Top 49 Best Places in Kenya to Invest in Airbnb & Short-Term Rentals (2025)

Source: AirROI

Last updated: 2025-08-01

Unlock high-ROI opportunities in Kenya‘s booming short-term rental (STR) market. This 2025 Airbnb investment guide from AirROI leverages cutting-edge Airbnb data analytics to pinpoint the most profitable cities for Airbnb and vacation rental entrepreneurs. Whether you’re scaling your portfolio or making your first STR investment, discover markets with strong rental demand, high revenue potential, and favorable regulations. We are committed to providing trustworthy insights based on comprehensive market analysis, and you can learn more about our rigorous approach to data accuracy.

Our STR market analysis dives deep into key performance indicators like monthly revenue, average daily rates (ADR), occupancy trends, property counts, and regulatory landscapes across Kenya. We go beyond simple rankings to provide the context you need for informed investment decisions using reliable Airbnb data.

Explore the data-driven insights below to identify the premier short-term rental investment hotspots and high ROI Airbnb markets in Kenya for 2025.

Top Short-Term Rental Markets in Kenya

Rank:#1Market:NairobiCountry:KenyaProperties:3,960Monthly Revenue:$345.82Daily Rate (ADR):$54.07Occupancy:33.94%Regulation:Low
Rank:#2Market:ziwa La Ng'ombe wardCountry:KenyaProperties:339Monthly Revenue:$442.88Daily Rate (ADR):$81.95Occupancy:27.95%Regulation:Low
Rank:#3Market:Ukunda wardCountry:KenyaProperties:324Monthly Revenue:$1081.93Daily Rate (ADR):$132.47Occupancy:32.45%Regulation:Low
Rank:#4Market:Shanzu wardCountry:KenyaProperties:272Monthly Revenue:$297.72Daily Rate (ADR):$57.07Occupancy:28.91%Regulation:Low
Rank:#5Market:Gombato Bongwe wardCountry:KenyaProperties:270Monthly Revenue:$760.97Daily Rate (ADR):$113.08Occupancy:30.59%Regulation:Low
Rank:#6Market:Watamu wardCountry:KenyaProperties:242Monthly Revenue:$883.48Daily Rate (ADR):$152.42Occupancy:29.28%Regulation:Low
Rank:#7Market:MombasaCountry:KenyaProperties:202Monthly Revenue:$261.82Daily Rate (ADR):$55.74Occupancy:28.54%Regulation:Low
Rank:#8Market:NanyukiCountry:KenyaProperties:187Monthly Revenue:$366.70Daily Rate (ADR):$116.28Occupancy:19.82%Regulation:Low
Rank:#9Market:KisumuCountry:KenyaProperties:183Monthly Revenue:$177.28Daily Rate (ADR):$43.89Occupancy:23.07%Regulation:Low
Rank:#10Market:Kinondo wardCountry:KenyaProperties:183Monthly Revenue:$1198.19Daily Rate (ADR):$175.43Occupancy:32.47%Regulation:Low
Rank:#11Market:NakuruCountry:KenyaProperties:122Monthly Revenue:$145.80Daily Rate (ADR):$44.15Occupancy:20.52%Regulation:Low
Rank:#12Market:MalindiCountry:KenyaProperties:104Monthly Revenue:$617.39Daily Rate (ADR):$135.31Occupancy:28.75%Regulation:Low
Rank:#13Market:Shella wardCountry:KenyaProperties:103Monthly Revenue:$1635.16Daily Rate (ADR):$206.31Occupancy:33.88%Regulation:Low
Rank:#14Market:Ndenderu wardCountry:KenyaProperties:101Monthly Revenue:$131.43Daily Rate (ADR):$32.45Occupancy:30.53%Regulation:Low
Rank:#15Market:Dabaso wardCountry:KenyaProperties:101Monthly Revenue:$2022.68Daily Rate (ADR):$195.27Occupancy:42.26%Regulation:Low
Rank:#16Market:Shella wardCountry:KenyaProperties:85Monthly Revenue:$474.36Daily Rate (ADR):$90.47Occupancy:32.17%Regulation:Low
Rank:#17Market:Syokimau-Mulolongo wardCountry:KenyaProperties:78Monthly Revenue:$245.44Daily Rate (ADR):$47.94Occupancy:28.23%Regulation:Low
Rank:#18Market:KilifiCountry:KenyaProperties:73Monthly Revenue:$735.83Daily Rate (ADR):$112.21Occupancy:27.91%Regulation:Low
Rank:#19Market:Shimo La Tewa wardCountry:KenyaProperties:72Monthly Revenue:$167.77Daily Rate (ADR):$49.54Occupancy:23.48%Regulation:Low
Rank:#20Market:SyokimauCountry:KenyaProperties:70Monthly Revenue:$161.88Daily Rate (ADR):$36.35Occupancy:26.01%Regulation:Low
