10 Best Airbnb Markets in Georgia (Ranked for 2026)

Georgia’s short-term rental landscape in 2026 is defined by sharp contrasts. The highest-yielding markets are not the coastal icons or Atlanta’s trophy neighborhoods, instead, they cluster in midsize cities and mountain towns where home prices remain accessible and demand is powered by local events, tourism, and seasonality. The spread is dramatic.

Gross yields range from 28.6% in Augusta to 8.6% in Blue Ridge, with entry prices swinging from under $190,000 to over $600,000. The top five markets all clear the 12% gross yield mark, putting them in the upper third of US returns, while even the tenth spot outpaces the national median.

Gross yield measures annual rental revenue as a percentage of median home value. It captures cash-on-cash potential but not appreciation or expenses, which is why famous markets with high prices and heavy regulation often miss the cut. Instead, this ranking spotlights places where the numbers work for committed operators willing to underwrite against real, sustained booking activity. If you’re ready to match with a Georgia agent who knows the short-term rental game, start your search here.

Georgia Airbnb Market Rankings 2026 (and the City-by-City Breakdown)

Data as of July 11, 2026. Annual revenue is computed as ADR × occupancy × 365 for the trailing 12 months, gross before expenses. Each market’s revenue, ADR, and occupancy are medians for active listings, so multiplying table values will not reproduce the revenue figure. Gross yield divides median revenue by median home value (Zillow ZHVI). See the full data methodology for details.

The headline revenue averages every listing, but the active-operator benchmark filters to properties with sustained bookings, this is the number a committed buyer should use when underwriting a purchase.

1. Augusta: A yield outlier powered by low entry costs

Augusta claims the top spot in Georgia and nearly the entire US, with a 28.6% gross yield that sits in the 99th percentile of 501 tracked markets. The driver is clear. A median home value of just $189,027 paired with annual revenue of $54,033.

Occupancy is low at 27%, but the market’s ADR has surged 35% year-over-year, and July sees occupancy jump to 60% as the city fills for summer events. The supply side is tightening, with active listings down 14% even as demand rises, compressing payback to just 3.7 years at the active-operator benchmark of $51,640.

Seasonality is pronounced, January occupancy bottoms at 6%, while summer delivers 29% of annual revenue. Larger homes see the biggest upside. Five-bedroom properties clear $116,199 per year at a $1,334 ADR. For buyers, Augusta is a classic rate-and-event market where the upside comes from timing and property scale. For a deeper look at Augusta’s numbers, see the full analytics page.

Who it fits. Buyers seeking maximum cash-on-cash returns and willing to ride event-driven seasonality.

Regulation: Short-term rental rules vary by city, county, and HOA. Verify current requirements for the specific property before buying.

2. Columbus: Steady bookings and a quick payback

Strong seasonality shapes Columbus’s performance, with occupancy peaking at 63% in September and dropping to 30% in January, creating pronounced swings that savvy operators can leverage.

Revenue distribution remains balanced throughout the year, with spring accounting for 29% and winter and fall each contributing 24%, which helps smooth out cash flow and reduces risk from off-peak months. These patterns reflect Columbus’s appeal to both leisure travelers in the fall and spring and those visiting for local events or business during other times.

Columbus’s 20.3% gross yield ranks in the 96th percentile among 501 US markets, far outpacing the national median of 9.0%. The five-year payback period at the active-operator revenue of $34,771 is notably short, making the market attractive for investors focused on rapid capital recovery.

The high occupancy rate of 55% (well above the US median of 45%) and a moderate $148 ADR are sustained by affordable home values and steady demand, which together explain why the market delivers such strong yields despite a lower price point. The dominance of three-bedroom listings offers accessible entry, but five-bedrooms command the highest annual earnings, signaling room for upscale inventory to outperform.

Who it fits. Investors seeking high occupancy and a short payback horizon.

Regulation: Columbus requires a short-term rental permit under its Unified Development Ordinance. Hosts must comply with city licensing and tax remittance rules.

