Top Locations50 Best Cities for Airbnb Rental Income in 2020 by Sylvia Shalhout July 4, 2020July 2, 2020 by Sylvia Shalhout July 4, 2020July 2, 2020What are the best cities for Airbnb investment in 2020? Where are real estate investors generating the highest monthly Airbnb rental income in the US housing market this year?If you’ve kept a close eye on the situation with Airbnb vs COVID-19, you may have noticed reports are now surfacing that bookings are surging as coronavirus restrictions ease. And perhaps you want a piece of the action and that has led you to wonder where the best cities for Airbnb rental income are. Because more and more real estate investors are asking such questions, Mashvisor decided to help by putting together a list of the 50 best cities for Airbnb rental income. Related: Is Owning an Airbnb Profitable in 2020?Additional Airbnb Data from MashvisorAlthough it’s a great starting point, Airbnb rental income should not be the only metric you look at when trying to determine what the best cities for Airbnb investment are. You should be looking at numbers like listing price, average Airbnb daily rate, Airbnb return on investment (ROI), and Airbnb occupancy rate as well. Not only have we included all of this Airbnb data, but we’ve also divided the list of the 50 best cities for Airbnb rental income by listing price. Listing price is a very important consideration when you’re trying to figure out what cities are best for Airbnb real estate investing. That’s because, a lot of the time, you can charge a very high rental rate, resulting in a high monthly income, if you paid more for the Airbnb investment property for sale. But if you can’t afford to invest in short-term rental properties in a city that boasts high Airbnb rental income to begin with, then it doesn’t do you much good to have such data. So Mashvisor worked to provide you with the complete picture to help you choose the best city for Airbnb investing for you.Note that all of Mashvisor’s Airbnb data is pulled directly from Airbnb. We apply our own industry-leading algorithms and calculations to make that data make sense for you. But the results of all of our Airbnb calculations have been verified by numbers from real hosts in the US. So you know it’s Airbnb data you can rely on.The 50 Best Cities for Airbnb Rental Income What’s your budget for investing in Airbnb property this year? No matter, you’ll find a suitable city on this list.Best Cities for Airbnb Rental Income with Median Listing Price: Above $1 MillionOne of the best cities for Airbnb rental income is Manhattan Beach, CA – if you can afford it.#1. Manhattan Beach, CA Airbnb Rental Income: $10,782Median Property Price: $2,575,475Price per Square Foot: $1,155Average Airbnb Daily Rate: $359Airbnb Cash on Cash Return: 2.3%Airbnb Occupancy Rate: 62%#2. Beverly Hills, CA Airbnb Rental Income: $8,881Median Property Price: $2,470,841Price per Square Foot: $989Average Airbnb Daily Rate: $476Airbnb Cash on Cash Return: 1.2%Airbnb Occupancy Rate: 51%#3. Malibu, CA Airbnb Rental Income: $8,122Median Property Price: $2,271,796Price per Square Foot: $1,086Average Airbnb Daily Rate: $714Airbnb Cash on Cash Return: 1.9%Airbnb Occupancy Rate: 48%#4. Napa, CA Airbnb Rental Income: $7,870Median Property Price: $1,131,697Price per Square Foot: $622Average Airbnb Daily Rate: $379Airbnb Cash on Cash Return: 4.5%Airbnb Occupancy Rate: 65%#5. Corona del Mar, CA Airbnb Rental Income: $7,577Median Property Price: $2,874,807Price per Square Foot: $1,356Average Airbnb Daily Rate: $359Airbnb Cash on Cash Return: 0.5%Airbnb Occupancy Rate: 52%Best Cities for Airbnb Rental Income with Median Listing Price: $1 Million – $900,000#1. Key West, FL Airbnb Rental Income: $8,822Median Property Price: $996,594Price per Square