Last updated on October 6th, 2023
Are you looking for a place that is a continent, a country, and an island at the same time? Then Australia is definitely the answer! Located below the equator of the earth, Australia is also known as the ‘land down under’. Since the pandemic hit the globe, the number of Airbnb listings has declined due to the lockdowns and border closures in Australia. Despite the fact that there is a decrease in the overall total number of listings in this country, you’ll be surprised to know that NOT all Airbnb hosts were affected. Because of the consistent demand for rural getaways in Australia, the Airbnb property occupancy rates (particularly in Sydney & Melbourne) has increased from January to April 2021, according to Business Insider Australia.
Relatively, we managed to notice the comparison of the 2021 and 2022 Tourism statistics in Australia. Therefore, if you are wondering… Is Airbnb profitable or a good investment in this country? If so, which city or neighborhood should I keep my eye on based on Airbnb statistics in Australia? Continue reading & find out what we discovered!
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, Airbnb is legal in Australia - with strict compliance to local & state laws. If you are planning to start your Airbnb business under a lease agreement, then the first thing you have to do is to let have your landlord's consent.
Contrary to this, if you are a property owner, it is necessary to follow the steps for registration and pay the necessary fees.
Typically, the months of September to December are the peak seasons in Australia with an average of 59% occupancy rate.
According to Airbtics' Data, the average daily rate in Australia is A$398 for apartment (condo) & A$106 for studio-type rooms.
As of April 2022, both the cities of Darwin & Perth have the highest occupancy rate of 53%.
Based on Airbtics data, it's clear that Airbnb is profitable in Australia. To support this claim, The Australian Bureau of Statistics shows that both domestic and international tourism has rapidly increased this 2022.
Based on our in-depth research, if you are looking forward to maximizing your monthly revenue in Australia, Darwin is ranked 1st on our list. Aside from its high occupancy rate of 53%, you can also earn an average of A$4,520 per month!
According to Airbnb, here are some of the popular amenities that you might want to consider having in your business:
- Fully-equipped kitchen
- Reliable Wi-Fi
- An outdoor pool
- Free parking on premises
- Air conditioning
If you're looking for a more detailed description of Airbnb amenities, check out the top amenities that all Airbnb hosts must have this 2022!
According to Book Kept, any income derived from rent will automatically be assessable income - therefore, yes it's taxable!
Learn more about tax deductions & accounting tips for Airbnb hosts here.
According to our Airbtics calculator, Perth & Darwin have the highest occupancy rates in Australia. Therefore, an Airbnb host can make an annual revenue of the following:
Perth: A$35,808
Darwin: A$57,720
Yes, an Airbnb host will need the approval of the local council and a licence to be registered as a Bed & Breakfast accommodation before formally operating.
Here is a summary of the laws applicable to short-term lettings:
- Town Planning Law - explains the difference between renting out rooms in a home, flat, or whole apartment.
- Insurance Law - coverage for landlord's policies including host protection insurance & host guarantee.
- Taxation Law - these include capital gains tax, income tax, and Goods & Services Tax (GST).
- Strata Law - prohibits any restrictions on an owner's right to rent out their strata apartment.
- Tenancy Law - prohibits tenants from sub-leasing the property without the landlord's consent.
Learn more about laws concerning short-term lettings in Australia.
Most of the major business taxes such as income tax from your revenue are collected by the Australian Government through ATO. Your own tax obligations may vary under certain circumstances, you can directly consult ATO or a tax professional.
Check out the tax considerations on short-term lettings in Australia.
Here is a general overview of Australia’s occupancy percentage, median daily rate & average monthly revenue as of April 2022.