3. Athens: College town volatility with strong fall upside

Revenue patterns in Athens reflect the rhythms of university life, with occupancy surging to 61% in August as students return and major campus events fill the calendar. The fall season captures 30% of annual revenue, making it the most lucrative stretch, while winter sees occupancy sink to just 21% in January. This pronounced seasonality rewards hosts who can price dynamically and market aggressively around academic and sports calendars.

Ranking in the 84th percentile for gross yield among 501 US markets, Athens offers a 13.5% return, well above the national median of 9.0%. The median home value sits at $344,107, and buyers can expect a payback period of about 7.7 years using active-operator revenue, competitive for a college town with both student and event-driven demand.

The dominance of one-bedroom listings (230 active, earning $12,870 per year) caters to solo travelers and couples, but the highest returns go to five-bedroom homes, which command $112,776 annually at a $947 ADR.

Strong year-over-year momentum, occupancy up 25%, ADR up 15%, and listings up 18%, signals growing demand but also rising competition as more owners enter the market. Athens suits buyers who understand academic seasonality and want a foothold in a market with both student and event-driven demand. More detail is available on the Athens analytics page.

Who it fits. Buyers comfortable with academic calendars and event-driven peaks.

Regulation: Athens-Clarke County requires short-term rentals to comply with local ordinance limits, including permitting and tax remittance.

4. Helen: Alpine tourism with pronounced fall peaks

Revenue surges in Helen align closely with the town’s festival calendar, as occupancy climbs to 65% in October and daily rates hold strong at $262. This pronounced fall peak, paired with a summer share of 28% and fall at 27% of annual revenue, means income is heavily front-loaded around seasonal events and outdoor activities. In contrast, February occupancy falls to just 19%, reinforcing the need for operators to plan cash flow around deep off-season troughs.

Helen’s 12.7% gross yield places it in the 80th percentile among 501 US markets, outperforming the US median by a wide margin. The typical active operator earns $40,507 annually, translating to a payback period of about 8.2 years, competitive for a market with such high ADRs ($264, well above the US median).

One-bedrooms dominate the landscape (133 listings), but the highest returns are found in five-bedroom properties, which command $34,128 per year at a $483 ADR. The numbers reflect Helen’s reliance on tourism, with sharp seasonality driven by festivals and alpine-themed attractions, so buyers should underwrite for volatility and capitalize on peak demand windows. See how the numbers break down by property type on the Helen analytics page.

Who it fits. Investors seeking high ADRs and tourism-driven peaks.

Regulation: Short-term rental rules vary by city, county, and HOA. Verify current requirements for the specific property before buying.

5. Savannah: Historic demand, compressing supply

Price trends in Savannah reveal a market with strong guest appeal and tightening inventory. The median gross yield stands at 12.6%, ranking in the 79th percentile nationally and outpacing the US median of 9.0%.

Occupancy averages 50% but surges to 62% in July, when summer travel and local events draw visitors, while January’s 36% occupancy underscores the off-season lull. ADRs have jumped 19% year-over-year, now averaging $253, and the median home value has softened by 4.7% to $328,355, creating an environment where higher nightly rates offset a cooling real estate market.

Momentum is unmistakable. A 10% occupancy gain and a 17% drop in listings signal a supply squeeze, making each active property more valuable. The payback period is about 8.2 years based on active-operator revenue, a competitive mark for buyers seeking efficient capital recovery.

One-bedrooms dominate the inventory (803 listings), but larger six-bedroom homes command the highest annual revenue at $101,882, showing a wide range of investment options. These dynamics are shaped by Savannah’s enduring tourist demand and stricter regulations, which limit new supply and push up occupancy and rates for compliant operators. For a full breakdown, visit the Savannah analytics page.

Who it fits. Buyers looking for steady demand and the ability to capture upside as supply tightens.

Regulation: Savannah requires a short-term vacation rental certificate and compliance with zoning and tax rules for legal operation.

