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Markets/Key West, FL

Key West Airbnb and Vrbo Calculator: Rules and Taxes

Estimate cash flow for an Airbnb or Vrbo in Key West, FL, then check local rules and taxes. The editable presets are illustrative inputs.

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Check Key West rules and official sources

Market context and seasonality

Key West's island culture, sunsets, and year-round warm weather make it a premium STR market. Limited inventory supports high nightly rates. Start with the preloaded Key West example inputs, then change the nightly rate, occupancy, purchase price, and expenses to match your property.

Key West STR market highlights

  • 1A tropical island in the continental US
  • 2Year-round warm weather destination
  • 3Cruise ship day visitors add to tourism
  • 4Fantasy Fest and other events drive premium periods

Seasonality in Key West

Demand is strong year-round and peaks in winter (January-April), when the weather is best.

Key West rules and taxes

Permit or license
Obtain the appropriate city rental Business Tax Receipt and confirm any required transient rental medallion/license and state lodging license with the Licensing Division.
Primary residence and zoning
Ask the city's Licensing Division whether the address holds a valid transient license, and how many. This review did not confirm new-license availability or transfer eligibility.
Lodging and sales taxes
Florida transient rentals can owe state sales tax, county surtax and local lodging taxes. Confirm the rates for the address and who remits each tax.

Last verified

Verification scope: We verified the city rental BTR requirement, the transient/non-transient distinction, the official way to check a licensed property and Florida tax categories. We did not verify new-license availability, transfer eligibility or combined rates.

Confirm the property's jurisdiction, eligibility and tax obligations with the listed authorities before buying or listing.

Nearby markets

Miami, FL

Nightly-rate preset: $225

Orlando, FL

Nightly-rate preset: $195

Jacksonville, FL

Nightly-rate preset: $258

Frequently asked questions

What's a good cash-on-cash return for Airbnb in Key West?
There is no single good cash-on-cash return for every Key West short-term rental. Compare the calculator's projected return with your financing costs, alternatives, risk tolerance, and the property's break-even occupancy. Replace the preset with property-specific costs and current comparable listings before deciding.
What's the average nightly rate for Airbnb in Key West?
This calculator starts with $375 per night as an illustrative STR Numbers input, not a live or cited market average. Current rates vary by property size, location, amenities, and seasonality, so replace it with recent comparable listings.
What occupancy rate can I expect in Key West?
The calculator uses 68% occupancy as an illustrative input, not a forecast for a specific property. Check current local comps and test a conservative downside case.
Is Key West a good market for Airbnb investing?
Key West is a beach market in the Southeast region. The calculator's $975,000 home-price preset is an illustrative input, not a current market valuation. Verify the property, comparable listings, and local rules before investing.

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City preset values are estimates for educational purposes only. See full disclaimer