Foot: $692Average Airbnb Daily Rate: $694Airbnb Cash on Cash Return: 5.5%Airbnb Occupancy Rate: 57%#2. Northport, NY Airbnb Rental Income: $6,393 Median Property Price: $906,505Price per Square Foot: $322Average Airbnb Daily Rate: $290Airbnb Cash on Cash Return: 3.2%Airbnb Occupancy Rate: 51%#3. Sedona, AZ Airbnb Rental Income: $4,960Median Property Price: $922,910Price per Square Foot: $343Average Airbnb Daily Rate: $161Airbnb Cash on Cash Return: 3.4%Airbnb Occupancy Rate: 76%#4. Yorba Linda, CA Airbnb Rental Income: $4,493Median Property Price: $964,677Price per Square Foot: $416Average Airbnb Daily Rate: $301Airbnb Cash on Cash Return: 1.9%Airbnb Occupancy Rate: 65%#5. Poway, CA Airbnb Rental Income: $4,407Median Property Price: $922,204Price per Square Foot: $450Average Airbnb Daily Rate: $186Airbnb Cash on Cash Return: 2.4%Airbnb Occupancy Rate: 64%Best Cities for Airbnb Rental Income with Median Listing Price: $900,000 – $800,000#1. Southlake, TX Airbnb Rental Income: $7,055Median Property Price: $832,493Price per Square Foot: $254Average Airbnb Daily Rate: $248Airbnb Cash on Cash Return: 4.2%Airbnb Occupancy Rate: 71%#2. Newbury Park, CA Airbnb Rental Income: $6,828Median Property Price: $884,844Price per Square Foot: $385Average Airbnb Daily Rate: $150Airbnb Cash on Cash Return: 4.9%Airbnb Occupancy Rate: 69%#3. Indian Wells, CA Airbnb Rental Income: $4,692Median Property Price: $837,729Price per Square Foot: $289Average Airbnb Daily Rate: $1,272Airbnb Cash on Cash Return: 2.2%Airbnb Occupancy Rate: 49%#4. Long Beach, NY Airbnb Rental Income: $4,670Median Property Price: $854,000Price per Square Foot: $529Average Airbnb Daily Rate: $258Airbnb Cash on Cash Return: 2.2%Airbnb Occupancy Rate: 51%#5. Brea, CA Airbnb Rental Income: $4,660Median Property Price: $812,781Price per Square Foot: $423Average Airbnb Daily Rate: $198Airbnb Cash on Cash Return: 2.4%Airbnb Occupancy Rate: 62%Best Cities for Airbnb Rental Income with Median Listing Price: $800,000 – $700,000#1. Brentwood, CA Airbnb Rental Income: $5,818Median Property Price: $738,602Price per Square Foot: $342Average Airbnb Daily Rate: $179Airbnb Cash on Cash Return: 4.6%Airbnb Occupancy Rate: 69%#2. Wailuku, HI Airbnb Rental Income: $5,601Median Property Price: $752,317Price per Square Foot: $594Average Airbnb Daily Rate: $204Airbnb Cash on Cash Return: 5.7%Airbnb Occupancy Rate: 64%#3. Valley Center, CA Airbnb Rental Income: $5,111Median Property Price: $793,536Price per Square Foot: $326Average Airbnb Daily Rate: $312Airbnb Cash on Cash Return: 3.5%Airbnb Occupancy Rate: 49%#4. Princeton, NJ Airbnb Rental Income: $4,743Median Property Price: $706,106Price per Square Foot: $300Average Airbnb Daily Rate: $258Airbnb Cash on Cash Return: 2.8%Airbnb Occupancy Rate: 56%#5. Ewa Beach, HI Airbnb Rental Income: $4,646Median Property Price: $702,707Price per Square Foot: $480Average Airbnb Daily Rate: $224Airbnb Cash on Cash Return: 4.4%Airbnb Occupancy Rate: 66%Best Cities for Airbnb Rental Income with Median Listing Price: $700,000 – $600,000#1. Valencia, CA Airbnb Rental Income: $6,249Median Property Price: $622,501Price per Square Foot: $354Average Airbnb Daily Rate: $230Airbnb Cash on Cash Return: 5.5%Airbnb Occupancy Rate: 73%#2. Temecula, CA Airbnb Rental Income: $5,050Median Property Price: $647,436Price per Square Foot: $278Average Airbnb Daily Rate: $353Airbnb Cash on Cash Return: 5.1%Airbnb Occupancy Rate: 54%#3. San Marcos, CA Airbnb Rental Income: $4,936Median Property Price: $660,707Price per Square Foot: $352Average Airbnb Daily Rate: $148Airbnb Cash on Cash Return: 3.9%Airbnb Occupancy Rate: 59%#4. Santa Clarita, CA Airbnb Rental Income: $4,477Median Property Price: $627,792Price per Square Foot: $332Average Airbnb Daily Rate: $202Airbnb Cash on