Airbnb market dataThrough 1,481 listingsHow we measure
Yes, South Lake Tahoe, CA is a good Airbnb market in 2026 for disciplined, permit-holding operators.
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Written from an earlier data window, so some figures differ from the live numbers above.
Chalet AI
A typical active South Lake Tahoe Airbnb earned $52,788 in the 12 months to Sep 2026. The top 25% of listings averaged $100,181, about 1.9× that. The bottom 25%, which includes rarely booked listings, averaged $3,712.
$3.7k
Bottom 25% average
$52.8k
Typical listing
$100.2k
Top 25% average
3-bedroom homes are the most common in South Lake Tahoe (28% of listings).
| Bedrooms |
|---|
The best three months, Feb, Jul and Aug, brought in 31% of a typical South Lake Tahoe listing's revenue over the 12 months to Sep 2026.
Lower than a year earlier in every month we can compare
Typical monthly revenue per listing, Oct 2025–Sep 2026, against the same month a year earlier
No year-earlier data for Oct–Mar yet.
The median South Lake Tahoe home is worth $658,838 (Zillow, Aug 2026), up 1.6% in a year. At typical revenue that's a 8.0% gross yield, before the mortgage, taxes and running costs.
South Lake Tahoe ranks #20 of the 60 California markets we track by gross yield.
| # | Market | Gross yield | Revenue/yr | Home value |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Twentynine Palms, CA | 16.5% | $40,675 | |
| 2 | Joshua Tree, CA | 16.1% | $55,698 | |
| 3 | Yucca Valley, CA | 15.3% | $55,134 | |
| 4 | Coachella, CA |
None listed in South Lake Tahoe right now, so here are others in California.
A typical active Airbnb in South Lake Tahoe, CA earned $52,788 in the 12 months to Sep 2026. The median listing was booked 29% of nights, and the average nightly rate was $483 in Sep 2026. Against a median home value of $658,838, that's a 8.0% gross yield before the mortgage, taxes and running costs.
A typical active listing earned $52,788 in the 12 months to Sep 2026. The top 25% of listings averaged $100,181 and the bottom 25% $3,712. Estimated by size: 1-bedroom about $33,074; 2-bedroom about $54,404; 3-bedroom about $63,816 and 4-bedroom about $72,322 a year.
The typical listing was booked 29% of nights in the 12 months to Sep 2026, from 60% in July to 6% in October.
Based on 1,481 South Lake Tahoe short-term rental listings tracked by Chalet, with data through Sep 2026. Home values come from the Zillow Home Value Index.
Airbnb data sites count different things. Some average every listing, including ones that are rarely booked; some use a whole metro area instead of the town; some use a calendar year. We show typical figures for active listings in South Lake Tahoe over the last 12 months, and label each number with what it counts. Compare like with like before comparing sites.
| Share of listings |
|---|
| Nightly rate |
|---|
| Occupancy |
|---|
| Est. revenue/yr |
|---|
| Studio | 8% | $220 | 32% | $25,827 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 bedroom | 22% | $265 | 34% | $33,074 |
| 2 bedrooms | 18% | $387 | 39% | $54,404 |
| 3 bedrooms | 28% | $467 | 37% | $63,816 |
| 4 bedrooms | 19% | $625 | 32% | $72,322 |
| 5 bedrooms | 5% | $903 | 29% | $94,799 |
Estimated revenue = nightly rate × occupancy × 365, last 12 months.
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Estimate its revenue, costs and cash flow with South Lake Tahoe's numbers.
| Month | Revenue | Occupancy | Nightly rate | Revenue a year earlier |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 2025 | $2,066 | 6% | $332 | |
| Nov 2025 | $2,931 | 17% | $405 | |
| Dec 2025 | $5,098 | 29% | $534 | |
| Jan 2026 | $4,984 | 32% | $483 | |
| Feb 2026 | $5,907 | 43% | $528 | |
| Mar 2026 | $4,940 | 28% | $508 | |
| Apr 2026 | $3,257 | 19% | $427 | |
| May 2026 | $3,630 | 23% | $407 | |
| Jun 2026 | $5,069 | 44% | $488 | |
| Jul 2026 | $5,577 | 60% | $543 | |
| Aug 2026 | $5,114 | 47% | $491 | |
| Sep 2026 | $4,216 | 39% | $428 |
Yes, Airbnbs are legal in South Lake Tahoe with a valid VHR permit, subject to a 900-permit cap in residential areas.
Yes, a VHR permit is required to operate or advertise a short-term rental in South Lake Tahoe.
Yes, HOA CC&Rs can prohibit STRs even if the city allows them.
The 10 largest operators in South Lake Tahoe each ran 33 or more listings as of May 2025.
and 3 more
Of guests from the top 10 cities, 79% live within a day's drive. Guests book 61 days ahead on average.
and 3 more
| 13.3% |
| $57,693 |
| 5 | Desert Hot Springs, CA | 12.3% | $46,154 |
|---|
| 6 | Sugarloaf, CA | 12.0% | $35,095 |
|---|
| 7 | Three Rivers, CA | 11.7% | $64,767 |
|---|
| 8 | Crestline, CA | 11.1% | $39,934 |
|---|
| 20 | South Lake Tahoe, CA (this market) | 8.0% | $52,788 |
|---|
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February; July and August earned the most, bringing in 31% of a typical listing's revenue in the 12 months to Sep 2026.
$658,838 as of August 2026 (Zillow Home Value Index), up 1.6% in a year.
3-bedroom homes make up 28% of listings, earning an estimated $63,816 a year.
The top origin cities are San Francisco, CA (8.8% of guests); San Jose, CA (5.3% of guests) and Sacramento, CA (3.9% of guests). Of guests from the top 10 cities, 79% live within a day's drive.
Chalet tracks 1,481 short-term rental listings in South Lake Tahoe, CA, with data through Sep 2026.
For education only, not financial, legal or investment advice. Full methodology
