Is it profitable to do Airbnb in Cairns, Australia?
What is the occupancy rate of Airbnb in Cairns, Australia?
What is the average daily rate of Airbnb in Cairns, Australia?
Airbnb Revenue in Cairns, Australia: 2025 Short-Term Rental Data & Insights
Average Airbnb Revenue in Cairns
A typical short-term rental in Cairns is booked for 277 nights per year, generating a medium Airbnb occupancy rate of 76% and an average daily rate (ADR) of AU$247 in local currency ($163). In June, 2024 - May, 2025, the average annual short-term rental revenue in Cairns was AU$63K in local currency ($41K). As of 4th July, 2025, there are 2,162 active Airbnb listings in Cairns.

Cairns Airbnb Income Data Summary
Cairns Average Monthly Revenue
AU$5,278 ($3,473)
Cairns YoY Revenue Change
6.91%
Cairns Average Airbnb Occupancy Rate
76%
Cairns Average Daily Rate
AU$247 ($163)
Mid Scale
Cairns Number of Listings
2,644
Medium
Airbnb Seasonality in Cairns
Strong
Most Profitable Month for Airbnb in Cairns
July
** Period: June, 2024 - May, 2025 | Last Updated on: 4th July, 2025
Cairns Airbnb Revenue by Month
June, 2024 - May, 2025
Low
AU$3,306
Average
AU$5,434
High
AU$7,597
Is Airbnb Profitable in Cairns, Australia?
Yes, starting an Airbnb business in Cairns can be very profitable as there is strong short-term rental demand. An average vacation rental revenue of AU$63,364 in local currency ($41,687) and a median occupancy rate of 76% are considered good in the hospitality space. With 2,644 active listings, the Cairns Airbnb market is strong but not oversaturated.
Tip: Investing in a short-term rental can be both stable and highly profitable.
Stability: Vacation rentals in a market like Cairns are a stable investment strategy because they combine investing in real estate and in hospitality. While many potential investors worry about increasingly stricter Airbnb laws, if you can no longer rent out your property on Airbnb, you can convert it into a long-term rental and lease it to tenants on a monthly basis. Monthly rentals yield less, but they are less heavily regulated and even more stable than short-term rentals.
Profitability: Buying an Airbnb property in a city like Cairns is highly profitable because the monthly cash flow from a short-term rental investment is typically double the rental rate of traditional rentals.
As a Cairns Airbnb host, you can boost the performance of your short-term rental by choosing the optimal property type and the right property size and furnishing your listing with the most demanded amenities in the area.
Demand by Amenities
Average Airbnb Occupancy Rate in Cairns
You can find the distribution graph of daily rate and revenue in our market dashboard. A typical Cairns listing recorded a 76% average short-term rental occupancy between June, 2024 - May, 2025. The Cairns vacation rental market has Strong seasonality, with July and June being the busiest months for Airbnb hosts.
About 34.14% of Cairns Airbnb guests are international guests, and visitors from Australia constitute the largest group. Learn more about guest origin to inform your vacation rental marketing strategy.
On the graph below, you can see the occupancy rate distribution per number of listings.
To view the distribution of average daily rates and annual revenue, refer to our Cairns market dashboard.
About 34.14% of Cairns Airbnb guests are international guests, and visitors from Australia constitute the largest group. Learn more about guest origin to inform your vacation rental marketing strategy.
On the graph below, you can see the occupancy rate distribution per number of listings.
To view the distribution of average daily rates and annual revenue, refer to our Cairns market dashboard.
Occupancy Rate: 76%
2,162 Active Listings
Starting an Airbnb in Cairns: Short-Term Rental Regulations
Before launching an Airbnb in Cairns, it's important to understand the local short-term rental rules and regulations. While Airbnb, Vrbo, and similar listing platforms are widely used in Cairns, the legal landscape can be complex, especially for a beginner host.
In general, Cairns Airbnb regulations are lenient at the city level, but zoning regulations might apply to some parts of the market. Hosts might be required to register their short-term rentals with local authorities, and there might be limitations on the number of licenses that a single host can hold. You also need to pay applicable Airbnb taxes to make your Cairns vacation rental business legally compliant.
Learn more about the Airbnb rules in Cairns, Australia.
In general, Cairns Airbnb regulations are lenient at the city level, but zoning regulations might apply to some parts of the market. Hosts might be required to register their short-term rentals with local authorities, and there might be limitations on the number of licenses that a single host can hold. You also need to pay applicable Airbnb taxes to make your Cairns vacation rental business legally compliant.
Learn more about the Airbnb rules in Cairns, Australia.
Signup and check out more in-depth vacation rental data for free.
Explore Cairns's Airbnb Data ⟶

Most Profitable Areas for Vacation Rentals in Cairns
Wondering where to invest in Cairns for the best Airbnb returns? Look no further!
