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Best Airbnb Markets in South Africa (2026)

Based on Airbtics data from September 2025 to August 2026, this page ranks the best Airbnb markets in South Africa by Market Grade. The grade compares short-term rental yield, year-over-year revenue growth, and occupancy (demand), then adjusts for local regulation. The table also shows listing count, average daily rate, and annual revenue for every market.

Markets on this page are ranked by the Airbtics Market Grade, not by the number of listings. The grade compares each market with the other markets in this ranking on three measures, then adjusts for local short-term rental regulation.

  1. Yield: Annual short-term rental revenue divided by property price. A higher yield ranks higher.
  2. Growth: Year-over-year change in revenue. Faster revenue growth ranks higher.
  3. Demand: Average occupancy rate over the last 12 months. Higher occupancy ranks higher.

Stricter short-term rental regulation lowers the letter grade. Occupancy, average daily rate, and annual revenue are shown for every market. Exact yield and revenue growth are published for the three highest-graded markets. For every other market those two figures are in Market Explorer. The rankboard plots the same markets by occupancy and average daily rate, and the table under the chart lists those values in text.

Learn more about how we collect the data and accuracy

Last updated: 16th October, 2026

South Africa Short-Term Rental Market Overview (September 2025 to August 2026)

National averages across all South Africa markets
Average Occupancy Rate i
51.25%
Average Annual Revenue i
R279,625
Average Daily Rate (ADR) i
R1,435
YoY Supply Growth i
43.59%
YoY Revenue Change i
9.83%

Top 16 South Africa Cities for Airbnb in 2026

Tick the markets you like to track their revenue, occupancy, and ADR in your Airbtics watchlist. Free to start, up to 10 markets.

Position Market Grade Market Name Regulation No of Listings Avg. Occupancy Rate Avg. Daily Rate Revenue Short-term Rental Yield Revenue Growth
1BCity Bowl
Lenient
4,98569% 🚀R1,641R420,55115.2%+12.8%
2BMossel Bay
Lenient
1,12747%R1,674R292,85217.8%+14.3%
3BPlettenberg Bay
Lenient
1,01954%R2,387R476,39316.4%+16.4%
4B+Cape Town
Lenient
18,88466% 🚀R1,707R417,434Unlock in Market ExplorerUnlock in Market Explorer
5B+Knysna
Lenient
99050%R2,022R376,482Unlock in Market ExplorerUnlock in Market Explorer
6CSandton
Lenient
2,46550%R1,077R200,916Unlock in Market ExplorerUnlock in Market Explorer
7CDolphin Coast
Lenient
1,74553%R2,354R463,510Unlock in Market ExplorerUnlock in Market Explorer
8CJohannesburg
Lenient
1,61348%R878R157,841Unlock in Market ExplorerUnlock in Market Explorer
9CMidrand
Lenient
1,14544%R1,027R168,320Unlock in Market ExplorerUnlock in Market Explorer
10C+Mpumalanga
Lenient
2,52543%R1,392R223,548Unlock in Market ExplorerUnlock in Market Explorer
11C+Pretoria
Lenient
1,88247%R961R169,497Unlock in Market ExplorerUnlock in Market Explorer
12C+Blouberg
Lenient
1,80263%R1,525R355,524Unlock in Market ExplorerUnlock in Market Explorer
13C+Port Elizabeth
Lenient
1,38248%R961R173,012Unlock in Market ExplorerUnlock in Market Explorer
14C+Jeffreys Bay
Lenient
63547%R1,525R267,037Unlock in Market ExplorerUnlock in Market Explorer
15DDurban
Lenient
1,61745%R1,094R184,767Unlock in Market ExplorerUnlock in Market Explorer
16DBloemfontein
Lenient
64746%R729R126,323Unlock in Market ExplorerUnlock in Market Explorer

Data Seen By

BiggerPockets
Trustpilot

Market Explorer

Filter markets by occupancy, price, and yield

Filter South Africa by occupancy, ADR, yield, rent gap, and property price, then compare markets side by side.

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Find the Best Airbnb Markets with Our Interactive Tool

Use our interactive Market Explorer to find the best places to start an Airbnb in South Africa. 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.

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Why Invest in Airbnb South Africa in 2026?

The highest-graded short-term rental markets in South Africa are City Bowl, Mossel Bay and Plettenberg Bay. The table ranks every tracked market by Airbtics Market Grade. Occupancy, average daily rate, annual revenue, yield, and revenue growth are the figures behind that grade.

Top 3 Airbnb markets in South Africa by Market Grade

These are the three highest-graded Airbnb markets in South Africa. Market Grade compares yield, revenue growth, and occupancy (demand) with the other markets on this page, then adjusts for short-term rental regulation. The chart repeats those three percentiles in text so the ranking is readable without the graphic.

Rank 1 — City Bowl (Grade B)

City Bowl is rank 1 of 16 markets in this South Africa ranking by Airbtics Market Grade B, with 15.2% short-term rental yield, 69.0% occupancy, and +12.8% year-over-year revenue growth.

Compared with the other markets on this page, City Bowl ranks lowest 28% for yield, top 16% for growth, and top 3% for demand. The market shows an average daily rate of R1,641, annual revenue of R420,551, a rent gap of 3068.5%, 4,985 active listings, lenient short-term rental regulation, and a typical 2-bedroom property price of R4,144,999.

