Short‑term rental activity in the Bay Area has risen as the 2026 World Cup progresses, yet the boost is far from uniform. Analytics firm AirDNA shows a 10% increase for group‑stage matches and a 17.9% jump for the round of 32 compared with the same period last year, falling short of the national 15% average for host cities.

AirDNA reports 10% rise for group play vs 17.9% for round of 32

According to Bram Gallagher,director of economics and forecasting at AirDNA, the Bay Area’s overall demand growth lags the national trend during the early group stage but edges ahead once the tournament reaches the round of 32. the data suggests that while the World Cup is attracting visitors, the regional response is still softer than some local boosters expected.

Pacific Heights tops $1,300 nightly rate during group matches

Average nightly rates have surged above $300 across the Bay Area, but premium neighborhoods are commanding far higher prices. In San Francisco’s Pacific Heights, AirDNA records a $1,309 average nightly rate for group‑play dates, while nearby Cole Valley averages $1,270. Marin County’s Belvedere‑Tiburon, Cupertino and Los Gatos also posted rates above $700, with some listings exceeding $1,000 per night.

Oakland sees 48% jump for round of 32, South Bay stalls

Demand spikes are not evenly distributed. Downtown San Jose logged a 29% increase for group matches and 17% for the round of 32, whereas Oakland experienced a 19.1% rise for group play and a striking 48% surge for the round of 32. By contrast,the South Bay recorded only a 0.6% lift for group play and a 1.2% rise for the round of 32, indicating a tepid response in that sub‑region.

Who will sustain the short‑term rental boom after the World Cup?

Local officials, including Leah Toeniskoetter of the San Jose Chamber of Commerce, hope the tournament will generate day‑tripper traffic and boost downtown footfall. Yet Russell Hancock of Joint Venture Silicon Valley warns that the influx may be fleeting, noting that deeper issues such as housing affordability and traffic congestion cannot be solved by a three‑week tourism spike.

Which neigbhorhoods will see lasting price premiums?

Unanswered questions remain about whether the premium rates observed in Pacific Heights, Cole Valley and Belvedere‑Tiburon will persist once the World Cup ends. The data does not yet show how many of these high‑priced listings are repeat bookings versus one‑off opportunistic pricing.