Is it profitable to do Airbnb in Cape Town, South Africa?

What is the occupancy rate of Airbnb in Cape Town, South Africa?

What is the average daily rate of Airbnb in Cape Town, South Africa?

South Africa

Airbnb Revenue in Cape Town, South Africa: 2025 Short-Term Rental Data & Insights

Average Airbnb Revenue in Cape Town

A typical short-term rental in Cape Town is booked for 259 nights per year, generating a medium Airbnb occupancy rate of 71% and an average daily rate (ADR) of ZAR1,682 in local currency ($90). In June, 2024 - May, 2025, the average annual short-term rental revenue in Cape Town was ZAR427K in local currency ($22K). As of 4th July, 2025, there are 19,552 active Airbnb listings in Cape Town.

Cape Town Airbnb Income Data Summary

Cape Town Average Monthly Revenue
ZAR35,660 ($1,908)
Cape Town YoY Revenue Change
10.09%
Cape Town Average Airbnb Occupancy Rate
71%
Cape Town Average Daily Rate
ZAR1,682 ($90)
Budget
Cape Town Number of Listings
27,512
Big
Airbnb Seasonality in Cape Town
Strong
Most Profitable Month for Airbnb in Cape Town
February
Airbnb Laws in Cape Town
Lenient
Learn More >
** Period: June, 2024 - May, 2025 | Last Updated on: 4th July, 2025

Cape Town Airbnb Revenue by Month

June, 2024 - May, 2025
Low
ZAR23,371
Average
ZAR35,202
High
ZAR47,313



Is Airbnb Profitable in Cape Town, South Africa?

Yes, starting an Airbnb business in Cape Town can be very profitable as there is strong short-term rental demand. An average vacation rental revenue of ZAR427,963 in local currency ($22,898) and a median occupancy rate of 71% are considered good in the hospitality space. With 27,512 active listings, the Cape Town 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 Cape Town 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 Cape Town 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 Cape Town 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 Cape Town

You can find the distribution graph of daily rate and revenue in our market dashboard. A typical Cape Town listing recorded a 71% average short-term rental occupancy between June, 2024 - May, 2025. The Cape Town vacation rental market has Strong seasonality, with February and December being the busiest months for Airbnb hosts.

About 45.79% of Cape Town Airbnb guests are international guests, and visitors from South africa 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 Cape Town market dashboard.
Occupancy Rate: 71%
19,552 Active Listings

Starting an Airbnb in Cape Town: Short-Term Rental Regulations

Before launching an Airbnb in Cape Town, it's important to understand the local short-term rental rules and regulations. While Airbnb, Vrbo, and similar listing platforms are widely used in Cape Town, the legal landscape can be complex, especially for a beginner host.

In general, Cape Town 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 Cape Town vacation rental business legally compliant.

Learn more about the Airbnb rules in Cape Town, South Africa.
Signup and check out more in-depth vacation rental data for free.
Explore Cape Town's Airbnb Data
market map image

Most Profitable Areas for Vacation Rentals in Cape Town

Wondering where to invest in Cape Town for the best Airbnb returns? Look no further!
The best Airbnb markets in Cape Town are:
  1. Stellenbosch, South Africa
    • Airbnb Annual Revenue: ZAR506,723 in local currency ($27,112)
    • Airbnb Occupancy Rate: 75%
    • Airbnb Average Daily Rate: ZAR1,831 in local currency ($98)
Find the top Airbnb location in Cape Town for your specific needs and aspirations.

Most Popular Airbnbs in Cape Town

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 19,552 listings.
listing_image
Private room & 1 Bed
⭐5.0 (66)
Moon Wagon on Lalaphanzi Farm, in Cape Point, SA.
$12,345
Revenue Potential
234
Days Available
$121,345
Revenue
74%
Occupancy Rate
ZAR654
Daily Rate
View Listing
listing_image
Entire home & 3 Bed
⭐5.0 (89)
Lantern Tides beach bungalow Smitswinkel Bay
$12,345
Revenue Potential
234
Days Available
$121,345
Revenue
74%
Occupancy Rate
ZAR5,382
Daily Rate
View Listing
listing_image
Entire home & 1 Bed
⭐5.0 (51)
Cape Point Mountain Getaway - Hideaway
$12,345
Revenue Potential
234
Days Available
$121,345
Revenue
74%
Occupancy Rate
ZAR1,270
Daily Rate
View Listing
listing_image
Entire home & 1 Bed
⭐5.0 (219)
Cape Point Mountain Getaway - Cottage
$12,345
Revenue Potential
234
Days Available
$121,345
Revenue
74%
Occupancy Rate
ZAR1,214
Daily Rate
View Listing
listing_image
Entire home & 4 Bed
⭐5.0 (115)
Fabulous Beach House
$12,345
Revenue Potential
234
Days Available
$121,345
Revenue
74%
Occupancy Rate
ZAR3,644
Daily Rate
View Listing
listing_image
Entire home & 3 Bed
⭐5.0 (172)
1 min to beach, Cape Town, Scarborough
$12,345
Revenue Potential
234
Days Available
$121,345
Revenue
74%
Occupancy Rate
ZAR3,252
Daily Rate
View Listing
See Airbnb Statistics on All 19,552 Listings

Professional Airbnb Property Managers in Cape Town

You can turn your Cape Town 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 Cape Town with the most Airbnb properties.
NameListingsRatingRevenue
HostAgents1324.5$1,23,234
LaStay Prop Management1304.1$1,23,234
Mandy & Dean964.7$1,23,234
ONE26onM By Fluent434.8$1,23,234
Janine & Rachel385.0$1,23,234

Other short-term rental market data in Cape Town

Here is a breakdown of short-let properties in Cape Town. 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.
Cape Town Airbnb Listings by Property Size


Cape Town Airbnb Listings by Property Type
Cape Town Airbnb Listings by Cancelation Policy Type


Cape Town Vacation Rentals by Channel

Estimate Your Potential Earnings in Cape Town with the Airbtics Airbnb Calculator

Ready to start looking for the most profitable Airbnb investment opportunities in Cape Town?
Use our Airbnb income calculator to instantly get an accurate estimate of the earning potential of any neighborhood and area.

Cape Town Airbnb FAQs

How Much Can You Make on Airbnb in Cape Town, South Africa?

The average Cape Town Airbnb host was able to make ZAR427K in local currency ($22K) 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 Cape Town Airbnb data to see how different factors affect revenue and estimate your potential income.

How Profitable Is Airbnb in Cape Town?

With an ADR of ZAR1,682 local currency ($90) and a median occupancy rate of 71%, short-term rentals in Cape Town can be very profitable. However, exactly how much money you can make from Airbnb in Cape Town 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 Cape Town.

What Is the ROI on Airbnb in Cape Town?

The return on investment (ROI) on Airbnb properties in Cape Town 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 Cape Town, the annual Airbnb revenue is ZAR427K in local currency ($22K). 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 Cape Town?

The median Airbnb occupancy rate in Cape Town was 71% 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 Cape Town?

As of March 2025, there are 19,552 active listings on the Airbnb platform in Cape Town.