St. Petersburg, Florida

St. Petersburg Airbnb Profitability Calculator: 2026 Data

St. Petersburg combines Tampa Bay's fastest-growing arts-and-dining downtown with access to the Gulf beaches. Demand is twofold: urban tourism (museums, murals, the waterfront) and beach via St. Pete Beach. Zone-based regulation demands attention: the business model changes depending on which side of the zoning line your property sits.

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St. Petersburg STR market stats

  • Average ADR: $195
  • Average annual occupancy: 68%
  • Typical margin: 42%
  • Best season: February–April (dry season, spring training, and the Grand Prix)

What you need to know about St. Petersburg

  • Indicative ADR: $170–$230 USD/night by area (Downtown, Old Northeast, near the beach)
  • Average annual occupancy: 64–72%, with the dry season (Feb–Apr) as the peak
  • Booming downtown: the Dalí Museum, Central Arts District murals, the Pier waterfront
  • Dual demand: urban city-break + Gulf beaches 15–20 minutes away
  • Lower entry costs than Miami with a competitive Gulf-coast ADR

Rules for running an Airbnb in St. Petersburg

  • In the city's residential zones, rentals under 30 days are limited (general rule: no more than 3 times per year) — verify the exact zoning of your address
  • Mixed-use zones and commercial corridors allow STR with less friction
  • St. Pete Beach and Treasure Island are separate jurisdictions with their own (more vacation-rental-oriented) rules
  • State DBPR license required for vacation rentals
  • Pinellas County Tourist Development Tax: 6% + Florida Sales Tax 7% (with surtax) = 13% total to the guest
  • Many downtown condos ban short rentals via HOA — read the CC&Rs before buying

Example properties in St. Petersburg

1BR condo in Downtown St. Pete

  • Income / month: $4,900
  • Expenses / month: $2,850
  • Net profit: $2,050
  • Occupancy: 70%

Illustrative scenario: HOA $520, mortgage $1,650, Airbnb fees $735, cleaning included in expenses

3BR house in Old Northeast

  • Income / month: $7,400
  • Expenses / month: $4,300
  • Net profit: $3,100
  • Occupancy: 60%

Illustrative scenario: Mortgage $2,700, garden $180, fees $1,110, prorated STR insurance $210

Areas that perform differently in St. Petersburg

Not every part of St. Petersburg behaves the same. Typical ADR and occupancy ranges by area:

Downtown / Central Arts District

  • ADR: $190–$260
  • Occupancy: 68–76%

Murals, museums, restaurants, and the Pier. Weekend urban guests pay a premium to walk everywhere.

Old Northeast

  • ADR: $180–$240
  • Occupancy: 62–70%

Historic homes under oak canopies, minutes from downtown. Longer stays and mature guests.

Kenwood

  • ADR: $150–$200
  • Occupancy: 60–68%

Historic bungalows, artistic vibe, moderate entry costs.

Grand Central District

  • ADR: $140–$190
  • Occupancy: 58–68%

Growing commercial corridor with more flexible STR zoning.

Near St. Pete Beach

  • ADR: $210–$300
  • Occupancy: 64–74%

Pure beach demand — a separate jurisdiction with its own rules; verify first.

When demand spikes in St. Petersburg

Hosts who scale keep their calendar open for predictable peaks and raise ADR when they know the wave is coming.

March (3 days)

Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg (IndyCar)

ADR 2–3× downtown; the street circuit wraps the waterfront

February–March

MLB Spring Training (Tampa Bay region)

Sustained +15–20% occupancy across the bay for 6 weeks

December–April

Snowbird season

Long stays (2–8 weeks) with stable occupancy above 75%

October

SHINE Mural Festival

Creative/urban demand in the Arts District; ADR +20–30% for a week

Memorial Day / July 4 / Labor Day

Beach holiday weekends

ADR +40–60% with 2–3 night minimums

Your break-even point in St. Petersburg

With an average ADR of $195/night in St. Petersburg and 68% occupancy, knowing your break-even point is the difference between operating blind and operating like a pro. The calculator gives you your minimum nightly rate, marks your exact break-even, and projects income, profit, and margin in real time.

Calculate your break-even point

About Airbnb in St. Petersburg

Is it legal to run an Airbnb in St. Petersburg?

It depends on the zone. In most of the city's residential zones, renting for under 30 days is limited to a few times per year; mixed-use zones and commercial corridors have more flexibility. St. Pete Beach and Treasure Island (separate jurisdictions) are friendlier to vacation rentals. Verify your specific address's zoning with the city before buying.

How much does an Airbnb in St. Petersburg earn?

A well-located 1BR downtown condo generates $4,000–$6,000 USD gross per month once stabilized. 3BR houses in walkable neighborhoods can exceed $7,000 in the dry season. Typical net margin runs 38%–45%.

What is the best season in St. Petersburg?

February to April: dry weather, MLB spring training in the region, and the Grand Prix of St. Petersburg in March. Summer holds beach demand with afternoon storms; September–October is the trough.

St. Petersburg or Tampa for Airbnb investing?

Tampa has simpler citywide regulation (BTR and go) and corporate demand; St. Petersburg has better weekend tourist demand and the beach ecosystem. If your target property is in a residential St. Pete zone, check the short-rental limitation first — that factor usually decides the purchase.

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