South Padre Island Airbnb Rental Market Data, Revenue and Occupancy Rates 2026

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South Padre Island Airbnb Rental Market Data, Revenue and Occupancy Rates 2026

Is South Padre Island, TX a good Airbnb market in 2026?

Yes. South Padre Island, TX is a strong Airbnb market for 2026: active full-time operators average $42,282 in annual revenue, with 32% occupancy and a $259 ADR (Chalet data). The city enforces moderate regulations, requiring registration, a $50 permit, and direct tax remittance.

Top-quartile operators see upside to $71,567. The headline median revenue ($43,824) is inflated by part-time listings—full-time performance is best benchmarked at $42,282. For details, see [South Padre Island STR regulations](/rental-regulations/south-padre-island-tx).

Operator Revenue (full-time active)

$42,282/yr

vs. headline average of $43,824 · 666 active listings

Average Daily Rate

$259

Gross Yield

10%

Ranked #191 in the US

Occupancy Rate

32%

New this quarter

Q2 2026 Market Momentum

Revenue and occupancy both rose YoY — demand is outpacing the prior cycle.

Active Operator Revenue (Q2)

$13,034$12,0767.9%

Per active full-time listing, Apr–Jun

Average Occupancy (Q2)

44.2%38.2%6.1%

Investment thesis

Why invest in South Padre Island, TX Airbnb rentals?

South Padre Island, Texas, stands out as a Gulf Coast STR market defined by its high operator engagement and sharp seasonality. Active full-time operators are averaging $42,282 in annual revenue according to Chalet data, with a median occupancy of just 32% and a robust $259 ADR. The median gross yield clocks in at 9.8% against a median home value of $448,511, placing the market at #160 nationally for STR performance. The spread between peak and trough is extreme: July delivers $5,517 per listing at 73% occupancy, while February drops to just $1,706 with occupancy at zero. While the broader market median revenue is slightly higher at $43,824, this is buoyed by a large base of part-time and casual listings—underscoring that consistent, full-time operators are the true revenue engine here.

The backbone of South Padre’s inventory is the 2-bedroom segment, representing nearly half of all supply (1,030 listings) and generating $31,327 in average annual revenue at a $251 ADR and 40% occupancy. Investors seeking higher absolute returns are increasingly targeting 3-bedroom and 4-bedroom properties: 3BRs (528 listings) average $43,824 annually at a $409 ADR, while 4BRs (129 listings) deliver $69,690 per year at a $628 ADR and 37% occupancy. The 78597 zip code, which encompasses nearly all of the island’s inventory, posts a median annual revenue of $43,824 and a 10.7% gross yield, with home values averaging $401,951. For tailored acquisition and product strategy, a Chalet agent can help parse the nuances of inventory and yield by bedroom count and block.

Operational scale is a key advantage in South Padre, as evidenced by the market’s host concentration: the top 10 operators control 28.4% of listings, with established players like Will & SPI Rentals Team and Padre Island Rentals each managing over 150 properties. Demand is heavily regional, with 85% of guests originating from Texas cities—San Antonio, Austin, McAllen, and Houston collectively account for nearly a quarter of all reviews. International travelers make up a modest 14.4% of demand. Booking lead times average 45 days (median 22), and average stays stretch to 5.4 nights, favoring operators who can optimize for extended summer bookings and rapid shoulder-season pivots. Investors can model precise returns using the Chalet ROI calculator.

The investor case is underpinned by a dramatic YoY surge: revenue per listing is up 28.6%, occupancy has climbed 17.5%, and ADR has jumped 18.9%. Listing supply has risen by 6.4%, and home values are up 1.1%—all pointing to a market that is expanding but not yet saturated. Seasonality remains the central risk, with February’s trough at 0% occupancy and $1,706 revenue, demanding careful cash flow management. Regulatory risk is moderate: South Padre Island actively enforces STR rules with mandatory registration, a $50 permit, and a 17% lodging tax. Repeat guest violations can lead to license suspension, and hosts must directly remit city and county taxes—a complexity detailed in South Padre Island STR regulations.

South Padre Island’s STR market is built for disciplined, full-time operators who can navigate deep seasonality and regulatory complexity to capture outsized revenue growth in a market still accelerating.

Chalet exclusive

The market average hides a two-tier reality

Most market reports quote a single average, but in every STR market a wide gap separates full-time professional operators from part-time and underperforming listings. Underwriting against that average understates the upside for operators willing to do the work — and overstates it for everyone else.

Chalet's active-operator benchmark filters out part-time and dormant listings so you can underwrite against what real operators in this market actually earn.

