Scarborough is one of Perth’s strongest beach short-stay markets. For a 2–3 bedroom entire home, Airbtics 2026 puts the market average at about $123,000 a year (82% occupancy, $411 a night), rising to roughly $154,000 (89% occupancy, $474 a night) for professionally managed, top-quartile listings. It combines genuine beach demand with proximity to the city, which makes it a reliable summer performer with solid shoulder-season potential when priced actively.
Scarborough has become one of the more compelling short-stay suburbs in Perth, helped by years of foreshore redevelopment that turned it into a proper destination rather than just a local beach. For owners, that means real, sustained demand. Here is what the market looks like and what a well-run listing can do.
Why guests come to Scarborough
Scarborough’s draw is the beach and the buzz around it, fifteen minutes from the CBD. The demand drivers are:
- The beach and surf, a wide, popular beach with a redeveloped foreshore, pool, amphitheatre, bars and restaurants that keep it lively year-round
- Weekend and school-holiday leisure, a favourite for WA families and couples wanting a beach break without leaving the metro area
- Interstate and international visitors, drawn to a classic Perth beach experience close to the city
- Events and the foreshore precinct, the entertainment scene along the redeveloped strip adds its own pull
The combination of genuine beach appeal and city proximity is what makes Scarborough more than a summer-only play.
What a well-run listing earns
Scarborough sits among Perth’s stronger performers. For a 2–3 bedroom entire home, Airbtics 2026 has the market average at about $123,000 a year (82% occupancy, $411 a night), with professionally managed, top-quartile listings reaching roughly $154,000 (89%, $474). Occupancy is beach-led, strong through summer and holidays, with real upside in the shoulder when the weather holds and pricing is managed well.
These are indicative figures that vary by proximity to the beach, property type and how the listing is run. Beachfront and near-beach apartments capture the clearest premiums. For a grounded breakdown of Scarborough against other suburbs, see the Perth Suburb Short-Stay Demand Guide. As everywhere on the coast, the biggest earnings lever is pricing the peaks properly while keeping the quieter weeks booked.
Who stays here
Scarborough’s guest mix leans leisure:
- WA families and couples on weekend and school-holiday beach breaks
- Interstate visitors wanting a beach base near the city
- International travellers on a classic Perth coastal stay
- Longer-stay guests enjoying the foreshore lifestyle
This is a market that values a relaxed, beachy property that families can settle into, with easy parking and quick beach access weighing heavily.
Seasonality in Scarborough
Scarborough is summer-led, like most of the coast. December to February is peak, with school holidays and beach weather driving occupancy and rates. The shoulder seasons hold up better here than in purely seasonal spots, thanks to the year-round foreshore scene, but they still need active pricing to stay full midweek. Winter softens to a floor supported by the precinct’s bars and restaurants. Playing the calendar well is the difference between a good year and a great one, as our shoulder-season pricing guide explains.
What kind of property works
Scarborough is largely an apartment and unit market near the beach, with houses further back:
- Beachfront and near-beach apartments with a balcony and, ideally, an ocean glimpse
- Family-friendly layouts with easy parking and quick beach access
- A relaxed, coastal fit-out that suits the location and photographs well
- Buildings whose strata permits short-stay, confirm before committing
Presentation still matters here even though it is a value-conscious family market; a clean, well-styled coastal property will out-review and out-earn a tired one at the same distance from the sand.
Compliance note for the City of Stirling
Scarborough falls under the City of Stirling, which operates a specific short-term rental accommodation local planning policy (LPP 6.19) with conditions around parking, noise and property-management standards. As across metro Perth, every property must be registered on the WA STRA Register and display its number, and an unhosted property let more than 90 nights a year needs council development approval. Full detail sits in our WA STRA compliance guide.
Common owner mistakes in Scarborough
- Treating it as summer-only. Scarborough’s redeveloped foreshore gives it a year-round pulse. Owners who mentally write off the cooler months under-price and under-market them.
- Ignoring beach proximity in the listing. How close the property is to the sand, and how easy parking and beach access are, are the details this guest cares about most. Bury them and you lose bookings.
- Flat midweek pricing. Weeknights in the shoulder need sharper rates to stay booked. Holding weekend rates midweek leaves nights empty.
- A tired coastal fit-out. Even in a value-conscious family market, a clean, well-styled property out-reviews and out-earns a worn one at the same distance from the beach.
- Overlooking strata rules. Beachfront buildings can restrict short-stay. Confirm before committing.
Frequently asked questions
Is Scarborough good for Airbnb?
Yes. It is one of Perth’s stronger beach markets: for a 2–3 bedroom entire home, Airbtics 2026 puts the market average around $123,000 a year ($411 a night) and top-quartile listings near $154,000 ($474), with demand supported year-round by the redeveloped foreshore precinct as well as the beach itself.
How much does a Scarborough short-stay earn?
Nightly rates average about $411 for a 2–3 bedroom entire home and around $474 for top-quartile listings (Airbtics 2026), peaking higher in summer and holidays, with occupancy that holds up better than purely seasonal beach towns thanks to the foreshore scene. Figures are indicative and vary by property.
When is peak season?
Summer (December to February) and school holidays are the peak. The shoulder seasons perform better than most beach suburbs but still reward active pricing midweek.
What property type works best?
Beachfront and near-beach apartments with a balcony and easy beach access, and family-friendly layouts with parking. A relaxed, well-presented coastal fit-out lifts both bookings and rate.
Our take on Scarborough
Scarborough is one of the beach markets I rate most highly for reliability, because the foreshore redevelopment gave it a year-round pulse that many beach suburbs lack. Get a well-located, well-presented property, price the summer and holidays hard, and manage the shoulder actively, and it performs. If you own in Scarborough and want a straight read on the numbers, you can book a property assessment. Our pillar guide to Perth short-stay management covers the full approach.
Figures are indicative, drawn from third-party market data as cited, and vary by property. This is general information only, not financial advice. Verify current figures and check strata by-laws and council requirements before proceeding.