1. How much can you earn on Airbnb in Cape Town?

These Airbnb earnings figures come from Houst's pricing tool for a two-bedroom, one-bathroom property at addresses in seven Cape Town areas, pulled in October 2026. Monthly income is the nightly rate times occupancy over a 30-day month, before costs.

• Camps Bay: R5,391.18 a night at 80% occupancy, about R129,388 a month
• Sea Point: R4,188.37 a night at 70% occupancy, about R87,956 a month
• De Waterkant: R3,436.60 a night at 70% occupancy, about R72,169 a month
• Cape Town CBD: R3,071.47 a night at 73% occupancy, about R67,265 a month
• Green Point: R2,534.49 a night at 78% occupancy, about R59,307 a month
• Gardens: R2,298.23 a night at 70% occupancy, about R48,263 a month
• Woodstock: R1,675.35 a night at 74% occupancy, about R37,193 a month

The Atlantic Seaboard leads. Camps Bay has the highest nightly rate and occupancy in the set, and Sea Point is second. In the City Bowl, De Waterkant and the CBD earn more than Gardens. Green Point fills more nights than any area except Camps Bay, at 78%.

Across a full year

At the rates above, a year of bookings comes to about R1,574,225 in Camps Bay, R1,070,129 in Sea Point, R878,051 in De Waterkant, R818,393 in the CBD, R721,569 in Green Point, R587,198 in Gardens and R452,512 in Woodstock, before costs.

For an estimate based on your own address, see the Cape Town Airbnb management page.

2. Income by area in Cape Town

Cape Town income varies widely by area. Sea views, beach access and closeness to the V&A Waterfront drive the highest rates.

2.1 Camps Bay

Beachfront below the Twelve Apostles, with restaurants along Victoria Road. Camps Bay has the highest nightly rate in our data at R5,391.18, and the highest occupancy at 80%.

2.2 Sea Point and Green Point

The Sea Point promenade, the Green Point park and the stadium, and an easy walk or ride to the Waterfront. Sea Point earns about R87,956 a month in our data. Green Point is lower on nightly rate but fills 78% of nights.

2.3 De Waterkant and the CBD

De Waterkant's cobbled streets sit between the CBD and the Waterfront, and draw leisure guests at R3,436.60 a night. The CBD mixes corporate guests in the week with leisure guests at weekends, at 73% occupancy.

2.4 Gardens

Below Table Mountain, with Kloof Street's cafes and restaurants close by. Gardens earns less than the CBD in our data, at about R48,263 a month.

2.5 Woodstock

Creative studios, design shops and the Saturday market at the Old Biscuit Mill. Woodstock has the lowest nightly rate in the set, but fills 74% of nights.

Our guide to the best areas for Airbnb in Cape Town covers more neighbourhoods.

3. What drives Cape Town Airbnb income

3.1 Summer season

Cape Town's peak runs from November to February, when international visitors arrive and South African families take their December holidays. Rates rise sharply over Christmas and New Year. Winter, from June to August, is the quietest time for leisure travel.

3.2 International visitors

Visitors from the UK, Europe and the US make up a large share of summer demand and support higher nightly rates. They often book well ahead, so an early listing captures more of the season.

3.3 Property type

Apartments in secure buildings with parking perform well in the City Bowl and on the Atlantic Seaboard. Houses with views or a pool in Camps Bay suit families and groups in the peak.

3.4 Rules

In August 2026, the City of Cape Town published a draft Short-Term Letting By-law for public comment. As drafted, every property listed on a booking platform would need to register with the City and show a City-issued registration number on its listings. Properties let short term for more than 50% of their annual room-night capacity would be rated as commercial accommodation from 1 July 2027. The by-law is still a draft and may change before it is adopted. Sectional title conduct rules can also restrict short lets in apartment buildings, so check yours before you list.

4. Costs and what you actually keep

The figures above are gross income. These costs come out before you see your net income.

Platform fees

Airbnb, Booking.com and other platforms each take a commission. The amount depends on the platform and the fee setup on your account.

Management fees

Houst charges from 14% of booking income for full-time management in Cape Town, with no setup fee and no monthly charge. On a Sea Point month of R87,956, a 14% fee comes to about R12,314. If you manage it yourself, count the time spent on guest messages, check-ins, pricing and cleaning.

Cleaning and laundry

Every stay needs a professional clean and fresh linen. Shorter stays mean more turnovers, so cleaning costs rise with booking volume over summer.

Rates

Under the draft by-law, a property let short term for more than half of its available nights would pay commercial rates from July 2027. Factor this in if you plan to let most of the year.

Maintenance, consumables and insurance

Short lets wear furniture and appliances faster than a long let. Make sure your insurance covers short-term letting, as many standard home policies do not.

Our Airbnb management fees guide shows how fees compare across managers.

5. How to maximise your Cape Town Airbnb income

Get listed before summer

A property that is furnished, photographed and live by October has time to collect its first reviews before December. If you plan to use it yourself over the holidays, block those dates early and let the manager price the weeks around them.

Price for the seasons

Rates should rise sharply for December and January, ease in autumn and drop in winter to keep occupancy up. Dynamic pricing does this every day.

Plan for the draft by-law

Keep your property details and booking records in order now, so registration is quick if the by-law is adopted. If you plan to let for more than half of the year, budget for commercial rates.

Use mid-term stays in winter

Remote workers and people relocating to Cape Town often book for a month or more. These stays keep occupancy up from June to August with fewer turnovers.

Get help with the work

Compare local operators in our guide to the best Airbnb management companies in Cape Town, or read is Airbnb management worth it if you are weighing up a manager.

Figures reflect Houst pricing tool data for two-bedroom, one-bathroom properties at addresses in each area, pulled in October 2026. Actual earnings vary with the property, the season and how it is managed. This is not financial advice.