Is it profitable to do Airbnb in Kota Kinabalu, Malaysia?
What is the occupancy rate of Airbnb in Kota Kinabalu, Malaysia?
What is the average daily rate of Airbnb in Kota Kinabalu, Malaysia?
Malaysia / Kota Kinabalu
Airbnb Revenue in Kota Kinabalu, Malaysia: 2025 Short-Term Rental Data & Insights
Average Airbnb Revenue in Kota Kinabalu
A typical short-term rental in Kota Kinabalu is booked for 208 nights per year, generating a medium Airbnb occupancy rate of 57% and an average daily rate (ADR) of MYR251 in local currency ($53). In June, 2024 - May, 2025, the average annual short-term rental revenue in Kota Kinabalu was MYR54K in local currency ($11K). As of 4th July, 2025, there are 2,729 active Airbnb listings in Kota Kinabalu.
Kota Kinabalu Airbnb Income Data Summary
Kota Kinabalu Average Monthly Revenue
MYR4,498 ($947)
Kota Kinabalu YoY Revenue Change
13.15%
Kota Kinabalu Average Airbnb Occupancy Rate
57%
Kota Kinabalu Average Daily Rate
MYR251 ($53)
Budget
Kota Kinabalu Number of Listings
3,548
Medium
Airbnb Seasonality in Kota Kinabalu
Strong
Most Profitable Month for Airbnb in Kota Kinabalu
August
** Period: June, 2024 - May, 2025 | Last Updated on: 4th July, 2025
Kota Kinabalu Airbnb Revenue by Month
June, 2024 - May, 2025
Low
MYR3,169
Average
MYR4,603
High
MYR6,197
Is Airbnb Profitable in Kota Kinabalu, Malaysia?
Yes, starting an Airbnb business in Kota Kinabalu can be very profitable as there is strong short-term rental demand. An average vacation rental revenue of MYR54,031 in local currency ($11,375) and a median occupancy rate of 57% are considered good in the hospitality space. With 3,548 active listings, the Kota Kinabalu 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 Kota Kinabalu 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 Kota Kinabalu 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 Kota Kinabalu 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 Kota Kinabalu
You can find the distribution graph of daily rate and revenue in our market dashboard. A typical Kota Kinabalu listing recorded a 57% average short-term rental occupancy between June, 2024 - May, 2025. The Kota Kinabalu vacation rental market has Strong seasonality, with August and July being the busiest months for Airbnb hosts.
About 42.39% of Kota Kinabalu Airbnb guests are international guests, and visitors from Malaysia 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 Kota Kinabalu market dashboard.
About 42.39% of Kota Kinabalu Airbnb guests are international guests, and visitors from Malaysia 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 Kota Kinabalu market dashboard.
Occupancy Rate: 57%
2,729 Active Listings
Starting an Airbnb in Kota Kinabalu: Short-Term Rental Regulations
Before launching an Airbnb in Kota Kinabalu, it's important to understand the local short-term rental rules and regulations. While Airbnb, Vrbo, and similar listing platforms are widely used in Kota Kinabalu, the legal landscape can be complex, especially for a beginner host.
In general, Kota Kinabalu 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 Kota Kinabalu vacation rental business legally compliant.
In general, Kota Kinabalu 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 Kota Kinabalu vacation rental business legally compliant.
Signup and check out more in-depth vacation rental data for free.
Explore Kota Kinabalu's Airbnb Data ⟶
Most Profitable Areas for Vacation Rentals in Kota Kinabalu
Wondering where to invest in Kota Kinabalu for the best Airbnb returns? Look no further!
The best Airbnb markets in Kota Kinabalu are:
The best Airbnb markets in Kota Kinabalu are:
- Sembulan
- Airbnb Annual Revenue: MYR33,691 in local currency ($7,093)
- Airbnb Occupancy Rate: 43%
- Airbnb Average Daily Rate: MYR209 in local currency ($44)
- Inanam
- Airbnb Annual Revenue: MYR20,909 in local currency ($4,402)
- Airbnb Occupancy Rate: 18%
- Airbnb Average Daily Rate: MYR318 in local currency ($67)
- Likas
Find the top Airbnb location in Kota Kinabalu for your specific needs and aspirations.
Most Popular Airbnbs in Kota Kinabalu
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 2,729 listings.
See Airbnb Statistics on All 2,729 Listings
Professional Airbnb Property Managers in Kota Kinabalu
You can turn your Kota Kinabalu 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 Kota Kinabalu with the most Airbnb properties.
To help you get started, we’ve compiled a list of the professional short-term rental property managers in Kota Kinabalu with the most Airbnb properties.
| Name | Listings | Rating | Revenue |
|---|---|---|---|
| Homesuite' | 88 | 4.63★ | $1,23,234 |
| JR homestay | 81 | 4.3★ | $1,23,234 |
| Sunset Seaview Vacation Condos | 60 | 4.9★ | $1,23,234 |
| Kwen Homestay/Suites | 38 | 4.7★ | $1,23,234 |
| Irene 郑家 | 36 | 5.0★ | $1,23,234 |
Find out the top Airbnb management company in Kota Kinabalu, Malaysia for your needs.
Other short-term rental market data in Kota Kinabalu
Here is a breakdown of short-let properties in Kota Kinabalu. 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.
Kota Kinabalu Airbnb Listings by Property Size
Kota Kinabalu Airbnb Listings by Property Type
Kota Kinabalu Airbnb Listings by Cancelation Policy Type
Kota Kinabalu Vacation Rentals by Channel
Estimate Your Potential Earnings in Kota Kinabalu with the Airbtics Airbnb Calculator
Ready to start looking for the most profitable Airbnb investment opportunities in Kota Kinabalu?
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.
Kota Kinabalu Airbnb FAQs
How Much Can You Make on Airbnb in Kota Kinabalu, Malaysia?
The average Kota Kinabalu Airbnb host was able to make MYR54K in local currency ($11K) 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 Kota Kinabalu Airbnb data to see how different factors affect revenue and estimate your potential income.
How Profitable Is Airbnb in Kota Kinabalu?
With an ADR of MYR251 local currency ($53) and a median occupancy rate of 57%, short-term rentals in Kota Kinabalu can be very profitable. However, exactly how much money you can make from Airbnb in Kota Kinabalu 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 Kota Kinabalu.
What Is the ROI on Airbnb in Kota Kinabalu?
The return on investment (ROI) on Airbnb properties in Kota Kinabalu 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 Kota Kinabalu, the annual Airbnb revenue is MYR54K in local currency ($11K). 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 Kota Kinabalu?
The median Airbnb occupancy rate in Kota Kinabalu was 57% 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 Kota Kinabalu?
As of March 2025, there are 2,729 active listings on the Airbnb platform in Kota Kinabalu.