Rank:#21Market:Kiambu Township wardCountry:KenyaProperties:68Monthly Revenue:$138.42Daily Rate (ADR):$31.36Occupancy:27.88%Regulation:Low
Rank:#22Market:Kadzandani wardCountry:KenyaProperties:67Monthly Revenue:$98.20Daily Rate (ADR):$25.84Occupancy:27.11%Regulation:Low
Rank:#23Market:Viwandani wardCountry:KenyaProperties:58Monthly Revenue:$812.32Daily Rate (ADR):$82.91Occupancy:25.92%Regulation:Low
Rank:#24Market:Junju wardCountry:KenyaProperties:48Monthly Revenue:$1096.51Daily Rate (ADR):$217.49Occupancy:21.88%Regulation:Low
Rank:#25Market:Gitothua wardCountry:KenyaProperties:42Monthly Revenue:$168.61Daily Rate (ADR):$36.87Occupancy:31.86%Regulation:Low
Rank:#26Market:Lake View wardCountry:KenyaProperties:40Monthly Revenue:$289.48Daily Rate (ADR):$50.77Occupancy:22.31%Regulation:Low
Rank:#27Market:Olkaria wardCountry:KenyaProperties:39Monthly Revenue:$1625.62Daily Rate (ADR):$194.73Occupancy:34.17%Regulation:Low
Rank:#28Market:Hells Gate wardCountry:KenyaProperties:38Monthly Revenue:$772.88Daily Rate (ADR):$142.76Occupancy:19.46%Regulation:Low
Rank:#29Market:Mkomami wardCountry:KenyaProperties:37Monthly Revenue:$663.98Daily Rate (ADR):$114.19Occupancy:25.43%Regulation:Low
Rank:#30Market:Tudor wardCountry:KenyaProperties:37Monthly Revenue:$206.27Daily Rate (ADR):$57.85Occupancy:27.86%Regulation:Low
Rank:#31Market:Malewa West wardCountry:KenyaProperties:37Monthly Revenue:$1353.96Daily Rate (ADR):$201.50Occupancy:25.57%Regulation:Low
Rank:#32Market:Mtepeni wardCountry:KenyaProperties:35Monthly Revenue:$487.35Daily Rate (ADR):$129.35Occupancy:23.59%Regulation:Low
Rank:#33Market:WatamuCountry:KenyaProperties:35Monthly Revenue:$746.56Daily Rate (ADR):$125.48Occupancy:30.61%Regulation:Low
Rank:#34Market:Racecourse wardCountry:KenyaProperties:35Monthly Revenue:$131.95Daily Rate (ADR):$48.48Occupancy:20.32%Regulation:Low
Rank:#35Market:Sabaki wardCountry:KenyaProperties:33Monthly Revenue:$285.68Daily Rate (ADR):$69.85Occupancy:25.93%Regulation:Low
Rank:#36Market:Mnarani wardCountry:KenyaProperties:32Monthly Revenue:$1677.33Daily Rate (ADR):$213.02Occupancy:29.50%Regulation:Low
Rank:#37Market:Malindi Town wardCountry:KenyaProperties:31Monthly Revenue:$144.39Daily Rate (ADR):$49.29Occupancy:25.63%Regulation:Low
Rank:#38Market:LamuCountry:KenyaProperties:26Monthly Revenue:$927.38Daily Rate (ADR):$140.62Occupancy:27.85%Regulation:Low
Rank:#39Market:Matathani wardCountry:KenyaProperties:26Monthly Revenue:$45.18Daily Rate (ADR):$43.24Occupancy:20.58%Regulation:Low
Rank:#40Market:Kapsoya wardCountry:KenyaProperties:25Monthly Revenue:$98.50Daily Rate (ADR):$38.69Occupancy:21.08%Regulation:Low
Rank:#41Market:Kipkenyo wardCountry:KenyaProperties:25Monthly Revenue:$92.07Daily Rate (ADR):$37.00Occupancy:21.02%Regulation:Low
Rank:#42Market:NyeriCountry:KenyaProperties:23Monthly Revenue:$354.86Daily Rate (ADR):$70.54Occupancy:18.71%Regulation:Low
Rank:#43Market:Ongata Rongai wardCountry:KenyaProperties:21Monthly Revenue:$100.70Daily Rate (ADR):$41.90Occupancy:23.14%Regulation:Low
Rank:#44Market:Thika Township wardCountry:KenyaProperties:21Monthly Revenue:$278.38Daily Rate (ADR):$58.49Occupancy:21.51%Regulation:Low
Rank:#45Market:MeruCountry:KenyaProperties:21Monthly Revenue:$81.73Daily Rate (ADR):$44.86Occupancy:14.60%Regulation:Low
Rank:#46Market:Kimana wardCountry:KenyaProperties:21Monthly Revenue:$489.90Daily Rate (ADR):$130.16Occupancy:18.83%Regulation:Low
Rank:#47Market:EmbuCountry:KenyaProperties:19Monthly Revenue:$43.69Daily Rate (ADR):$32.29Occupancy:16.59%Regulation:Low
Rank:#48Market:Kibarani wardCountry:KenyaProperties:19Monthly Revenue:$833.86Daily Rate (ADR):$102.68Occupancy:25.70%Regulation:Low
Rank:#49Market:NaivashaCountry:KenyaProperties:19Monthly Revenue:$141.14Daily Rate (ADR):$46.21Occupancy:21.36%Regulation:Low

