Airbnb market dataThrough 621 listingsHow we measure
Yes. Carlsbad, CA is a strong Airbnb market for 2026, with a whole-market median annual revenue of $54,681, median occupancy at 52%, and a median ADR of $356 (Chalet data).
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Written from an earlier data window, so some figures differ from the live numbers above.
Chalet AI
A typical active Carlsbad Airbnb earned $54,681 in the 12 months to Sep 2026. The top 25% of listings averaged $109,778, about 2.0× that. The bottom 25%, which includes rarely booked listings, averaged $3,985.
$4k
Bottom 25% average
$54.7k
Typical listing
$109.8k
Top 25% average
1-bedroom homes are the most common in Carlsbad (35% of listings).
| Bedrooms | Share of listings |
|---|
The best three months, Mar, Jun and Jul, brought in 28% of a typical Carlsbad listing's revenue over the 12 months to Sep 2026.
Revenue holds steady through the year
Typical monthly revenue per listing, Oct 2025–Sep 2026
North Beach has the highest gross yield of the 6 Carlsbad neighborhoods we rank, at 5.4%, with typical revenue of $72,597 a year.
| # | neighborhood | Gross yield | Revenue/yr | Occupancy | Home value |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | North Beach | 5.4% | $72,597 | ||
| 2 | Hedionda Point | 4.2% | $59,510 | ||
| 3 | South Beach | 4.0% | $74,140 | ||
| 4 | Village | locked | locked | locked | locked |
| 5 | Rancho La Costa | locked | locked | locked | locked |
| 6 | Olde Carlsbad | locked | locked | locked | locked |
Ranked by gross yield (typical yearly revenue ÷ median home value), last 12 months. 3 neighborhoods have fewer than 20 listings or incomplete data and aren't ranked.
Yield isn't everything: zoning and HOA rules decide which streets allow short-term rentals.
The median Carlsbad home is worth $1,593,241 (Zillow, Aug 2026), down 15.9% in a year. At typical revenue that's a 3.4% gross yield, before the mortgage, taxes and running costs.
Carlsbad ranks #52 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 Carlsbad right now, so here are others in California.
A typical active Airbnb in Carlsbad, CA earned $54,681 in the 12 months to Sep 2026. The median listing was booked 52% of nights, and the average nightly rate was $356 in Sep 2026. Against a median home value of $1,593,241, that's a 3.4% gross yield before the mortgage, taxes and running costs.
A typical active listing earned $54,681 in the 12 months to Sep 2026. The top 25% of listings averaged $109,778 and the bottom 25% $3,985. Estimated by size: 1-bedroom about $55,569; 2-bedroom about $67,164; 3-bedroom about $95,083 and 4-bedroom about $115,969 a year.
The typical listing was booked 52% of nights in the 12 months to Sep 2026, from 70% in March to 41% in December.
Based on 621 Carlsbad 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 Carlsbad over the last 12 months, and label each number with what it counts. Compare like with like before comparing sites.
| Nightly rate |
|---|
| Occupancy |
|---|
| Est. revenue/yr |
|---|
| Studio | 5% | $202 | 54% | $39,835 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 bedroom | 35% | $266 | 57% | $55,569 |
| 2 bedrooms | 32% | $361 | 51% | $67,164 |
| 3 bedrooms | 16% | $521 | 50% | $95,083 |
| 4 bedrooms | 9% | $653 | 49% | $115,969 |
| 5 bedrooms | 4% | $706 | 42% | $107,371 |
Estimated revenue = nightly rate × occupancy × 365, last 12 months.
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Estimate its revenue, costs and cash flow with Carlsbad's numbers.
| Month | Revenue | Occupancy | Nightly rate | Revenue a year earlier |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 2025 | $4,703 | 58% | $301 | |
| Nov 2025 | $4,233 | 45% | $311 | |
| Dec 2025 | $4,130 | 41% | $344 | |
| Jan 2026 | $3,898 | 46% | $307 | |
| Feb 2026 | $3,922 | 50% | $337 | |
| Mar 2026 | $5,350 | 70% | $356 | |
| Apr 2026 | $4,783 | 57% | $359 | |
| May 2026 | $4,642 | 52% | $366 | |
| Jun 2026 | $5,313 | 63% | $458 | |
| Jul 2026 | $4,829 | 57% | $583 | |
| Aug 2026 | $4,382 | 52% | $468 | |
| Sep 2026 | $4,495 | 50% | $397 |
Yes, Airbnbs are legal in Carlsbad, but only in the Coastal Zone or La Costa Resort and Spa Master Plan area, and with required permits.
Yes, you must obtain a business license in addition to the Short-Term Vacation Rental permit to operate an Airbnb in Carlsbad.
The total effective lodging tax rate for STRs in Carlsbad is 10% (TOT only), and state sales tax does not apply when TOT is collected.
The 10 largest operators in Carlsbad each ran 10 or more listings as of May 2025.
and 3 more
Of guests from the top 10 cities, 88% live within a day's drive. Guests book 72 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 |
|---|
| 52 | Carlsbad, CA (this market) | 3.4% | $54,681 |
|---|
Buying here?
A Carlsbad STR agent knows which properties and streets work as short-term rentals.
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March; June and July earned the most, bringing in 28% of a typical listing's revenue in the 12 months to Sep 2026.
$1,593,241 as of August 2026 (Zillow Home Value Index), down 15.9% in a year.
1-bedroom homes make up 35% of listings, earning an estimated $55,569 a year.
The top origin cities are Phoenix, AZ (5.4% of guests); Los Angeles, CA (4.2% of guests) and San Diego, CA (3.8% of guests). Of guests from the top 10 cities, 88% live within a day's drive.
Chalet tracks 621 short-term rental listings in Carlsbad, CA, with data through Sep 2026.
For education only, not financial, legal or investment advice. Full methodology
