Best Airbnb Markets South Africa in 2025
Based on Airbtics data from September 2024 to August 2025, this page shows the top Airbnb locations to invest in South Africa with
key
statistics and information, like short-term rental regulations, number of listings, occupancy rate,
average daily rate, and annual revenue. This allows you to discover the most profitable cities to
invest in, buy, and own Airbnb rental properties in South Africa.
Why Invest in Airbnb South Africa in 2025?
** Last updated: 2025-10-04
In recent years, South Africa has emerged as one of the best locations for investing in
short-term rentals thanks to its popular tourist attractions, thriving business activities, growing
digital nomad presence, and vibrant cities like Hermanus, Dolphin coast and Cape town. With millions of international
visitors coming each year, the demand for vacation rental accommodations is growing, making Airbnb
South Africa a lucrative option for both local and foreign investors.
Due to strong demand from travelers, South Africa offers competitive average daily rates
(ADR), healthy occupancy rates, and attractive revenue potential in the best Airbnb markets. Whether
you’re looking to start your first Airbnb business with a modest budget or to add a luxury
short-term rental property to your portfolio, South Africa has a profitable location to
meet your budget and aspirations as an investor.
Note on Methodology: The Airbtics Market Score indicates how attractive a location is for investing
in an Airbnb rental property. We determine this score based on the following criteria:
- Short-term rental yield: The ratio between annual revenue and property price, as a percentage. Locations with higher Airbnb rental yield score better.
- Short-term rental regulations: How STR-friendly the local Airbnb rules and laws are. Markets with more lenient regulations get a higher score.
- Market size: The number of Airbnb listings. Larger vacation rental markets get a higher score as it is easier for investors to buy and sell properties.
- Growth: How fast the market is becoming saturated. Priority is given to markets that are already developed but are not approaching saturation yet.
- Seasonality: To what degree Airbnb performance is affected by seasonality. Less seasonal impact is preferred as investors can enjoy a more stable short-term rental performance throughout the year.
Based on this methodology, the best places to buy Airbnb in South Africa are:
Learn more about how we collect the data and accuracy
Top 9 South-Africa Cities for Airbnb in 2025
| Position | Market Name | Regulation | No of Listings | Avg. Occupancy Rate | Avg. Daily Rate | Revenue | Short-term Rental Yield | Rent Gap |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Cape town | Lenient | 18,341 | 71% | $92 | $24,139 | 12.3% | 34.5% |
| 2 | Mpumalanga | Lenient | 2,375 | 45% | $81 | $13,499 | 12.3% | 34.5% |
| 3 | Sandton | Lenient | 2,184 | 53% | $58 | $11,428 | 12.3% | 34.5% |
| 4 | Dolphin coast | Lenient | 1,701 | 53% | $137 | $26,881 | 12.3% | 34.5% |
| 5 | Pretoria | Lenient | 1,624 | 48% | $53 | $9,507 | 12.3% | 34.5% |
| 6 | Johannesburg | Lenient | 1,342 | 52% | $48 | $9,292 | 12.3% | 34.5% |
| 7 | Knysna | Lenient | 994 | 53% | $106 | $20,770 | 12.3% | 34.5% |
| 8 | Hermanus | Lenient | 752 | 58% | $148 | $31,780 | 12.3% | 34.5% |
| 9 | Durban | Lenient | 394 | 44% | $82 | $13,454 | 12.3% | 34.5% |
Find the Best Airbnb Markets with Our Interactive Tool
Use our interactive Market Explorer to find the best places to start an Airbnb in COUNTRY. Compare multiple markets side by side, apply filters like regulations, budget (property or rent prices), and market size, and even export the results to Excel.
