The short answer: Airbnb management in San Diego usually costs 20% to 30% of booking revenue for full-service management and 10% to 20% for co-hosting. Cleaning, supplies and repairs are normally billed on top, and some companies add onboarding, marketing or technology fees. Always compare the total yearly cost, not the headline rate.
We are Aubrey and Brad, the husband and wife team behind Salt & Sky Lodging Co., a boutique Airbnb management company in San Diego. We charge 20% for full-service management, 15% to 20% for co-hosting, and no onboarding fee. Here is how management pricing works, so you can compare any company fairly.
Typical Airbnb management fees in San Diego
Most San Diego managers charge a percentage of the money your home earns from bookings. These are the ranges San Diego management companies publish in 2026:
| Type of service | Typical fee | What you get |
|---|---|---|
| Co-hosting | 10% to 20% of booking revenue | Help with the parts that move revenue, like pricing, the listing and guest messages. You handle the rest. |
| Full-service management | 20% to 30% of booking revenue | Everything: pricing, listings, guests, cleaning, maintenance, supplies and reporting. |
| Luxury or premium homes | 25% to 35% of booking revenue | Full service with a higher level of care, styling and guest service. |
| Low-fee national companies | Starting around 10% | A lower rate, usually with a larger team, more automation and separate fees for setup and services. |
What the percentage is taken from
Two companies can both say 20% and cost you very different amounts. Ask what the percentage is taken from:
- Booking revenue: the nightly rate guests pay, before cleaning fees and taxes. This is the most common.
- Gross revenue: some companies include the cleaning fee or other guest charges, which makes the same percentage cost more.
Our rate is taken from booking revenue only.
Fees that can be added on top
The management rate is rarely the whole cost. These are the extra fees to ask about before you sign:
- Onboarding or setup fee: a one-time charge to set up listings, photos and accounts. Some national companies charge a few hundred dollars per property.
- Cleaning coordination fee: some managers add a percentage on top of what the cleaner charges.
- Maintenance markup: a fee or markup added to repair bills.
- Monthly technology, marketing or portal fees: charged even in months with no bookings.
- Linen, deep cleaning or restocking fees: often charged once or twice a year.
- Card processing fees: some agreements pass these back to the owner.
- Cancellation terms: how much notice you must give to leave, and whether there is a fee.
Ask every company for one written list of every fee. If they will not give you one, that tells you something.
Costs that are not management fees
Every short-term rental has running costs no matter who manages it. Budget for these on their own line:
- Cleaning: San Diego managers report about $150 to $250 per turnover for a two-bedroom home. Most owners cover this with the cleaning fee guests pay.
- Supplies: toilet paper, soap, coffee, linens and other things guests use up.
- Repairs and maintenance.
- Utilities, internet and streaming.
- Short-term rental insurance.
- City license and taxes, covered below.
San Diego license and tax costs
In the City of San Diego, every short-term rental needs a Short-Term Residential Occupancy (STRO) license and a Transient Occupancy Tax (TOT) certificate. These are the numbers from the City of San Diego as of October 2026:
| License | License fee | Application fee |
|---|---|---|
| Tier 1 (20 days or fewer a year) | $193 | $33 |
| Tier 2 (home sharing) | $284 | $33 |
| Tier 3 (whole home, outside Mission Beach) | $1,129 | $41 |
| Tier 4 (whole home, Mission Beach) | $1,129 | $41 |
- Licenses last two years.
- Tier 3 licenses are capped. 807 remained as of October 23, 2026.
- Tier 4 (Mission Beach) is closed, with a waitlist.
- TOT has been 11.75%, 12.75% or 13.75% since May 1, 2025, depending on your home's tax zone. It is added to the guest's bill, but the owner is responsible for making sure it is collected and paid.
- Carlsbad, Oceanside and other cities in San Diego County set their own rules and fees.
You can check current numbers on the City of San Diego STRO page and the City of San Diego TOT page.
An example: what 20% looks like
Say your home earns $80,000 a year in booking revenue. At a 20% full-service rate, management costs $16,000 for the year. At 30%, it costs $24,000. Cleaning, supplies, repairs, utilities, insurance and your license are separate in both cases.
The rate is only half of the math. A manager who prices your home well, keeps it booked and protects your reviews can earn you more after fees than a cheaper manager who does less. Ask each company for a revenue projection for your home, and ask how they arrived at it.
What Salt & Sky charges
- Full-service management: 20% of booking revenue.
- Co-hosting: 15% to 20% of booking revenue, depending on what you hand over.
- Onboarding: none.
- Cleaning, maintenance, supplies and design: billed separately, with every receipt attached to your monthly owner statement.
Full-service management includes daily pricing with PriceLabs, listings on Airbnb, Vrbo, Booking.com and Google through Hostfully, your home's own page on our direct booking site, guest screening with Superhog, Safely damage protection up to $1,500 on bookings made outside Airbnb, and a monthly statement with an owner portal. We are an Airbnb Superhost and a Vrbo Premier Host with 800+ five-star reviews.
Hiring a manager for the first time? Read our guide on how to choose an Airbnb management company in San Diego.
Questions to ask about cost before you sign
- What is your management rate, and is it taken from booking revenue or gross revenue?
- Is there an onboarding or setup fee?
- Do you add a fee or markup to cleaning, supplies or repairs?
- Are there monthly fees I pay even when the home is empty?
- Can I see a sample monthly owner statement?
- What revenue do you expect my home to earn, and how did you get that number?
- How much notice do I need to give to leave, and is there a fee?
Airbnb management cost in San Diego: common questions
How much does an Airbnb manager charge in San Diego?
Full-service Airbnb management in San Diego usually costs 20% to 30% of booking revenue, and co-hosting usually costs 10% to 20%. Some companies add onboarding, marketing or technology fees. Salt & Sky charges 20% for full-service management and 15% to 20% for co-hosting, with no onboarding fee.
Is a 10% Airbnb management fee a good deal?
It can be, but compare the total cost. Low-fee companies often charge separately for setup, cleaning coordination and other services, and usually have a larger team caring for more homes. Ask for one written list of every fee and a revenue projection before you decide.
Who pays for cleaning on an Airbnb?
Cleaning is usually paid from the cleaning fee guests are charged at booking. It is separate from the management fee. Ask whether your manager adds a coordination fee or markup on top of what the cleaner charges.
How much is a short-term rental license in San Diego?
A whole-home STRO license (Tier 3 or Tier 4) costs $1,129 plus a $41 application fee and lasts two years. Tier 1 costs $193 and Tier 2 costs $284, each plus a $33 application fee. These are the City of San Diego fees as of October 2026.
What is the hotel tax on an Airbnb in San Diego?
Since May 1, 2025, the City of San Diego Transient Occupancy Tax is 11.75%, 12.75% or 13.75% depending on the home's tax zone. It is charged to guests, and the owner is responsible for making sure it is collected and paid to the city.
Want to know what your San Diego home could earn?
Tell us about it. Aubrey and Brad review every application personally, and if it is a fit, we will send you a revenue projection.
Apply for management