6. Ellijay: Mountain cabins with year-round draw

Market momentum in Ellijay is unmistakable, with occupancy up 23% and ADRs surging 28% year-over-year as of June 2026. Demand remains robust through the seasons, with occupancy peaking at 57% in July and dipping to 27% in January.

This pronounced seasonality, along with a nearly even revenue split between fall (28%) and summer (27%), signals Ellijay’s appeal as both a summer getaway and a fall foliage destination. The steady number of full-time listings, despite rising rates, suggests operators are capitalizing on increased guest willingness to pay rather than oversaturating supply.

Ellijay’s 10.6% gross yield ranks in the 67th percentile among 501 US markets, outperforming the US median of 9.0%. The active-operator annual revenue of $41,418 and a payback period of roughly 9.9 years indicate a solid return profile for investors, especially given the area’s high $343 ADR compared to the US median of $232.

Three-bedroom cabins dominate the inventory, offering approachable price points for buyers, but five-bedroom homes command the highest annual earnings at $41,716 and a premium $512 ADR. These dynamics reflect strong group travel demand and support underwriting assumptions for larger, higher-earning properties.

Ellijay is a fit for buyers seeking a classic mountain rental with year-round appeal and strong summer and fall demand. The Ellijay analytics page details the bedroom mix and revenue spread.

Who it fits. Buyers seeking mountain appeal and a balance of occupancy and rate.

Regulation: Ellijay requires compliance with its short-term rental ordinance, including permitting and local tax obligations.

7. Tybee Island: High rates, high entry, summer-driven

Summer demand on Tybee Island drives both revenue and occupancy, with July seeing a dramatic 85% occupancy rate and an average daily rate of $383. Winter tells a different story, as January occupancy drops to just 20%, highlighting the market’s heavy reliance on the warm-weather travel season. Summer alone accounts for 32% of annual revenue, and spring contributes another 27%, so investors should plan for pronounced cash flow swings across the year.

Compared to the US median, Tybee’s 10.5% gross yield ranks in the 66th percentile and its occupancy rate outpaces the national median by seven points, reflecting strong guest demand despite a high median home value of $629,233.

The market’s active-operator revenue of $62,754 and a payback period of about 10 years underscore the need for substantial upfront capital, but also signal the potential for solid returns if summer performance is maximized. A contracting supply of listings (down 17% year-over-year) and a remarkable 21% jump in ADR suggest that competition is easing and pricing power is growing, likely due to tightening regulations and high barriers to entry.

Who it fits. Capitalized buyers targeting premium nightly rates and peak summer occupancy.

Regulation: Short-term rental rules vary by city, county, and HOA. Verify current requirements for the specific property before buying.

8. Atlanta: Urban scale with steady demand

Summer brings Atlanta’s strongest performance, with occupancy reaching 61% in August and average daily rates (ADRs) climbing 37% year-over-year. In contrast, October marks the slowest period at 37% occupancy, highlighting the market’s pronounced seasonal swings. Revenue distribution across the year shows spring contributing the most at 29%, followed by summer at 27%, with winter and fall trailing, reflecting how travel demand aligns with Atlanta’s event calendar and milder weather.

With a 10.2% gross yield, Atlanta sits in the 63rd percentile among 501 US markets and matches the national median for occupancy, though its $187 ADR falls below the US median of $232. The payback period of 10.7 years, based on active-operator revenue, signals a balanced risk-reward profile for investors who value liquidity in a large metro.

The dominance of one-bedroom units (2,366 listings) offers a lower entry point, but investors targeting larger groups can achieve outsized returns. Seven-bedroom properties earn up to $101,113 per year at a $965 ADR. Rising listings, up 65% year-over-year, reflect a market absorbing new supply while maintaining steady demand, driven by Atlanta’s status as a business, convention, and cultural hub.

Who it fits. Buyers seeking scale and liquidity in a major metro market.