Cash Return: 3.4%Airbnb Occupancy Rate: 62%#5. Doylestown, PA Airbnb Rental Income: $4,320Median Property Price: $637,936Price per Square Foot: $224Average Airbnb Daily Rate: $183Airbnb Cash on Cash Return: 3.7%Airbnb Occupancy Rate: 50%Best Cities for Airbnb Rental Income with Median Listing Price: $600,000 – $500,000#1. Carmel, NY Airbnb Rental Income: $5,749Median Property Price: $504,126Price per Square Foot: $216Average Airbnb Daily Rate: $157Airbnb Cash on Cash Return: 5.6%Airbnb Occupancy Rate: 70%#2. Herndon, VA Airbnb Rental Income: $4,818Median Property Price: $586,842Price per Square Foot: $274Average Airbnb Daily Rate: $177Airbnb Cash on Cash Return: 4.0%Airbnb Occupancy Rate: 60%#3. Argyle, TX Airbnb Rental Income: $4,519Median Property Price: $554,093Price per Square Foot: $183Average Airbnb Daily Rate: $320Airbnb Cash on Cash Return: 4.4%Airbnb Occupancy Rate: 46%#4. Springfield, VA Airbnb Rental Income: $4,391 Median Property Price: $545,695Price per Square Foot: $287Average Airbnb Daily Rate: $176Airbnb Cash on Cash Return: 4.1%Airbnb Occupancy Rate: 60%#5. Fairfield, CA Airbnb Rental Income: $4,308Median Property Price: $567,210Price per Square Foot: $286Average Airbnb Daily Rate: $565Airbnb Cash on Cash Return: 4.7%Airbnb Occupancy Rate: 48%Best Cities for Airbnb Rental Income with Median Listing Price: $500,000 – $400,000#1. Plymouth, MI Airbnb Rental Income: $4,894Median Property Price: $443,902Price per Square Foot: $199Average Airbnb Daily Rate: $142Airbnb Cash on Cash Return: 5.6%Airbnb Occupancy Rate: 47%#2. Grapevine, TX Airbnb Rental Income: $4,576Median Property Price: $474,404Price per Square Foot: $193Average Airbnb Daily Rate: $173Airbnb Cash on Cash Return: 5.3%Airbnb Occupancy Rate: 60%#3. Saline, MI Airbnb Rental Income: $4,491Median Property Price: $451,361Price per Square Foot: $203Average Airbnb Daily Rate: $209Airbnb Cash on Cash Return: 5.1%Airbnb Occupancy Rate: 49%#4. Parkville, MO Airbnb Rental Income: $4,484Median Property Price: $476,840Price per Square Foot: $151Average Airbnb Daily Rate: $104Airbnb Cash on Cash Return: 5.4%Airbnb Occupancy Rate: 58%#5. Thomasville, GA Airbnb Rental Income: $4,435Median Property Price: $495,922Price per Square Foot: $165Average Airbnb Daily Rate: $146Airbnb Cash on Cash Return: 6.2%Airbnb Occupancy Rate: 60% Find a Profitable Airbnb Investment PropertyBest Cities for Airbnb Rental Income with Median Listing Price: $400,000 – $300,000#1. Arlington Heights, IL Airbnb Rental Income: $4,581Median Property Price: $340,819Price per Square Foot: $188Average Airbnb Daily Rate: $100Airbnb Cash on Cash Return: 5.8%Airbnb Occupancy Rate: 78%#2. Milford, PA Airbnb Rental Income: $4,360Median Property Price: $373,892Price per Square Foot: $116Average Airbnb Daily Rate: $227Airbnb Cash on Cash Return: 6.9%Airbnb Occupancy Rate: 65%#3. Voorhees, NJ Airbnb Rental Income: $4,187Median Property Price: $364,947Price per Square Foot: $141Average Airbnb Daily Rate: $112Airbnb Cash on Cash Return: 4.0%Airbnb Occupancy Rate: 55%#4. Lake Zurich, IL Airbnb Rental Income: $4,179Median Property Price: $338,434Price per Square Foot: $167Average Airbnb Daily Rate: $125Airbnb Cash on Cash Return: 8.6%Airbnb Occupancy Rate: 58%#5. Pike Road, AL Airbnb Rental Income: $4,115Median Property Price: $378,356Price per Square Foot: $156Average Airbnb Daily Rate: $199Airbnb Cash on Cash Return: 6.4%Airbnb Occupancy Rate: 49%Best Cities for Airbnb Rental Income with Median Listing Price: $300,000 – $200,000#1. Benton, AR Airbnb Rental Income: $4,836Median Property Price: $283,989Price per Square Foot: $125Average Airbnb Daily Rate: $139Airbnb Cash on Cash Return: 7.3%Airbnb Occupancy Rate: 58%#2. Levittown, PA Airbnb Rental Income: $4,417Median Property Price: $267,307Price per Square