Airbnb Market Analytics, Statistics and Data in Kisumu, Kisumu County, Kenya
Last updated: 2025-01-31
Looking to make more money with hosting or rental arbitraging Airbnbs, short-term rentals, vacation rentals in Kisumu? AirROI have just the data insights! Over the last twelve months from February 2024 to January 2025, we've uncovered key trends and opportunities that successful hosts are leveraging in Kisumu:
How much do Airbnb hosts make on average per month in Kisumu?
The short-term rental market in Kisumu shows distinct revenue patterns across different property tiers. Our analysis reveals that successful properties combine strategic pricing with quality management to maximize earnings potential. Market data demonstrates clear revenue differentiation among properties:
- Typical properties (median) earn $309 per month
- Strong performing properties (top 25%) make $702 or more
- Best-in-class properties (top 10%) achieve $1,147+ monthly
- Entry-level properties (bottom 25%) typically earn around $122
Revenue Variations by Month
Occupancy Rates Throughout the Year in Kisumu
The market in Kisumu shows distinct occupancy patterns influenced by seasonal trends and local dynamics. Properties that maintain high guest satisfaction scores and implement strategic pricing consistently achieve stronger occupancy rates. Current market data shows:
- Typical properties (median) maintain 20% occupancy rates
- Strong performing properties (top 25%) achieve 39% or higher
- Best-in-class properties (top 10%) reach 63%+occupancy
- Entry-level properties (bottom 25%) average around 10%
Occupancy Variations by Month
Average Daily Rates Seasonal Trends in Kisumu
Daily rates in Kisumu vary based on seasonality, property quality, and market dynamics. Properties that effectively balance competitive pricing with strong amenities typically command higher rates. Market analysis shows the following rate structure:
- Typical properties (median) generate $34 per night
- Strong performing properties (top 25%) secure $53 or more
- Best-in-class properties (top 10%) pull in $76+ per night
- Entry-level properties (bottom 25%) earn around $24
Daily Rate Variations by Month
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Seasonality patterns in Kisumu
Peak Season (April, June, May)
- Revenue peaks at $670.84 per month
- Occupancy rates reach 32.79%
- Daily rates average $46.33
Shoulder Season
- Revenue averages $506.70 per month
- Occupancy maintains 27.54%
- Daily rates hold at $44.44
Low Season (November, January, September)
- Revenue drops to $341.83 per month
- Occupancy decreases to 22.79%
- Daily rates adjust to $42.47
Is it still profitable to do Airbnb in Kisumu in 2025?
Yes! Kisumu demonstrates highly seasonal trends requiring strategic adaptation, featuring a growing occupancy rate of 28% and monthly revenue averaging $507 and The market's 171 active listings indicate growing demand with plenty of opportunity for new properties. There's also room for profit through rental arbitrage strategies, if you can identify competitively priced properties. To maximize your return on investment, consider employing the following strategies:
Peak Season Strategy
- Implement premium seasonal pricing strategies
- Set longer minimum stay requirements during high-demand periods
- Enforce stricter cancellation policies
Shoulder Season Strategy
- Maintain competitive market-based pricing
- Offer moderate-length stay incentives
- Target a mix of leisure and business travelers with flexible booking terms
- Focus on weekend getaway packages and mid-week business traveler promotions
Low Season Strategy
- Adjust pricing to remain competitive in the market
- Target different guest segments (business travelers, long-term stays, holiday visitors, event attendees, remote workers)
- Create targeted promotional campaigns to drive occupancy
Top Places to Start Airbnb in Kisumu
| Area | Why Choose This Area | Key Attractions |
|---|---|---|
| Kisumu Central | The commercial and administrative heart of Kisumu. It attracts business travelers and tourists, making it ideal for hosting Airbnb guests looking for convenience and access to services. | Kisumu Museum, Kisumu Convention Center, Kisumu Impala Sanctuary, Hippo Point, Tewa Island |
| Dunga Beach | A popular tourist destination known for its beautiful scenery, water activities, and relaxation. An excellent spot for guests interested in nature and adventure. | Dunga Beach, Lake Victoria, Dunga Hill Camp, Fishing trips, Bird watching |
| Milimani | An affluent residential area, known for its serene environment, proximity to amenities, and attractive homes for short-term rentals attracting families and professionals. | Milimani Park, Near shopping malls, Local eateries, Family-friendly environment |
| Western Kisumu | A growing area with expanding infrastructure, appealing to urban explorers who want a less commercialized experience while still being close to the city. | Local markets, Cultural sites, Community events, Artisan shops |
| Nyando | Known for its rich cultural heritage and proximity to nature, perfect for guests interested in local culture and experiences away from the city rush. | Nyando River, Local farms, Cultural performances, Nature trails |
| Kisumu East | Accessible and rapidly developing area with an influx of visitors, making it ideal for Airbnb hosting for both business and leisure travelers. | Shopping centers, Local restaurants, Public transport access, Cultural events |
| Maseno | A small town near Kisumu with a vibrant university community that drives demand for accommodations from students and visitors. | Maseno University, Local markets, Cultural exchange events, Sports activities |
| Lakeside | Directly facing Lake Victoria, this area is popular with tourists for its scenic views and access to water activities, ideal for Airbnb guests seeking relaxation and adventure. | Lake Victoria, Boat tours, Fishing expeditions, Lakeside restaurants |
Do you need a license for Airbnb in Kisumu?
