Is it profitable to do Airbnb in Santa Barbara, The United States?

What is the occupancy rate of Airbnb in Santa Barbara, The United States?

What is the average daily rate of Airbnb in Santa Barbara, The United States?

Airbnb Revenue in Santa Barbara, The United States: 2025 Short-Term Rental Data & Insights

Average Airbnb Revenue in Santa Barbara

A typical short-term rental in Santa Barbara is booked for 252 nights per year, generating a medium Airbnb occupancy rate of 69% and an average daily rate (ADR) of $344 . In September, 2024 - August, 2025, the average annual short-term rental revenue in Santa Barbara was $83K . As of 3rd October, 2025, there are 802 active Airbnb listings in Santa Barbara.

Santa Barbara Airbnb Income Data Summary

Santa Barbara Average Monthly Revenue
$6,947
Santa Barbara YoY Revenue Change
24.94%
Santa Barbara Average Airbnb Occupancy Rate
69%
Santa Barbara Average Daily Rate
$344
Luxury
Santa Barbara Number of Listings
802
Small
Airbnb Seasonality in Santa Barbara
Strong
Most Profitable Month for Airbnb in Santa Barbara
July
Airbnb Laws in Santa Barbara
Lenient
Learn More >
** Period: September, 2024 - August, 2025 | Last Updated on: 3rd October, 2025

Santa Barbara Airbnb Revenue by Month

September, 2024 - August, 2025
Low
$5,331
Average
$7,389
High
$10,888



Is Airbnb Profitable in Santa Barbara, The United States?

Yes, starting an Airbnb business in Santa Barbara can be very profitable as there is strong short-term rental demand. An average vacation rental revenue of $83,374 and a median occupancy rate of 69% are considered good in the hospitality space. With 802 active listings, the Santa Barbara Airbnb market is strong but not oversaturated.
Tip: Investing in a short-term rental can be both stable and highly profitable.
Stability: Vacation rentals in a market like Santa Barbara are a stable investment strategy because they combine investing in real estate and in hospitality. While many potential investors worry about increasingly stricter Airbnb laws, if you can no longer rent out your property on Airbnb, you can convert it into a long-term rental and lease it to tenants on a monthly basis. Monthly rentals yield less, but they are less heavily regulated and even more stable than short-term rentals.
Profitability: Buying an Airbnb property in a city like Santa Barbara is highly profitable because the monthly cash flow from a short-term rental investment is typically double the rental rate of traditional rentals.
As a Santa Barbara Airbnb host, you can boost the performance of your short-term rental by choosing the optimal property type and the right property size and furnishing your listing with the most demanded amenities in the area.
Demand by Amenities

Average Airbnb Occupancy Rate in Santa Barbara

You can find the distribution graph of daily rate and revenue in our market dashboard. A typical Santa Barbara listing recorded a 69% average short-term rental occupancy between September, 2024 - August, 2025. The Santa Barbara vacation rental market has Strong seasonality, with July and June being the busiest months for Airbnb hosts.

About 7.29% of Santa Barbara Airbnb guests are international guests, and visitors from United states constitute the largest group. Learn more about guest origin to inform your vacation rental marketing strategy.

On the graph below, you can see the occupancy rate distribution per number of listings.

To view the distribution of average daily rates and annual revenue, refer to our Santa Barbara market dashboard.
Occupancy Rate: 69%
802 Active Listings

Starting an Airbnb in Santa Barbara: Short-Term Rental Regulations

Before launching an Airbnb in Santa Barbara, it's important to understand the local short-term rental rules and regulations. While Airbnb, Vrbo, and similar listing platforms are widely used in Santa Barbara, the legal landscape can be complex, especially for a beginner host.

In general, Santa Barbara Airbnb regulations are lenient at the city level, but zoning regulations might apply to some parts of the market. Hosts might be required to register their short-term rentals with local authorities, and there might be limitations on the number of licenses that a single host can hold. You also need to pay applicable Airbnb taxes to make your Santa Barbara vacation rental business legally compliant.
Signup and check out more in-depth vacation rental data for free.
Explore Santa Barbara's Airbnb Data
market map image

Most Profitable Areas for Vacation Rentals in Santa Barbara

Wondering where to invest in Santa Barbara for the best Airbnb returns? Look no further!
The best Airbnb markets in Santa Barbara are:
  1. Campanil
    • Airbnb Annual Revenue: $250,513
    • Airbnb Occupancy Rate: 51%
    • Airbnb Average Daily Rate: $1,324
  2. Foothill
    • Airbnb Annual Revenue: $218,691
    • Airbnb Occupancy Rate: 60%
    • Airbnb Average Daily Rate: $989
  3. Hitchcock
    • Airbnb Annual Revenue: $160,691
    • Airbnb Occupancy Rate: 88%
    • Airbnb Average Daily Rate: $496
  4. East Mesa
    • Airbnb Annual Revenue: locked
    • Airbnb Occupancy Rate: locked
    • Airbnb Average Daily Rate: locked
  5. Eucalyptus Hill
    • Airbnb Annual Revenue: locked
    • Airbnb Occupancy Rate: locked
    • Airbnb Average Daily Rate: locked
  6. West Beach
    • Airbnb Annual Revenue: locked
    • Airbnb Occupancy Rate: locked
    • Airbnb Average Daily Rate: locked
  7. Coast Village
    • Airbnb Annual Revenue: locked
    • Airbnb Occupancy Rate: locked
    • Airbnb Average Daily Rate: locked
  8. West Downtown
    • Airbnb Annual Revenue: locked
    • Airbnb Occupancy Rate: locked
    • Airbnb Average Daily Rate: locked
  9. Samarkand
    • Airbnb Annual Revenue: locked
    • Airbnb Occupancy Rate: locked
    • Airbnb Average Daily Rate: locked
  10. Laguna
    • Airbnb Annual Revenue: locked
    • Airbnb Occupancy Rate: locked
    • Airbnb Average Daily Rate: locked
Find the top Airbnb location in Santa Barbara for your specific needs and aspirations.

