Pricing It Right: A Landlord’s Guide to Setting Competitive Short-Term Rental Rates in Calgary

Research the Short-Term Rental Market

Here’s how to set rates that fill your calendar and boost your bottom line:

Browse Listings Like Yours

Before locking in a number, scope out properties that have the same bedroom count, similar neighbourhoods, and comparable amenities. Compare across multiple platforms to see what they charge and how often they’re booked. If they’re busy and priced right, they’re doing something you should be paying attention to.

Leverage the Big Players

Airbnb and Vrbo are pricing goldmines. Use them to track the going rates, guest demand, and the types of listings that are dominating. Listings with tons of reviews and recent activity? That’s your benchmark. Analyze how they describe themselves, what amenities they highlight, and how their rates shift week to week.

Dig Into Market Analytics

Tools like AirDNA take the mystery out of pricing. They show you real-time data on average daily rates, occupancy trends, and revenue by neighbourhood. Instead of pricing based on gut feel, you’ll know precisely what hosts around you are earning and where you can get an edge.

Tap Into Local Intel

Check the City of Calgary’s tourism page, event calendars, and any local STR (short-term rental) dashboards you can find. These can give you a sense of where travellers are heading, what areas are heating up, and which parts of the city are seeing increased demand.

Ride the Wave of Big Events

Calgary Stampede. Folk Fest. Big sports weekends. Global conferences. These popular gatherings are all pricing opportunities. Demand skyrockets during these events, and so should your rates. Don’t wait until the week before. Watch how other hosts adjust their pricing and make your move early to lock in top-dollar bookings.

Property-Specific Factors

Guests are happy to pay a premium if your short-term rental delivers real value. Here’s how to make every feature count.

Charge for the Extras That Guests Crave

If your place offers any of these high-demand perks, shout it loud in your listing and reflect it in your rate:

• In-suite laundry
• Free parking
• Smart TVs
• Blazing-fast Wi-Fi
• Central AC

Location = Leverage

Steps from 17th Ave? Walking distance to the Saddledome? Five minutes from the airport? You’ve got a major advantage. Guests pay more for easy access to events, nightlife, or early flights. Highlight transit connections and walkability in your listing, then confidently bump up your nightly price.

Let Your Reviews Do the Selling

A spotless reputation can drive your rates higher than the competition, even in the same building. Guests notice 5-star hosts who respond quickly and deliver personalized experiences. If your place is racking up rave reviews, that’s your green light to raise your rate.

Dynamic Pricing and Rate Adjustments

Calgary’s short-term rental market changes fast. Weekends, holidays, events, even the weather, can shake things up. Adjust your pricing regularly to stay competitive, maximize bookings, and capitalize on high-demand spikes before others do.

Automated Pricing Tools

Tools like PriceLabs and DPGO sync with your listings and adjust your nightly rates based on real-time data. These tools can boost revenue and occupancy without constant manual updates.

Seasonal and Day-of-Week Surges

Weekends, holidays, and high-travel seasons (like summer and ski season) often command premium pricing. Midweek and shoulder seasons may require discounts to stay competitive.

Length-of-Stay Discounts

Encourage longer bookings by offering a better nightly rate for week-long or monthly stays. It increases your occupancy and reduces cleaning and turnover time.

Local Management Pros

Don’t want to mess with pricing? Hand it off to the pros. Calgary co-hosts and property managers in Calgary live and breathe this market. They know what’s booking, what’s not, and how to price like a pro, often using real-time tools to keep your listing competitive. You sit back. They handle the numbers (and the stress).

Master Your Pricing Strategy With Local Experts

Pricing is your power move. Getting it right takes data, instinct, and a solid feel for your neighbourhood. The more intentional you are, the more bookings (and profits) you’ll see.

Want expert help dialling it in? Aisling Baile brings the local know-how and full-service support that Calgary counts on, from smart pricing to standout listings.