96.4% of total guests, indicating a dominant local market share.
- Primary international markets: DC (0.7%) and Canada (0.6%)
- English is the top language at 82.1%, followed by Spanish (13.1%)
- Notable demographic segment in <=1950s (Pre-1950s (Silent Gen)) at 5.7%
Recommendations
- Target marketing campaigns for Columbia and Charleston markets
- Develop localized content for DC and Canada
- 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 Columbia. These nearby markets offer diverse opportunities for property investors and hosts:
| Market | Properties | Monthly Revenue | Daily Rate | Occupancy |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Catawba | 12 | $7,686 | $548.02 | 46% |
| Lake Norman of Catawba | 25 | $6,906 | $483.84 | 47% |
| Denver | 82 | $6,882 | $523.37 | 48% |
| Union Mills | 14 | $6,231 | $453.13 | 43% |
| Mooresville | 326 | $5,671 | $492.84 | 45% |
| Sherrills Ford | 121 | $5,454 | $533.92 | 40% |
| Troutman | 35 | $5,365 | $363.27 | 52% |
| Six Mile | 57 | $4,521 | $413.64 | 44% |
| West Union | 31 | $4,360 | $508.15 | 37% |
| Chapin | 83 | $4,020 | $336.17 | 47% |
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