Our Data-Driven Methodology for STR Market Analysis

At AirROI, our market rankings and insights are powered by a robust methodology combining comprehensive Airbnb data collection with sophisticated STR analytics techniques. We strive to provide the most accurate and actionable intelligence for short-term rental investors.

Data Collection & Scope

  • Global Coverage: We aggregate STR data from tens of millions of active short-term rental listings across platforms like Airbnb and Vrbo worldwide.
  • Real-Time Metrics: Our systems track key performance indicators (KPIs) daily, including booking rates, nightly pricing (ADR), occupancy rates, and revenue.
  • Regulatory Monitoring: We actively monitor and incorporate local short-term rental regulations, licensing requirements, and tax obligations into our market analysis.

Analysis & Ranking

  • Proprietary Algorithms: AI and machine learning models analyze booking patterns, predict seasonal demand shifts, and identify emerging market trends in the STR space.
  • Key Metric Evaluation: We evaluate markets based on a weighted combination of critical investment factors using our extensive Airbnb analytics:
    • Revenue Potential: Average Monthly Revenue and Average Daily Rate (ADR).
    • Market Demand: Occupancy Rate and booking lead times.
    • Investment Scale: Number of active properties and market growth trends.
    • Regulatory Environment: Assessed impact of local STR regulations on operational feasibility and profitability.
  • Benchmarking: Performance is benchmarked against regional and global averages to provide context for vacation rental investment potential.

Key Metrics Explained

  • Properties: The count of active short-term rental listings in the market.
  • Monthly Revenue: Average revenue generated per property per month, a key indicator for Airbnb profitability.
  • Daily Rate (ADR): Average nightly booking price.
  • Occupancy: Percentage of nights booked out of total available nights, crucial for understanding STR demand.
  • Regulation: An indicator of the local regulatory climate impacting Airbnb investment.

This rigorous approach ensures our recommendations are based on real-world performance Airbnb data and forward-looking market analysis, empowering you to invest smarter in the vacation rental market.

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