The best Airbnb markets in Cairns are:
The best Airbnb markets in Cairns are:
- Cairns - North
- Airbnb Annual Revenue: AU$82,379 in local currency ($54,197)
- Airbnb Occupancy Rate: 70%
- Airbnb Average Daily Rate: AU$316 in local currency ($208)
- Cairns City
- Airbnb Annual Revenue: AU$75,293 in local currency ($49,535)
- Airbnb Occupancy Rate: 84%
- Airbnb Average Daily Rate: AU$240 in local currency ($158)
- Parramatta Park
- Airbnb Annual Revenue: AU$58,576 in local currency ($38,537)
- Airbnb Occupancy Rate: 83%
- Airbnb Average Daily Rate: AU$186 in local currency ($123)
- Edge Hill
Find the top Airbnb location in Cairns for your specific needs and aspirations.
Most Popular Airbnbs in Cairns
Airbtics has been tracking all Airbnb listings since 2019. This allows us to understand interesting metrics, like which properties earn the most in the market. Here are our top picks. Go to the app to find detailed information about 2,162 listings.
See Airbnb Statistics on All 2,162 Listings
Professional Airbnb Property Managers in Cairns
You can turn your Cairns Airbnb investment into a source of passive income and navigate the short-term rental regulatory framework easily by hiring one of the best Airbnb property management companies in the area.
To help you get started, we’ve compiled a list of the professional short-term rental property managers in Cairns with the most Airbnb properties.
To help you get started, we’ve compiled a list of the professional short-term rental property managers in Cairns with the most Airbnb properties.
Name | Listings | Rating | Revenue |
---|---|---|---|
MadeComfy | 1327 | 4.4★ | $1,23,234 |
Cozie Homes | 140 | 4.9★ | $1,23,234 |
Belle Escapes Cairns | 105 | 4.9★ | $1,23,234 |
Luxury Holidays | 56 | 4.8★ | $1,23,234 |
Ingenia Holidays | 38 | 4.6★ | $1,23,234 |
Find out the top Airbnb management company in Cairns, Australia for your needs.
Other short-term rental market data in Cairns
Here is a breakdown of short-let properties in Cairns. You might wonder about more specific data before buying an Airbnb property. For example, how much can an average listing with 4 bedrooms and a pool make? Or, what is the seasonality in booking? When is the peak month? Click the below button and check out more in-depth vacation rental data for free.
Cairns Airbnb Listings by Property Size
Cairns Airbnb Listings by Property Type
Cairns Airbnb Listings by Cancelation Policy Type
Cairns Vacation Rentals by Channel
Estimate Your Potential Earnings in Cairns with the Airbtics Airbnb Calculator
Ready to start looking for the most profitable Airbnb investment opportunities in Cairns?
Use our Airbnb income calculator to instantly get an accurate estimate of the earning potential of any neighborhood and area.
Use our Airbnb income calculator to instantly get an accurate estimate of the earning potential of any neighborhood and area.
Cairns Airbnb FAQs
How Much Can You Make on Airbnb in Cairns, Australia?
The average Cairns Airbnb host was able to make AU$63K in local currency ($41K) in June, 2024 - May, 2025. Your actual vacation rental revenue can vary depending on your listing's location, type, size, amenities, target guest persona, property management style, marketing strategy, and other factors. Check out our detailed Cairns Airbnb data to see how different factors affect revenue and estimate your potential income.
How Profitable Is Airbnb in Cairns?
With an ADR of AU$247 local currency ($163) and a median occupancy rate of 76%, short-term rentals in Cairns can be very profitable. However, exactly how much money you can make from Airbnb in Cairns is determined by multiple factors. Remember that profitable Airbnb investments start with the best location. Buy an Airbnb property in one of the most profitable locations in Cairns.
What Is the ROI on Airbnb in Cairns?
The return on investment (ROI) on Airbnb properties in Cairns depends on factors like the purchase price, rental income, and operating costs. While the exact ROI varies by property, you can get an estimate by using key metrics such as annual rental income, daily rates, and occupancy.In Cairns, the annual Airbnb revenue is AU$63K in local currency ($41K). To estimate your ROI, compare this income against your property's purchase price and operating expenses. Our Airbnb calculator can help you run the numbers based on your investment and strategy.
What Is the Average Occupancy Rate for Airbnb in Cairns?
The median Airbnb occupancy rate in Cairns was 76% in June, 2024 - May, 2025. However, your actual occupancy depends on many factors, such as your property type, number of bedrooms, pricing strategy, and marketing efforts.
How Many Airbnbs Are There in Cairns?
As of March 2025, there are 2,162 active listings on the Airbnb platform in Cairns.