  • Market gradeB
  • Yield15.2%
  • Revenue growth+12.8%
  • Occupancy69.0%
  • Average daily rateR1,641
  • Annual revenueR420,551
  • Rent gap3068.5%
  • Active listings4,985
  • 2-bedroom priceR4,144,999
  • RegulationLenient
lowest 28%Yieldtop 16%Growthtop 3%Demand

Percentile versus other South Africa markets on this page. Farther from the center is stronger.

  • Yield: lowest 28%
  • Growth: top 16%
  • Demand: top 3%

Rank 2 — Mossel Bay (Grade B)

Mossel Bay is rank 2 of 16 markets in this South Africa ranking by Airbtics Market Grade B, with 17.8% short-term rental yield, 47.0% occupancy, and +14.3% year-over-year revenue growth.

Compared with the other markets on this page, Mossel Bay ranks lowest 41% for yield, top 9% for growth, and lowest 34% for demand. The market shows an average daily rate of R1,674, annual revenue of R292,852, a rent gap of 2718.8%, 1,127 active listings, lenient short-term rental regulation, and a typical 2-bedroom property price of R1,575,099.

  • Market gradeB
  • Yield17.8%
  • Revenue growth+14.3%
  • Occupancy47.0%
  • Average daily rateR1,674
  • Annual revenueR292,852
  • Rent gap2718.8%
  • Active listings1,127
  • 2-bedroom priceR1,575,099
  • RegulationLenient
lowest 41%Yieldtop 9%Growthlowest 34%Demand

Percentile versus other South Africa markets on this page. Farther from the center is stronger.

  • Yield: lowest 41%
  • Growth: top 9%
  • Demand: lowest 34%

Rank 3 — Plettenberg Bay (Grade B)

Plettenberg Bay is rank 3 of 16 markets in this South Africa ranking by Airbtics Market Grade B, with 16.4% short-term rental yield, 54.0% occupancy, and +16.4% year-over-year revenue growth.

Compared with the other markets on this page, Plettenberg Bay ranks lowest 34% for yield, top 3% for growth, and top 22% for demand. The market shows an average daily rate of R2,387, annual revenue of R476,393, a rent gap of 3187.6%, 1,019 active listings, lenient short-term rental regulation, and a typical 2-bedroom property price of R2,486,999.

  • Market gradeB
  • Yield16.4%
  • Revenue growth+16.4%
  • Occupancy54.0%
  • Average daily rateR2,387
  • Annual revenueR476,393
  • Rent gap3187.6%
  • Active listings1,019
  • 2-bedroom priceR2,486,999
  • RegulationLenient
lowest 34%Yieldtop 3%Growthtop 22%Demand

Percentile versus other South Africa markets on this page. Farther from the center is stronger.

  • Yield: lowest 34%
  • Growth: top 3%
  • Demand: top 22%

Market Rankboard: South Africa

Each dot is a vacation rental market in South Africa, plotted by occupancy rate (x-axis) and average daily rate (ADR) (y-axis). Dashed lines mark the national median.

South Africa Airbnb markets rankboard scatter chart showing occupancy rate versus average daily rate (ADR)
Occupancy rate and average daily rate for each South Africa market plotted in the chart above, in Market Grade order.
MarketOccupancy rateAverage daily rate
City Bowl69.0%R1,641
Mossel Bay47.0%R1,674
Plettenberg Bay54.0%R2,387
Cape Town66.0%R1,707
Knysna50.0%R2,022
Sandton50.0%R1,077
Dolphin Coast53.0%R2,354
Johannesburg48.0%R878
Midrand44.0%R1,027
Mpumalanga43.0%R1,392
Pretoria47.0%R961
Blouberg63.0%R1,525
Port Elizabeth48.0%R961
Jeffreys Bay47.0%R1,525
Durban45.0%R1,094
Bloemfontein46.0%R729

Compare property prices, short-term rental yield, rent gap, annual revenue, and supply growth in the Airbtics Market Explorer watchlist.

See all Airbnb markets in South Africa

Browse all 16 markets we track in South Africa. Each link opens the market's Airbnb revenue and performance data page.

South Africa Airbnb market FAQs

  • What are the best Airbnb markets in South Africa?

    Airbtics ranks short-term rental markets in South Africa by Market Grade. The grade compares yield (annual revenue divided by property price), year-over-year revenue growth, and occupancy, then adjusts for regulation. The highest-graded market in this dataset is City Bowl. The main table lists markets in that order; use the Market Explorer to filter by budget, regulations, and more.

  • How many Airbnb markets does Airbtics track in South Africa?

    We currently analyze 16 active short-term rental markets in South Africa with listing supply, median occupancy, ADR, and revenue estimates.

  • What is the average Airbnb occupancy rate in South Africa?

    The national average occupancy rate across tracked markets is 51.25% (LTM). Rates differ by city. Use the rankboard on this page, or open a market page for that city's numbers.

  • How do I compare Airbnb markets in South Africa?

    Use the occupancy vs ADR rankboard on this page for a quick view, or open the Market Explorer to compare markets side by side, change chart axes, export to Excel, and save markets to a watchlist.

  • How can I estimate Airbnb income in South Africa?

    Use our Airbnb income calculator to estimate revenue for a specific address, or open any market link below for median revenue and occupancy benchmarks.




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For trends, supply, and year-over-year changes, see the 2025 short-term rental report for South Africa.