Airbnb Occupancy Rate in Cape Town, South Africa, Data & Trends 2026
Curious about the performance of short-term rentals in Cape Town, South Africa? Over the last year, the average occupancy rate was 66% with an ADR (Average Daily Rate) of 101€. Hosts earned on average 1865€ per month.
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90-day occupancy forecast for Cape Town so you can update rates and stay ahead of competitors.
Market summary in Cape Town
Key metrics to optimize your pricing strategy
Avg. Monthly Revenue
1865€
$1697 USD
YoY Revenue Change
1%
vs. previous year
Occupancy Rate
66%
~20 days/month
Average Daily Rate
101€
$92 USD
Seasonality Index
97%
demand variation
Best Months
February, December
peak season
Worst Months
June, May
low season
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What Cape Town's occupancy and ADR actually mean
Over the analysis period 2025-06 to 2026-05, Cape Town's listings averaged 66% occupancy at an ADR of about 100 euros, producing roughly 1,864 euros in average monthly revenue and 239 booked nights a year. Against the two-city South African sample (Cape Town and George), Cape Town sits at the top: its 66% occupancy runs about six points above the national average near 60%, and its ADR of 100 euros is well above the country mean of roughly 80 euros, making it the highest-yielding market measured.
Year-on-year revenue was flat at 0%, signalling a mature, stable market rather than a fast-growing one, so gains come from operational quality rather than a rising tide. The seasonality reading of 95% is high, confirming a pronounced summer concentration: managers should price aggressively into the February and December peaks and use longer winter lets to defend the weak June-May trough.
Monthly Airbnb occupancy in Cape Town
Average occupancy rate by month in Cape Town, compared with the same month a year earlier.
| Month | Occupancy | Prior year |
|---|---|---|
| Jul 2025 | 62.3% | 62.3% |
| Aug 2025 | 65.6% | 65.9% |
| Sep 2025 | 65.7% | 68.7% |
| Oct 2025 | 71.4% | 70.3% |
| Nov 2025 | 74.9% | 75.9% |
| Dec 2025 | 74% | 74.5% |
| Jan 2026 | 72.1% | 73.6% |
| Feb 2026 | 82.6% | 82.5% |
| Mar 2026 | 71.6% | 73.5% |
| Apr 2026 | 62.6% | 64.5% |
| May 2026 | 55.9% | 55.3% |
| Jun 2026 | 52% | 57.8% |
Historical Airbnb occupancy in Cape Town (last 12 months)
📌 Historical trends reveal seasonal highs – plan accordingly.
Airbnb occupancy forecast in Cape Town (next 90 days)
These figures reflect real-time demand in Cape Town, helping you plan and price strategically.
Why people book Airbnbs in Cape Town
Cape Town is South Africa's flagship leisure destination, and its Airbnb demand is driven overwhelmingly by international holidaymakers chasing Table Mountain, the Atlantic beaches, the Cape Winelands and the Cape Peninsula drive. The city draws a mix of long-haul European and North American visitors during the southern-hemisphere summer, regional South African travellers over the festive season, and a fast-growing remote-worker cohort: Cape Town has become one of the world's top digital-nomad hubs, with a dedicated Nomad Week and a steady flow of guests booking month-long stays.
Major sporting and cultural events thicken demand on specific weekends, from the Cape Town Cycle Tour and the Two Oceans Marathon to the Cape Town International Jazz Festival and Mining Indaba. For hosts this means a market that rewards both short festive-season stays at premium rates and longer winter lets to nomads and conference visitors who keep occupancy from collapsing in the off months.
When Airbnb demand peaks in Cape Town
Cape Town runs a sharply summer-weighted calendar. The data shows February and December as the strongest months and June and May as the weakest, mirroring the Southern Hemisphere seasons: hot, dry, near-rainless summers (roughly 17-28C) versus cool, wet, windy winters. The festive peak runs from mid-December through January, when prices commonly rise around 50% and queues form at Table Mountain and Cape Point; the Kaapse Klopse (Cape Minstrel Carnival) street parade on 2 January and the Kirstenbosch Summer Sunset Concerts (December-January) anchor that window.
Shoulder demand is propped up by an unusually busy event calendar: the Cape Town Cycle Tour in March, the Two Oceans Marathon at Easter, Mining Indaba in February and the Cape Town International Jazz Festival. Winter (June-August) is the genuine low season for leisure stays, partly offset by Digital Nomad Week in late January and longer remote-work bookings that smooth the trough.
Best neighbourhoods for short-term rentals in Cape Town
The Atlantic Seaboard is the prime short-term-rental belt: Camps Bay and Clifton command the highest nightly rates with beachfront villas and apartments, while Sea Point and Green Point offer walkable promenade living, dense restaurants and strong year-round demand at a slightly more accessible price. These suburbs suit hosts targeting premium summer guests and benefit from the MyCiTi bus links into the centre.
The City Bowl, including Gardens, Tamboerskloof and the De Waterkant, is the first-timer and walkable-stay favourite, close to Long Street, Bo-Kaap and Table Mountain's cableway, and popular with younger travellers and nomads. The V&A Waterfront delivers reliable, high-rate bookings from cruise and luxury visitors. Outlying areas such as Hout Bay and the southern suburbs trade a beach-front premium for space and value, appealing to families and longer stays.
Short-term rental rules in Cape Town
Short-term letting is legal in Cape Town but is governed by the City's Municipal Planning By-Law and Development Management Scheme: depending on a property's zoning, scale and impact, running a dwelling as visitor accommodation can require Consent Use approval from the City. Hosts should confirm their zoning before listing rather than assume it is permitted by default.
In 2026 the City advanced a draft Short-Term Letting By-Law that would require properties let on a short-term basis for more than 183 days a year (over half the year) to be rated as commercial premises, on par with guest houses and hotels, rather than residential. Separately, all rental income must be declared to SARS, and VAT registration becomes compulsory once taxable turnover passes R1,000,000 in any rolling 12-month period. Operators should track the bylaw's progress, as registration and reporting obligations are tightening.
Tools & strategies for Cape Town
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* Calculations based on 30 days/month. Actual results may vary depending on market, season, property type, and implemented strategy.
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Frequently asked questions about Airbnb occupancy in Cape Town
For the 2025-06 to 2026-05 period, ListingOK data puts Cape Town listings at about 66% average occupancy, equal to roughly 239 booked nights a year. That is around six points above the South African average and the highest in the markets measured, reflecting Cape Town's status as the country's leading leisure destination.
The strongest months are December and February, driven by the mid-December to January festive peak when prices often rise about 50%, the Kaapse Klopse carnival on 2 January and the Kirstenbosch summer concerts. June and May are weakest. Event weekends like the March Cycle Tour and Easter Two Oceans Marathon also lift demand.
Short-term letting is legal but governed by the City's Municipal Planning By-Law; depending on your zoning you may need Consent Use approval. A 2026 draft bylaw would rate properties let more than 183 days a year as commercial premises. You must declare income to SARS, and VAT registration is required above R1,000,000 turnover.
The Atlantic Seaboard leads: Camps Bay and Clifton earn the highest nightly rates, while Sea Point and Green Point offer walkable, year-round demand. The City Bowl (Gardens, Tamboerskloof, De Waterkant) suits first-timers and nomads, and the V&A Waterfront draws reliable premium bookings. Hout Bay and the southern suburbs offer space and value for families.