In order to come up with accurate data of the respective cities in Australia, we utilized the Airbtics data analytics tool and filtered the listings into 1 bed / 1 bath Apartment (Condo). Check out the following rates in the biggest cities in Australia:
Sydney:
Occupancy Rate: 39%
Median Daily Rate: A$267
Average Monthly Revenue: A$3,374
Melbourne:
Occupancy Rate: 38%
Median Daily Rate: A$199
Average Monthly Revenue: A$2,435
Brisbane:
Occupancy Rate: 48%
Median Daily Rate: A$201
Average Monthly Revenue: A$2,972
Adelaide:
Occupancy Rate: 47%
Median Daily Rate: A$195
Average Monthly Revenue: A$3,052
Perth:
Occupancy Rate: 53%
Median Daily Rate: A$143
Average Monthly Revenue: A$2,616
Darwin:
Occupancy Rate: 53%
Median Daily Rate: A$258
Average Monthly Revenue: A$4,520
Here are some of the most recommended neighborhoods in Sydney that you might want to consider:
- For sightseeing: Circular Quay & The Rocks
- For nightlife: Kingscross
- For families & beachfront areas: Bondi & Manly
- For first-time visitors: City Centre
- For shopping: Darling Harbour
While this city has a lot of exciting activities to offer in general, you may also want to check out the rest of the best areas to stay in Sydney! Among the 6 major cities, Sydney has the highest median daily rate of A$267.
Sydney
The Emerald City is definitely included in the bucket list of must-see places for most travelers! Located on the southeastern coast of Australia, Sydney is the capital of New South Wales and is one of the largest cities in Australia. According to Sydney Tourism Statistics, the majority of travelers are for visiting for holiday wherein they spend an average of $225 per night.
Sydney is best known for iconic landmarks such as the harbourfront Sydney Opera House, Harbour Bridge, Bondi Beach & Royal Botanic Garden. Because travelers have so many fun things to do in Sydney, it is the most visited destination in the country with about 32 million visitors per year!
- Occupancy Rate: 39%
- Median Daily Rate: A$267
- Average Monthly Revenue: A$3,374
Melbourne
Located at the head of Port Phillip Bay, the beautiful city of Melbourne is the capital state of Victoria. Known as one of the most livable cities on earth, this city has multiple public transport options and a relatively low crime rate.
One of the fun facts about Melbourne is that it’s the first city outside of Europe & North America to host the Olympic games!
According to Victoria’s Visitor Economy, a whopping amount of A$57.8 million has been collected from Melbourne alone in 2021. It was also shown in the statistics how the visitors in Melbourne tremendously contribute to the tourism expenditure of Australia.
- Occupancy Rate: 38%
- Median Daily Rate: A$199
- Average Monthly Revenue: A$2,435
Check out the best areas that you might want to invest in according to your preference:
- For sightseeing: City Center
- For nightlife: St Kilda
- For families, shopping centre & beachfront areas: Docklands & St Kilda
- For first-time visitors: City Centre
- For food & restaurants: Southbank
- For watching sports (tennis, golf, horse and car racing): East Melbourne
The majority of tourists in this vibrant city often stay longer than expected because of its top attractions & an unmistakably European feel.
Let’s discuss the compelling neighborhoods of Brisbane:
- For sightseeing: Brisbane City Centre
- For surfing: Burleigh Heads
- For families: South Bank & Broadbeach
- For outdoor activities: Kangaroo Point & Surfer’s Paradise
Finally, while it’s important to know that there are fun destinations to explore in Brisbane, another takeaway is that public transportations are accessible in this city.
Brisbane
Along the southern slopes of the Taylor Range, Brisbane is located in the southeast corner of Queensland.
As it offers an interesting number of suburbs and Queenslander architecture, it’s also a fact that it outperformed both Sydney & Melbourne as the 39th best city in the world to raise a family. Because of Brisbane’s assurance of safety, affordability, and air quality among the others, it iconically presents that it’s definitely worth the investment!
Based on Brisbane Tourism Statistics, international visitors have contributed over $2.2 billion while domestic visitors have spent $4 billion in 2020 alone. Undoubtedly, the must-see destinations in Brisbane have attracted more tourists over the years!