Foot: $178Average Airbnb Daily Rate: $120Airbnb Cash on Cash Return: 7.1%Airbnb Occupancy Rate: 56%#3. Bridgeport, CT Airbnb Rental Income: $4,327Median Property Price: $255,297Price per Square Foot: $156Average Airbnb Daily Rate: $155Airbnb Cash on Cash Return: 3.6%Airbnb Occupancy Rate: 48%#4. Martinsburg, WV Airbnb Rental Income: $4,040Median Property Price: $247,491Average Airbnb Daily Rate: $133Airbnb Cash on Cash Return: 5.8%Airbnb Occupancy Rate: 66%#5. North Canton, OH Airbnb Rental Income: $3,808Median Property Price: $270,889Price per Square Foot: $125Average Airbnb Daily Rate: $83Airbnb Cash on Cash Return: 5.3%Airbnb Occupancy Rate: 75%Best Cities for Airbnb Rental Income with Median Listing Price: $200,000 – $100,000#1. Orangeburg, SC Airbnb Rental Income: $2,940Median Property Price: $199,958Average Airbnb Daily Rate: $145Airbnb Cash on Cash Return: 5.4%Airbnb Occupancy Rate: 46%#2. Cuyahoga Falls, OH Airbnb Rental Income: $2,660Median Property Price: $193,177Price per Square Foot: $119Average Airbnb Daily Rate: $79Airbnb Cash on Cash Return: 6.7%Airbnb Occupancy Rate: 41%#3. Belleville, IL Airbnb Rental Income: $2,618Median Property Price: $172,890Price per Square Foot: $89Average Airbnb Daily Rate: $117Airbnb Cash on Cash Return: 6.8%Airbnb Occupancy Rate: 65%#4. Warren, OH Airbnb Rental Income: $2,390Median Property Price: $176,387Price per Square Foot: $96Average Airbnb Daily Rate: $96Airbnb Cash on Cash Return: 6.1%Airbnb Occupancy Rate: 50%#5. Florissant, MO Airbnb Rental Income: $2,368Median Property Price: $167,721Price per Square Foot: $89Average Airbnb Daily Rate: $89Airbnb Cash on Cash Return: 6.8%Airbnb Occupancy Rate: 68%Related: How to Choose a Real Estate Market to Invest InWhat’s Next?Whatever your budget is, you now have a choice between 5 different cities for buying Airbnb property. Looking at the Airbnb cash on cash return, you can narrow down your options even further.For example, if your budget falls in the range of $400,000 to $500,000, the best city for an Airbnb investment would be Thomasville, GA. But what’s the next step? Currently, there are 195 investment properties for sale in Thomasville and there may be even more in the city of your choice. You may even still have a few cities on your list that you’re considering. So, let’s take a look at the next steps you need to take before you invest in an Airbnb for sale.#1. Research Airbnb RegulationsWe here at Mashvisor love to focus on the numbers when we’re conducting Airbnb market research. But we can’t emphasize enough how important it is to research the Airbnb regulations of any city before you buy a rental property to rent out to guests. In many cities (even some of the most profitable listed above), non-owner occupied Airbnb rentals may be outlawed. Airbnb all together may be an illegal practice in some cities. So the next crucial step is to research the Airbnb laws in any real estate market on your list. Start by visiting the website of the local government of the city. There, it should be outlined if Airbnbs are regulated and what rules apply. You may also want to try to get in touch with either a local real estate agent or the office of local officials who deal with such ordinances.Remember, you don’t only want to inquire about whether or not it’s illegal to rent out on Airbnb. You also need to know the following:Are there any taxes that will apply to your Airbnb rental property (state or city)?What licenses or permits do you need to run your Airbnb? How much will they cost?Are there any limitations on how many days out of the year you can host guests?Is Airbnb not allowed in certain zones? If so, which ones?How many guests can you host at one time?What kind of investment properties can be rented out on Airbnb?What other