We recommend checking directly with Kisumu's local government regarding short-term rental licensing requirements. Current market data shows limited licensing information (0% of listings), making it essential to verify current regulations before starting your Airbnb business.
Top Performing Airbnb Properties in Kisumu
4bedroom own compound milimani kisumu,0704734109
Entire Place • 4 bedrooms
Hill Camp View Villa- 5 bedroom
Entire Place • 5 bedrooms
white hill villa Kisumu
Entire Place • 5 bedrooms
sr apartments
Entire Place • 5 bedrooms
3Bed 3 baths CBD Ksm. Lift/backup Gen0722732628
Entire Place • 3 bedrooms
A serene & picturesque 4 bedroom home with lawn
Entire Place • 4 bedrooms
Top Performing Professional Hosts in Kisumu
| Host Name | Properties | Grossing Revenue | Stay Reviews | Avg Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ericka | 10 | $49,607 | 233 | 4.39/5.0 |
| Michelle | 5 | $38,525 | 32 | 2.98/5.0 |
| Lucie | 8 | $30,796 | 190 | 4.98/5.0 |
| Aireen | 5 | $28,097 | 45 | 3.96/5.0 |
| 31689072 | 1 | $18,489 | 0 | 0.00/5.0 |
| Mitchelle | 5 | $18,058 | 116 | 4.83/5.0 |
| Rachell | 4 | $17,580 | 52 | 4.88/5.0 |
| Damaski | 7 | $16,641 | 322 | 4.83/5.0 |
| Rachel And Lorine | 1 | $15,245 | 54 | 4.67/5.0 |
| Florence | 4 | $15,173 | 36 | 3.38/5.0 |
Additional analytics on vacation rental, real estate, short term rental data in Kisumu
AirROI also have other key metrics and comprehensive data for your vacation rental, real estate needs. Go explore the advanced metrics that can help you make informed decisions:
Room Type Distribution
Property Type Distribution
Key Insights
- Market dominated by entire home listings (95.3%), with apartment & condo and house properties comprising 97.7% of inventory
- Untapped potential in boutique & hotels, others segments (2.4% combined)
Room Capacity Distribution
Analysis of 171 properties in Kisumu shows that 1 bedroom properties are most prevalent, making up 44.4% of the market. The market tends to favor smaller properties, with 1 bedroom and 2 bedrooms together representing 68.4% of all listings.
Key Insights
- Most common: 1 bedroom (44.4%)
- Least common: 5+ bedrooms (2.3%)
- Market concentration: 68.4% in top 2 sizes
- Market skew: Favors smaller properties
Guest Capacity Distribution
Analysis of 171 properties in Kisumu reveals that 2 guests properties dominate the market, representing 47.4% of all listings. The average property accommodates 3.7 guests, with a clear trend towards smaller guest capacities. Properties accommodating 2 guests and 4 guests make up 69.0% of the market.