Explore Interactive ToolBest Cities for Airbnb in South-Africa by Budget
Affordable & Mid-Range Airbnb Markets: $500,000 & Below
| Position | Market Name | Regulation | No of Listings | Avg. Occupancy Rate | Avg. Daily Rate | Revenue | Short-term Rental Yield | Rent Gap |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Mpumalanga | Lenient | 2,375 | 45% | $81 | $13,499 | 12.3% | 34.5% |
| 2 | Pretoria | Lenient | 1,624 | 48% | $53 | $9,507 | 12.3% | 34.5% |
| 3 | Johannesburg | Lenient | 1,342 | 52% | $48 | $9,292 | 12.3% | 34.5% |
| 4 | Durban | Lenient | 394 | 44% | $82 | $13,454 | 12.3% | 34.5% |
| 5 | Knysna | Lenient | 994 | 53% | $106 | $20,770 | 12.3% | 34.5% |
| 6 | Cape town | Lenient | 18,341 | 71% | $92 | $24,139 | 12.3% | 34.5% |
| 7 | Sandton | Lenient | 2,184 | 53% | $58 | $11,428 | 12.3% | 34.5% |
| 8 | Dolphin coast | Lenient | 1,701 | 53% | $137 | $26,881 | 12.3% | 34.5% |
| 9 | Hermanus | Lenient | 752 | 58% | $148 | $31,780 | 12.3% | 34.5% |
Emerging vs Established Airbnb Markets in South-Africa
Top 9 Emerging Short-Term Rental Markets in South-Africa
| Position | Market Name | Regulation | No of Listings | Avg. Occupancy Rate | Avg. Daily Rate | Revenue | Short-term Rental Yield | Rent Gap |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sandton | Lenient | 2,184 | 53% | $58 | $11,428 | 12.3% | 34.5% |
| 2 | Dolphin coast | Lenient | 1,701 | 53% | $137 | $26,881 | 12.3% | 34.5% |
| 3 | Durban | Lenient | 394 | 44% | $82 | $13,454 | 12.3% | 34.5% |
| 4 | Johannesburg | Lenient | 1,342 | 52% | $48 | $9,292 | 12.3% | 34.5% |
| 5 | Pretoria | Lenient | 1,624 | 48% | $53 | $9,507 | 12.3% | 34.5% |
| 6 | Cape town | Lenient | 18,341 | 71% | $92 | $24,139 | 12.3% | 34.5% |
| 7 | Knysna | Lenient | 994 | 53% | $106 | $20,770 | 12.3% | 34.5% |
| 8 | Mpumalanga | Lenient | 2,375 | 45% | $81 | $13,499 | 12.3% | 34.5% |
| 9 | Hermanus | Lenient | 752 | 58% | $148 | $31,780 | 12.3% | 34.5% |
Top Established Short-Term Rental Markets in South-Africa
| Position | Market Name | Regulation | No of Listings | Avg. Occupancy Rate | Avg. Daily Rate | Revenue | Short-term Rental Yield | Rent Gap |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Cape town | Lenient | 18,341 | 71% | $92 | $24,139 | 12.3% | 34.5% |
9 Best Places for Airbnb Arbitrage in South-Africa
| Position | Market Name | Regulation | No of Listings | Avg. Occupancy Rate | Avg. Daily Rate | Revenue | Short-term Rental Yield | Rent Gap |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Hermanus | Lenient | 752 | 58% | $148 | $31,780 | 12.3% | 34.5% |
| 2 | Knysna | Lenient | 994 | 53% | $106 | $20,770 | 12.3% | 34.5% |
| 3 | Cape town | Lenient | 18,341 | 71% | $92 | $24,139 | 12.3% | 34.5% |
| 4 | Mpumalanga | Lenient | 2,375 | 45% | $81 | $13,499 | 12.3% | 34.5% |
| 5 | Johannesburg | Lenient | 1,342 | 52% | $48 | $9,292 | 12.3% | 34.5% |
| 6 | Dolphin coast | Lenient | 1,701 | 53% | $137 | $26,881 | 12.3% | 34.5% |
| 7 | Durban | Lenient | 394 | 44% | $82 | $13,454 | 12.3% | 34.5% |
| 8 | Pretoria | Lenient | 1,624 | 48% | $53 | $9,507 | 12.3% | 34.5% |
| 9 | Sandton | Lenient | 2,184 | 53% | $58 | $11,428 | 12.3% | 34.5% |
- Starting an Airbnb in South-Africa? Check out our guide on how to start an Airbnb in South-Africa (Startup cost, profitability, and nationwide vacation rental statistics)
- For short-term rental market analysis, visit our Airbnb Analytics app.
Estimate Your Airbnb Income in South Africa
Ready to start looking for the most profitable short-term rental investment opportunities in South Africa?
Use our Airbnb calculator to quickly and accurately estimate the earning and profitability potential of any city, neighborhood, and area.
Try Our Airbnb Calculator