Regulation: Atlanta requires a short-term rental license for both primary residences and investment properties. Operators must post their license on all advertisements and comply with city tax rules.

9. Decatur: Urban adjacency with resilient occupancy

Price-driven travelers searching for Atlanta access without the city premium often turn to Decatur, where a $282,763 median home value underpins a 9.3% gross yield, placing it in the 54th percentile of US markets and just above the national median.

Seasonality shapes the calendar is occupancy surges to 68% in July, then falls to 30% by October, while summer and spring each contribute 28% of annual revenue, signaling strong warm-weather demand. These patterns reflect Decatur’s appeal during Atlanta’s peak event and travel months, while quieter autumns keep competition manageable for operators.

Momentum has remained steady, with a 21% year-over-year rise in occupancy and a striking 65% jump in ADR, even as active full-time listings surpassed 380 due to improved data coverage. Underwriting here means weighing a 12.4-year payback on active-operator revenue, a middle-of-the-road figure, against a property mix that skews heavily toward one-bedrooms (212 listings), yet sees five-bedrooms earning over $42,000 annually at premium rates.

The revenue spread highlights Decatur’s dual opportunity. Affordable entry points for solo travelers and lucrative returns for hosts investing in larger homes. For a full breakdown, see the Decatur analytics page.

Who it fits. Buyers seeking a stable, urban-adjacent market with upside in larger properties.

Regulation: Short-term rental rules vary by city, county, and HOA. Verify current requirements for the specific property before buying.

10. Blue Ridge: High rates, high prices, and fall peaks

Demand in Blue Ridge swells during the fall, with occupancy peaking at 62% in October and accounting for 28% of annual revenue, as leaf-peeping and mountain festivals draw visitors. By contrast, the market slows dramatically in January, when occupancy dips to just 31%, highlighting a pronounced seasonality that shapes cash flow planning for investors.

This cyclical demand helps explain why the average daily rate has surged 31% year-over-year to $326, well above the US median of $232, while a 22% drop in active listings has created a supply squeeze that supports premium pricing.

Despite the robust revenue potential, headline annual revenue stands at $44,571, Blue Ridge’s gross yield of 8.6% places it at the 47th percentile nationally, just below the US median of 9.0%. The high median home value of $517,052 and a payback period of about 12 years mean buyers must be comfortable underwriting larger upfront investments for steady, if not outsized, returns.

The active-operator revenue of $42,959 reflects a market where experienced hosts can still perform near headline levels, and the prevalence of three-bedroom cabins (with five-bedrooms earning the most at $59,561 annually) offers flexibility in property selection. These dynamics are shaped by a blend of strong seasonal demand and constrained inventory, making Blue Ridge attractive to those seeking a premium mountain market with reliable fall and summer peaks.

Who it fits. Buyers seeking a mountain destination and willing to underwrite against higher property costs.

Regulation: Blue Ridge requires a short-term rental certificate according to the city’s ordinance. Verify current requirements for the specific property before buying.

Why the famous Georgia markets miss the cut

Georgia’s best-known destinations, like Atlanta’s Buckhead, Savannah’s historic core, and the Golden Isles, often fall short on this ranking because of high entry prices and tighter local regulation.

While they attract steady demand, their gross yields rarely compete with the midsize cities and mountain towns where home values are lower and revenue potential is less constrained by supply or policy. For cash-flow-focused buyers, the data points away from the trophy ZIPs and toward markets where the numbers work at the property level.

How to read these rankings before you buy

Gross yield is a powerful screening tool, it measures rental income relative to purchase price, but it does not account for expenses, taxes, or appreciation. The headline revenue averages every listing, including low-activity properties, while the active-operator benchmark filters for those with real, sustained bookings.

Always underwrite against the active-operator number and verify at the property level, since local regulation, HOA rules, and property condition can change the math. Use these rankings as a starting point, not a substitute for due diligence.

If you’re ready to act, match with a Georgia short-term rental agent who knows these markets. Get connected now and put the data to work for your next investment.