Top Quartile Operators$71,567

Top 25% of 541 listings

Active Operator Average$42,282

← This is your real underwriting benchmark

All-Listings Average$34,301

What typical market reports quote — every listing, incl. part-time

Where are you in your STR journey?

Three ways investors typically use this page. Pick the one that matches you.

Highest ROI segment

I'm converting an LTR to STR

See the revenue lift and occupancy upside of switching a long-term rental to a short-term in South Padre Island.

Run LTR → STR comparison

Monthly Revenue & Seasonality

Revenue per active listing in South Padre Island, TX, by month. Demand peaks Jun–Aug.

Monthly Revenue Trend

Revenue per active listing by month in South Padre Island, TX

$4,940

Season	Occ.	Revenue
Summer Jun–Aug	57%	$4,912
Spring Mar–May	36%	$3,676
Fall Sep–Nov	26%	$2,627
Winter Dec–Feb	8%	$2,406

Monthly Occupancy & Daily Rates

How occupancy and ADR move through the year — peak, shoulder, and low season patterns.

Monthly Occupancy Rate

Annual avg 31% · peaks at 73% in Jul

73% (Jul)

Summer peak

31%

Annual avg

Revenue by Bedroom Count

Annual revenue, occupancy, and ADR by bedroom configuration — South Padre Island runs mostly 2 Bedrooms, but 5 Bedrooms deliver the highest annual revenue.

Bedrooms	Listings	Occupancy	ADR	Annual Revenue
Studio	45	42%	$172	$26,158
1 Bedroom	334	42%	$192	$29,594
2 BedroomMost common	1,026	40%

Home Values & Guest Demand

Median home-value trend and where South Padre Island guests travel from.

Median Home Value

$448,511▲ 5.03% YoY

Source: Zillow ZHVI

Peak: $448,511 in May 2026

South Padre Island home values are appreciating — factor expected acquisition cost increases into your underwriting.

Where Guests Come From

Top origin cities · South Padre Island

Best Zipcodes for Airbnb in South Padre Island (2026)

Top-performing zipcodes ranked by gross yield. Click any zipcode for full analytics.

78597

Annual Rev

$43,824

Yield

10%

Listings

2,757

Step 1: Find your South Padre Island team

Match with South Padre Island's top STR-specialist agents

Get matched with South Padre Island, TX realtors who specialize in short-term rentals — they know which neighborhoods actually cash flow and which to avoid. We've vetted them all.

No fees · Average match in 5 minutes

1,839

Active STRs tracked in South Padre Island

$449K

Median home value

Step 2: Line up financing

Match with STR-specialist lenders

Conventional lenders often won't underwrite STR income. We connect you with lenders who use DSCR, projected revenue, and Airbnb-specific underwriting.

Compliance & Rules

Airbnb Rules & Regulations in South Padre Island, TX

Before setting up an Airbnb in South Padre Island, review the local STR regulations and confirm any HOA restrictions on your specific property.

Full South Padre Island STR regulation guide

Are Airbnbs legal in South Padre Island, Texas?

Yes, Airbnbs are legal and regulated as short-term rentals in South Padre Island.

Do I need a license to operate an Airbnb in South Padre Island?

Yes, you need to register and obtain a permit to operate an Airbnb in South Padre Island.

Step 3: Stress-test the deal

Calculate your Airbnb income potential in South Padre Island, TX

Run any South Padre Island address through Chalet's calculator — instant, data-backed estimates of occupancy, nightly rate, and annual revenue, plus cash flow and returns.

Calculate Your Income Potential

South Padre Island market average

$43,824

/yr

Projected gross rental income at market occupancy and nightly rate.

Avg daily rate

$259

Occupancy

32%

Gross yield

10%

Calculator unlocks the full per-property deal report.

Frequently Asked Questions

Direct answers to the questions investors ask most about this market.

Is Airbnb profitable in South Padre Island, TX?

Yes. Operating a short-term rental in South Padre Island, TX can be highly profitable. Listings see consistent guest demand, with hosts earning an average of $43,824 annually at 32% occupancy.

How much can you make on Airbnb in South Padre Island, TX?

Hosts average $43,824 per year. Bedroom count drives the spread: Studios average $26,158, 1 Bedrooms average $29,594, 2 Bedrooms average $37,462.

Trust & Sources

How we build this report

Data sources

Proprietary Chalet STR performance data (1,839 active listings tracked daily)
Local Chalet market-partner verification
City permit records and public county data

Methodology notes

Active operator = listing with sustained availability and booking activity over the trailing 12 months
Revenue figures are gross of platform fees, before operating expenses and taxes
Updated monthly · last refresh July 2026

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Information provided is for educational purposes only and does not constitute financial, legal, or investment advice.

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South Padre Island, TX