- Occupancy Rate: 48%
- Median Daily Rate: A$201
- Average Monthly Revenue: A$2,972
Adelaide
This particular city in Australia is known for being incredibly festive – from premium wine regions to events & festivals, and various kinds of thriving food culture!
Adelaide is popular for its gorgeous heritage architecture and diverse communities. According to South Australian Tourism Commission, Adelaide has a visitor expenditure of $170 million annually and it is expected to rapidly increase over the years.
It’s also probably worth mentioning that they have low unemployment rates & a healthy economy! Since there are plenty of opportunities for internships & employment, a handful of foreign exchange students and entrepreneurs are more likely to visit and have reasons to live in Adelaide.
- Occupancy Rate: 47%
- Median Daily Rate: A$195
- Average Monthly Revenue: A$3,052
Let’s dive into the following neighborhoods and contemplate if it’s the right match for your Airbnb business!
- For sightseeing: Circular Quay & The Rocks
- For nightlife: West End
- For families: Glenelg
- For outdoor adventure: Adelaide Hills
If you are planning to put up a business within the heart of this city, then your guests will certainly enjoy the top destinations in Adelaide!
Here is a list of top neighborhoods that you might consider investing into!
- For sightseeing: City Center
- For outdoor activities: Scarborough & East Perth
- For food & restaurants: Fremantle
- For families: Scarborough
- For boat trips: Elizabeth Quay
After a thorough investigation, we also found out that Perth has the same occupancy percentage of 53% as Darwin!
Perth
A city and capital of Western Australia, Perth offers an appealing combination of old & new. In comparison to other regions in WA, Tourism Western Australia ranked Perth with the highest total number of visitors ($2.9 million) in 2021.
The majority of tourists in this city commonly prefer to stay in the city center because of its accessibility to almost everything! Perth is proud to present its world-class wineries, botanic gardens, and wildlife sanctuaries.
In addition to this, the city has a lot to offer to tourists who are daredevils who are looking for adventurous things to do in Perth!
- Occupancy Rate: 53%
- Median Daily Rate: A$143
- Average Monthly Revenue: A$2,616
Darwin
If you are looking for a more isolated yet close-to-nature kind of city, Darwin is the best place to go! Located centrally on the northern coast of Australia, Darwin is the capital of the Northern Territory and is famous for humid weather.
Tourists can discover great things to do in Darwin such as waterside attractions, visit a jumping crocodile cruise, try multicultural food and so much more!
According to NT Tourism Research Australia, the room occupancy rate in Darwin is at 49% as of March 2021.
- Occupancy Rate: 53%
- Median Daily Rate: A$143
- Average Monthly Revenue: A$2,616
Here is a list of top neighborhoods that you might consider investing into!
- For sightseeing: The Gardens & Mindil Beach
- For outdoor activities: Scarborough & East Perth
- For food & restaurants / business travelers: Central Business District
- For families: Casuarina, Leanyer & Malak
Based on our in-depth research, this city is actually our winner when it comes to average monthly revenue. Although it has the same occupancy percentage as Perth, we also discovered that you can make up to A$57,720 annually for a 1 bed / 1 bath!
MORE AIRBNB OCCUPANCY RATES IN AUSTRALIAN CITIES?
We conducted in-depth research & utilized our Airbnb occupancy rate calculator to feature the occupancy rates of major cities!
In summary, Australia has a number of promising cities with an excellent amount of tourists visiting the country annually and this is something that an Airbnb host like you should take advantage of. While each city’s tourist spots & cultural landmarks may sound inviting in general, it’s important to have accurate data for your Airbnb business to make sure that you’ll continuously strive in the industry.
Now that you have an insight into occupancy rates in the major Australian cities, it’s certainly essential to speed up your game by having an access to a reliable data analytics tool and make sure to cover all – not just 1 bed / 1 bath for Apartment (Condo) types.
With the help of our all-in-one analytics service, you can vastly enhance your monthly revenue, create a comparison for each neighborhood, add the appropriate amenities and so many more exciting features. Try Airbtics now and stand out among your competitors!