Key Insights
- Most common capacity: 2 guests (47.4% of market)
- Least common capacity: 7 guests (1.2% of market)
- Average guest capacity: 3.7 guests per property
- Market concentration: 69.0% in top 2 capacity sizes
- Market segmentation: Predominantly smaller guest capacities
Booking and Availability Patterns
Available Days Distribution
Booked Days Distribution
Among 171 properties in Kisumu, the most common availability pattern is 271-366 days (75.4% of properties). For actual bookings, properties most frequently secure bookings for 1-30 days (40.9% of properties).
Key Insights
- Most common availability window: 271-366 days (75.4%)
- Most common booking duration: 1-30 days (40.9%)
- Properties with high availability (180+ days): 92.4%
- Properties with long-term bookings (180+ days): 7.6%
Minimum Stay Distributions
1 Night
139 listings
86.9% of total
2 Nights
12 listings
7.5% of total
3 Nights
2 listings
1.3% of total
4-6 Nights
3 listings
1.9% of total
7-29 Nights
1 listings
0.6% of total
30+ Nights
3 listings
1.9% of total
Key Insights
- Short stays (1-2 nights) dominate the market at 94.4%
- Mid-length stays (4-6 nights) represent 1.9% of listings
- Monthly+ stays (1.9%) suggest a stable extended-stay market
- High market flexibility with 95.7% accepting 3 nights or less
Recommendations
- Set minimum stays between 2-3 nights to align with market standards
- Adjust minimum stays seasonally based on demand patterns
- Implement different minimum stays for weekends vs. weekdays
Cancellation Policy Distribution
Flexible
70 listings
56.5% of total
Moderate
16 listings
12.9% of total
Firm
17 listings
13.7% of total
Strict
21 listings
16.9% of total
Key Insights
- Flexible is the preferred policy at 56.5% of listings
- Guest-friendly policies (Flexible & Moderate) dominate at 69.4% of the market
- Strong market consensus around Flexible policies
- Moderate policies are least common at 12.9% of listings
Recommendations
- Consider starting with a Flexible policy to align with market preferences
- Strong market preference for Flexible policies suggests this should be your baseline
- Consider generous cancellation terms as a competitive advantage
Booking Lead Time Trends
Key Insights
- Peak booking lead times occur in Jan, Feb, Dec, averaging 29 days
- Shortest booking windows are in Apr, Aug, Sep, averaging 15 days
- Winter shows the longest average booking window at 29 days, while Spring has the shortest at 19 days
Recommendations
- Implement dynamic pricing strategies for Winter bookings at least 29 days in advance
- Consider early bird discounts during Spring to encourage longer lead times
- Focus on last-minute booking promotions during Apr-Sep when lead times are shortest
Popular Airbnb Amenities in Kisumu
Below is the distribution of amenities across listings in Kisumu:
Traveler Demographics
Key Insights
- Domestic travelers make up 45.6% of total guests, indicating a significant local market share.
- Primary international markets: United States (30.1%) and Germany (8.3%)
- English is the top language at 62%, followed by Swahili (18.9%)
- Notable demographic segment in <=1950s (Pre-1950s (Silent Gen)) at 3.4%
Recommendations
- Target marketing campaigns for Nairobi and Kisumu markets
- Develop localized content for United States and Germany
- Prioritize English and Swahili language support
- Tailor experiences for Pre-1950s (Silent Gen) while maintaining broad age appeal
- Implement seasonal promotions aligned with key market travel patterns
Nearby Markets
Explore short-term rental performance in markets surrounding Kisumu. These nearby markets offer diverse opportunities for property investors and hosts:
| Market | Properties | Monthly Revenue | Daily Rate | Occupancy |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Siana ward | 11 | $500 | $158.84 | 24% |
| Jinja | 78 | $463 | $67.39 | 25% |
| Kipkenyo ward | 20 | $310 | $39.48 | 27% |
| Kitale | 12 | $286 | $46.42 | 26% |
| Racecourse ward | 34 | $262 | $53.72 | 26% |
| Simat/ | 15 | $244 | $45.14 | 21% |
| Kimumu ward | 11 | $203 | $46.90 | 33% |
| Huruma ward | 10 | $194 | $27.77 | 31% |
| Sheywe ward | 14 | $173 | $31.03 | 32% |
| Iten | 10 | $141 | $21.35 | 45% |
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