Quick answer
Shore rental income is one of the most-asked and worst-answered questions on real estate forums. The honest answer is "it depends on exactly which block, which season, and how well you run it." These are rough estimates based on our own experience and public listings, not a formal study. Your numbers will depend on your block, your unit and how you run it.
Gross revenue by unit size (summer season)
| Unit size | Average week (peak) | Est. yearly gross |
|---|---|---|
| Studio / 1BR | $1,400 - $2,200 | $15K - $28K |
| 2BR condo | $1,800 - $3,200 | $25K - $45K |
| 3BR condo / small house | $2,800 - $4,500 | $40K - $65K |
| 4-5BR single family | $4,000 - $7,500 | $55K - $95K |
| 6+ BR / oceanfront | $7,000 - $15,000+ | $80K - $180K+ |
Rough ranges across Wildwood Crest, Avalon, Stone Harbor, Sea Isle, Ocean City, and Cape May. Individual results vary by block, condition, photo quality, and how the rental is run.
The season calendar — where revenue comes from
- Peak (mid-June through Labor Day): about 11-12 weeks, and in our experience most of the year's revenue
- Shoulder (Memorial Day to mid-June, plus September): a smaller share, usually at lower rates than peak
- Fall / Spring (Oct-April): mostly weekends, a small share, at the lowest rates
Costs that eat into gross
Platform / listing fees
- Airbnb: a single host service fee, about 15.5% of each booking for most hosts
- Vrbo: 12% host commission starting October 29, 2026 (new subscriptions are no longer offered)
- Direct platforms (TrueStay): $349/yr flat listing, zero commission
Cleaning (passed to guest, but managed by you)
$100-$250 per turnover. Passed through as a cleaning fee on the booking so it's revenue-neutral IF you price it right. Don't undercharge or you'll be subsidizing cleanings out of your own pocket.
Occupancy tax
Not a cost to you. Airbnb and VRBO collect it from guests on their bookings. Direct bookings generally aren't taxed if you offer fewer than 3 units in New Jersey.
Maintenance + repairs
A common rule of thumb is to budget roughly 8-12% of gross for ongoing maintenance: HVAC servicing, appliance repairs, broken furniture, fresh paint every 2-3 years, broken screens, yearly deep clean. Shore rentals get hammered — salt air, sandy floors, high turnover.
Insurance
Cost depends on the property, location and coverage limits, so get a few quotes. Flood coverage is usually a separate policy.
Utilities
Varies with unit size and season. Budget for them, since guests usually don't pay them separately.
Property management (if applicable)
Full-service property managers commonly take a percentage of gross, often in the range of 15-25%. If you self-manage, this becomes profit — but it's a part-time job.
Maximize your rental revenue
Realistic net margins
Rough net margins after operating costs, now that most Airbnb hosts pay about 15.5%:
- Self-managed, Airbnb-only: roughly 40-50% of gross
- Self-managed, hybrid (Airbnb + direct): roughly 50-65% of gross, higher the more you book direct
- Fully managed (property management company): roughly 30-40% of gross
Example: a 3BR Wildwood Crest condo grosses $55K, about half through Airbnb and half direct, self-managed. That might net roughly $32K before mortgage and property taxes. After mortgage, property tax and HOA, that might be a few thousand to about $11K a year in cash flow, or it might break even, depending on what you paid.
Factors that move the number up or down
+ Boost your revenue
- Professional photos — in our experience, more bookings than phone shots
- Close to the beach — usually a noticeable premium over mid-island units
- Pool / hot tub — can support higher rates and more off-season interest
- Pet-friendly — can bring more bookings, offset by extra cleaning
- Ocean view — a real premium if the view is actually visible, not "peek-a-boo"
- Fast Wi-Fi — doesn't raise rates but reduces negative reviews
- Drag your revenue down
- Dated interiors (90s wallpaper, carpet in bedrooms)
- Mid-island or interior location more than 5 blocks from beach
- Minimum stay too long (strict Saturday-to-Saturday locks out shoulder-season midweek bookings)
- Weak photos / mediocre listing copy
- Slow response time to inquiries
Benchmarks by town (rough 2026 estimates)
| Town | 2BR avg peak week | 3BR avg peak week |
|---|---|---|
| Wildwood Crest | $2,200 - $3,000 | $3,000 - $4,200 |
| Ocean City | $2,500 - $3,500 | $3,500 - $5,000 |
| Cape May | $2,800 - $4,000 | $4,000 - $6,500 |
| Avalon / Stone Harbor | $3,500 - $5,000 | $5,000 - $8,500 |
| Sea Isle City | $2,500 - $3,500 | $3,500 - $5,500 |
| LBI | $2,800 - $4,000 | $4,000 - $7,000 |
Frequently asked questions
How much can I make renting my Jersey Shore property?+
As rough estimates from our experience, a well-run 2BR condo grosses about $25,000-$45,000 a year, a 3BR about $40,000-$65,000, and a 4-5BR about $55,000-$95,000. Most of that comes from mid-June through Labor Day.
What are the actual costs of running a Shore rental?+
Cleaning (usually passed to the guest as a cleaning fee), platform fees (about 15.5% for most Airbnb hosts, 12% on Vrbo starting October 29, 2026, or $349/yr flat on TrueStay), maintenance (a common rule of thumb is 8-12% of gross), insurance, and utilities. NJ rental taxes are paid by guests, not you (Airbnb and VRBO collect them; direct bookings generally aren’t taxed if you offer fewer than 3 units). Self-managed rentals often net roughly 40-65% of gross, depending on how much is booked through Airbnb.
Which Shore towns earn the most per rental?+
In our experience, Avalon and Stone Harbor tend to have the highest weekly rates, followed by Cape May and LBI. Wildwood Crest and Sea Isle City tend to have lower rates. These are rough estimates, and your block matters as much as your town.
How many weeks will my Shore rental book per summer?+
A well-priced, well-photographed Shore rental can book most of the roughly 11-12 weeks from mid-June through Labor Day. Shoulder season (late May, early June, September) can add more. In our experience, popular units often book up early in the year.
Does professional management eat into profits?+
Yes. Full-service property managers often take around 15-25% of gross. On a $55K gross, that’s $8,250-$13,750. For owners who can self-manage, keeping that is one of the biggest profit levers.
What property features boost rental income the most?+
In our experience: a real ocean view, being close to the beach, a pool or hot tub, professional photos, and being pet-friendly. Dated interiors are a common drag on revenue.
When should I buy a Shore property if I want to rent it?+
Fall and winter give better purchase pricing (and less competition from other buyers). You’ll have 4-6 months before the summer season to get the mercantile license, insurance, photos, and listings in place. Closing in April means scrambling to book the first season.