Is it profitable to do Airbnb in Johannesburg, South Africa?

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

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

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

Average Airbnb Revenue in Johannesburg

A typical short-term rental in Johannesburg is booked for 190 nights per year, generating a medium Airbnb occupancy rate of 52% and an average daily rate (ADR) of ZAR897 ($48). In September, 2024 - August, 2025, the average annual short-term rental revenue in Johannesburg was ZAR154K ($8K). As of 3rd October, 2025, there are 1,342 active Airbnb listings in Johannesburg.

Johannesburg Airbnb Income Data Summary

Johannesburg Average Monthly Revenue
ZAR12,858 ($688)
Johannesburg YoY Revenue Change
0.65%
Johannesburg Average Airbnb Occupancy Rate
52%
Johannesburg Average Daily Rate
ZAR897 ($48)
Budget
Johannesburg Number of Listings
1,342
Medium
Airbnb Seasonality in Johannesburg
Limited
Most Profitable Month for Airbnb in Johannesburg
August
Airbnb Laws in Johannesburg
Lenient
Learn More >
** Period: September, 2024 - August, 2025 | Last Updated on: 3rd October, 2025

Johannesburg Airbnb Revenue by Month

September, 2024 - August, 2025
Low
ZAR12,791
Average
ZAR14,186
High
ZAR16,243



Is Airbnb Profitable in Johannesburg, South Africa?

Yes, starting an Airbnb business in Johannesburg can be very profitable as there is strong short-term rental demand. An average vacation rental revenue of ZAR154,304 ($8,256) and a median occupancy rate of 52% are considered good in the hospitality space. With 1,342 active listings, the Johannesburg 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 Johannesburg 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 Johannesburg 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 Johannesburg 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 Johannesburg

You can find the distribution graph of daily rate and revenue in our market dashboard. A typical Johannesburg listing recorded a 52% average short-term rental occupancy between September, 2024 - August, 2025. The Johannesburg vacation rental market has Limited seasonality, with August and July being the busiest months for Airbnb hosts.

About 36.37% of Johannesburg 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 Johannesburg market dashboard.
Occupancy Rate: 52%
1,342 Active Listings

Starting an Airbnb in Johannesburg: Short-Term Rental Regulations

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

In general, Johannesburg 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 Johannesburg vacation rental business legally compliant.

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

Most Profitable Areas for Vacation Rentals in Johannesburg

Wondering where to invest in Johannesburg for the best Airbnb returns? Look no further!
The best Airbnb markets in Johannesburg are:
  1. Sydenham
    • Airbnb Annual Revenue: ZAR221,831 ($11,869)
    • Airbnb Occupancy Rate: 54%
    • Airbnb Average Daily Rate: ZAR1,102 ($59)
Find the top Airbnb location in Johannesburg for your specific needs and aspirations.

Most Popular Airbnbs in Johannesburg

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 1,342 listings.
listing_image
Private room & 1 Bed
⭐5.0 (34)
Rallentando: Rachmaninoff Room
$12,345
Revenue Potential
234
Days Available
$121,345
Revenue
74%
Occupancy Rate
ZAR542
Daily Rate
View Listing
listing_image
Private room & 1 Bed
⭐5.0 (106)
1 x stunning getaway room 3 bedroom posh home
$12,345
Revenue Potential
234
Days Available
$121,345
Revenue
74%
Occupancy Rate
ZAR392
Daily Rate
View Listing
listing_image
Entire home & 1 Bed
⭐5.0 (147)
pretty garden cottage
$12,345
Revenue Potential
234
Days Available
$121,345
Revenue
74%
Occupancy Rate
ZAR317
Daily Rate
View Listing
listing_image
Entire home & 3 Bed
⭐5.0 (9)
Sunny & spacious home in Westdene/Melville
$12,345
Revenue Potential
234
Days Available
$121,345
Revenue
74%
Occupancy Rate
ZAR1,682
Daily Rate
View Listing
listing_image
Entire home & 1 Bed
⭐5.0 (95)
Pecan Place
$12,345
Revenue Potential
234
Days Available
$121,345
Revenue
74%
Occupancy Rate
ZAR542
Daily Rate
View Listing
listing_image
Entire home & 1 Bed
⭐5.0 (83)
Urban Oasis Workspace Cottage.
$12,345
Revenue Potential
234
Days Available
$121,345
Revenue
74%
Occupancy Rate
ZAR598
Daily Rate
View Listing
See Airbnb Statistics on All 1,342 Listings

Professional Airbnb Property Managers in Johannesburg

You can turn your Johannesburg 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 Johannesburg with the most Airbnb properties.
NameListingsRatingRevenue
RnR Holidays924.5$1,23,234
Easy Stays454.9$1,23,234
CAG The Vantage144.6$1,23,234
Jovana114.9$1,23,234
Benedict104.7$1,23,234

Other short-term rental market data in Johannesburg

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


Johannesburg Airbnb Listings by Property Type
Johannesburg Airbnb Listings by Cancelation Policy Type


Johannesburg Vacation Rentals by Channel

Estimate Your Potential Earnings in Johannesburg with the Airbtics Airbnb Calculator

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

Johannesburg Airbnb FAQs

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

The average Johannesburg Airbnb host was able to make ZAR154K ($8K) in September, 2024 - August, 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 Johannesburg Airbnb data to see how different factors affect revenue and estimate your potential income.

How Profitable Is Airbnb in Johannesburg?

With an ADR of ZAR897 ($48) and a median occupancy rate of 52%, short-term rentals in Johannesburg can be very profitable. However, exactly how much money you can make from Airbnb in Johannesburg 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 Johannesburg.

What Is the ROI on Airbnb in Johannesburg?

The return on investment (ROI) on Airbnb properties in Johannesburg 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 Johannesburg, the annual Airbnb revenue is ZAR154K ($8K). 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 Johannesburg?

The median Airbnb occupancy rate in Johannesburg was 52% in September, 2024 - August, 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 Johannesburg?

As of March 2025, there are 1,342 active listings on the Airbnb platform in Johannesburg.