requirements and restrictions might apply to your short-term rental property?Related: 20 Cities with No Airbnb Legal Issues in 2020#2. Conduct a Neighborhood AnalysisOnce you have found a city with no Airbnb legal issues, you have to continue your Airbnb market research with neighborhood analysis. Where in the city will you be able to enjoy the highest rental income and Airbnb occupancy rate, for instance? This kind of Airbnb data can be hard to come by online unless you know exactly where to look. Mashvisor actually has all of the neighborhood data you need – from income to Airbnb occupancy rate data.Here’s how it works:Start by entering the name of the city where you want to invest in Airbnb property into Mashvisor’s real estate search engine and hit “Start Analyzing”. You’ll be taken to a map of all the neighborhoods in the city. On this map, you will see a menu called “Heat Map Data Set” (pictured below). If you click on it, the menu will reveal all the filters you can use to conduct your Airbnb neighborhood analysis:Traditional Cash on Cash ReturnAirbnb Cash on Cash ReturnAirbnb Rental IncomeTraditional Rental IncomeListing PriceAirbnb Occupancy RateMashvisor’s Real Estate HeatmapTo find the best places to invest in Airbnb for rental income, select the Airbnb rental income filter. All the neighborhoods that show up in green will be the ones with Airbnbs for sale that have the potential to generate high income on a monthly basis.As mentioned, your real estate analysis should never focus on one metric. So, it’s best to play around with the other filters relevant to Airbnb investments. Aim for neighborhoods that fit your budget and show up in green for the Airbnb rental income, Airbnb cash on cash return, and Airbnb occupancy rate filters.#3. Find and Analyze an Airbnb for SaleKnowing where Airbnb is most profitable in the city, it’s time to start your investment property search. You will probably be looking at a dozen or more properties for sale, depending on the location. How do you choose the best one? The answer is Airbnb investment analysis. Airbnb investment analysis is the process of evaluating a potential rental property to see how it will perform. You’ll want to find out the following about each of your options:Potential Airbnb incomeMonthly Airbnb costsAirbnb cash flowAirbnb cap rateAirbnb cash on cash returnAirbnb occupancy rateThe idea of gathering all of this Airbnb rental data for every property that fits your budget in the neighborhood might make eeny, meeny, miny, moe sound super appealing right now. But, we all know that is not how you find great real estate deals. Instead, turn to an Airbnb investment calculator. A powerful Airbnb investment calculator (like Mashvisor’s) should be able to instantly show you all the short-term rental data and analysis you need on any property for sale that interests you. With Mashvisor, you’ll get access to Airbnb analytics that will help you easily find a top-performing property. No more estimating Airbnb income or ROI on your own only to find out you entered the wrong number in an investment analysis spreadsheet after making a purchase. Get access to all of Mashvisor’s Airbnb investment tools and data today by signing up for a 7-day free trial now. Start Your Investment Property Search! START FREE TRIAL AirbnbAirbnb RegulationsInvestment Property AnalysisNeighborhood AnalysisRental Income 0FacebookTwitterGoogle +PinterestLinkedin Sylvia ShalhoutSylvia is the Content Marketing Manager at Mashvisor. As a real estate writer, she has been covering topics for the beginner and advanced real estate investor, helping them make smarter decisions as well as real estate agents looking to take their business to the next level. 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