Most Popular Airbnbs in Santa Barbara

Airbtics has been tracking all Airbnb listings since 2019. This allows us to understand interesting metrics, like which properties earn the most in the market. Here are our top picks. Go to the app to find detailed information about 802 listings.
listing_image
Entire home & 5 Bed
⭐5.0 (3)
Oceanfront Santa Barbara Villa
$12,345
Revenue Potential
234
Days Available
$121,345
Revenue
74%
Occupancy Rate
$4,261
Daily Rate
View Listing
listing_image
Entire home & 4 Bed
⭐5.0 (10)
Rancho Tranquilo - Private Oasis w Panoramic Views
$12,345
Revenue Potential
234
Days Available
$121,345
Revenue
74%
Occupancy Rate
$1,552
Daily Rate
View Listing
listing_image
Entire home & 2 Bed
⭐5.0 (331)
Hope Hacienda
$12,345
Revenue Potential
234
Days Available
$121,345
Revenue
74%
Occupancy Rate
$318
Daily Rate
View Listing
listing_image
Entire home & 4 Bed
⭐5.0 (216)
The Rose Mar Four Bedroom Villa At Ocean
$12,345
Revenue Potential
234
Days Available
$121,345
Revenue
74%
Occupancy Rate
$701
Daily Rate
View Listing
listing_image
Entire home & 3 Bed
⭐5.0 (60)
Santa Barbara Dream • 3 Min Drive From Beach
$12,345
Revenue Potential
234
Days Available
$121,345
Revenue
74%
Occupancy Rate
$644
Daily Rate
View Listing
listing_image
Entire home & 4 Bed
⭐5.0 (241)
Beach retreat for families and dogs, EV charger!
$12,345
Revenue Potential
234
Days Available
$121,345
Revenue
74%
Occupancy Rate
$643
Daily Rate
View Listing
See Airbnb Statistics on All 802 Listings

Professional Airbnb Property Managers in Santa Barbara

You can turn your Santa Barbara Airbnb investment into a source of passive income and navigate the short-term rental regulatory framework easily by hiring one of the best Airbnb property management companies in the area.
To help you get started, we’ve compiled a list of the professional short-term rental property managers in Santa Barbara with the most Airbnb properties.
NameListingsRatingRevenue
Evolve368344.75$1,23,234
SunnyDays1174.7$1,23,234
Paradise Retreats854.8$1,23,234
Vacasa California5014.5$1,23,234
Vacasa California2384.5$1,23,234

Other short-term rental market data in Santa Barbara

Here is a breakdown of short-let properties in Santa Barbara. You might wonder about more specific data before buying an Airbnb property. For example, how much can an average listing with 4 bedrooms and a pool make? Or, what is the seasonality in booking? When is the peak month? Click the below button and check out more in-depth vacation rental data for free.
Santa Barbara Airbnb Listings by Property Size


Santa Barbara Airbnb Listings by Property Type
Santa Barbara Airbnb Listings by Cancelation Policy Type


Santa Barbara Vacation Rentals by Channel

Estimate Your Potential Earnings in Santa Barbara with the Airbtics Airbnb Calculator

Ready to start looking for the most profitable Airbnb investment opportunities in Santa Barbara?
Use our Airbnb income calculator to instantly get an accurate estimate of the earning potential of any neighborhood and area.

Santa Barbara Airbnb FAQs

How Much Can You Make on Airbnb in Santa Barbara, The United States?

The average Santa Barbara Airbnb host was able to make $83K in September, 2024 - August, 2025. Your actual vacation rental revenue can vary depending on your listing's location, type, size, amenities, target guest persona, property management style, marketing strategy, and other factors. Check out our detailed Santa Barbara Airbnb data to see how different factors affect revenue and estimate your potential income.

How Profitable Is Airbnb in Santa Barbara?

With an ADR of $344 and a median occupancy rate of 69%, short-term rentals in Santa Barbara can be very profitable. However, exactly how much money you can make from Airbnb in Santa Barbara is determined by multiple factors. Remember that profitable Airbnb investments start with the best location. Buy an Airbnb property in one of the most profitable locations in Santa Barbara.

What Is the ROI on Airbnb in Santa Barbara?

The return on investment (ROI) on Airbnb properties in Santa Barbara depends on factors like the purchase price, rental income, and operating costs. While the exact ROI varies by property, you can get an estimate by using key metrics such as annual rental income, daily rates, and occupancy.
In Santa Barbara, the annual Airbnb revenue is $83K . To estimate your ROI, compare this income against your property's purchase price and operating expenses.
Our Airbnb calculator can help you run the numbers based on your investment and strategy.

What Is the Average Occupancy Rate for Airbnb in Santa Barbara?

The median Airbnb occupancy rate in Santa Barbara was 69% in September, 2024 - August, 2025. However, your actual occupancy depends on many factors, such as your property type, number of bedrooms, pricing strategy, and marketing efforts.

How Many Airbnbs Are There in Santa Barbara?

As of March 2025, there are 802 active listings on the Airbnb platform in Santa Barbara.