Airbnb Market Analytics, Statistics and Data in Sandakan, Sabah, Malaysia

Last updated: 2025-01-31

Looking to make more money with hosting or rental arbitraging Airbnbs, short-term rentals, vacation rentals in Sandakan? 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 Sandakan:

Average Daily Rate

$51

Occupancy Rate

27.08%

Annual Revenue

$4,520

Revenue Growth YoY

45.88%

Best Month

June

Worst Month

January

Regulation

Low

Active Listings

117

How much do Airbnb hosts make on average per month in Sandakan?

The short-term rental market in Sandakan 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 $507 per month
Strong performing properties (top 25%) make $973 or more
Best-in-class properties (top 10%) achieve $1,439+ monthly
Entry-level properties (bottom 25%) typically earn around $209

Revenue Variations by Month

Occupancy Rates Throughout the Year in Sandakan

The market in Sandakan 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 23% occupancy rates
Strong performing properties (top 25%) achieve 40% or higher
Best-in-class properties (top 10%) reach 64%+occupancy
Entry-level properties (bottom 25%) average around 12%

Occupancy Variations by Month

Average Daily Rates Seasonal Trends in Sandakan

Daily rates in Sandakan 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 $50 per night
Strong performing properties (top 25%) secure $60 or more
Best-in-class properties (top 10%) pull in $74+ per night
Entry-level properties (bottom 25%) earn around $38

Daily Rate Variations by Month

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Seasonality patterns in Sandakan

Peak Season (June, March, May)

Revenue peaks at $946.95 per month
Occupancy rates reach 35.42%
Daily rates average $55.13

Shoulder Season

Revenue averages $662.37 per month
Occupancy maintains 29.31%
Daily rates hold at $52.43

Low Season (August, July, January)

Revenue drops to $459.54 per month
Occupancy decreases to 23.06%
Daily rates adjust to $50.51

Is it still profitable to do Airbnb in Sandakan in 2025?

Yes! Sandakan demonstrates highly seasonal trends requiring strategic adaptation, featuring a growing occupancy rate of 29% and monthly revenue averaging $662 and The market's 117 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 Sandakan

Area	Why Choose This Area	Key Attractions
Sepilok	Famous for the Sepilok Orangutan Rehabilitation Centre, this area attracts eco-tourists and wildlife enthusiasts. It's a great spot to host visitors looking to experience nature and conservation efforts.	Sepilok Orangutan Rehabilitation Centre, Bornean Sun Bear Conservation Centre, Rainforest Discovery Centre, Labuk Bay Proboscis Monkey Sanctuary
Sandakan Harbour	The bustling heart of Sandakan, this area offers proximity to local markets, dining, and waterfront attractions. Ideal for tourists wanting to explore the town’s rich history and culture.	Sandakan Memorial Park, Agnes Keith House, Sandakan Central Market, Waterfront Esplanade
Turtle Island Park	A unique destination for visitors wanting to see marine life and partake in turtle watching activities. Perfect for nature lovers and families.	Selingan Island, Bakkau Island, Turtle conservation programs
Kinabatangan River	Renowned for its wildlife and eco-tours, this river area is a hotspot for nature lovers, offering river safaris and jungle trekking opportunities.	Kinabatangan River cruise, Borneo Nature Tours, Pygmy Elephants, Bird watching
Bonanza Resort	A resort area that offers relaxation and leisure activities. It’s perfect for tourists looking to enjoy a more laid-back holiday experience with comfort.	Resort amenities, Spas, Swim with turtles, Scuba diving courses
Sukau	Known for its breathtaking rainforests and wildlife, Sukau attracts adventure seekers and eco-tourists looking for unique experiences in nature.	Sukau Village, Kinabatangan River, Wildlife watching tours
Libaran Island	A beautiful, serene island popular for its pristine beaches, diving spots, and tranquility. A great escape for couples and beach lovers.	Snorkeling, Beaches, Diving spots, Relaxation
Mabul Island	A world-famous diving destination that attracts scuba diving enthusiasts from all over the globe. Ideal for those prepared to engage with vibrant marine life.	Diving spots, Mabul Beach, Water sports center, Scuba diving tours

Do you need a license for Airbnb in Sandakan?

$59.90

Daily Rate

Top Performing Professional Hosts in Sandakan

Host Name	Properties	Grossing Revenue	Stay Reviews	Avg Rating
Sepilok Jungle	8	$35,267	26	1.63/5.0
Francis	1	$27,288	35	4.97/5.0
Tiffany	2	$24,553	65	4.87/5.0
SweetStay	2	$21,335	34	4.87/5.0
Dora	1	$21,314	29	5.00/5.0
Vicky	1	$19,229	8	5.00/5.0
Kronios	1	$16,730	9	5.00/5.0
Andi Supratman	2	$15,760	49	4.87/5.0
Eric	6	$15,055	18	1.51/5.0
Wynn Holiday Homes	5	$14,459	119	2.80/5.0

Additional analytics on vacation rental, real estate, short term rental data in Sandakan

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:

Show Advanced Metrics

Room Type Distribution

Property Type Distribution

Key Insights

Market dominated by entire home listings (84.6%), with apartment & condo and house properties comprising 87.2% of inventory
Untapped potential in outdoor & mobile segments (1.7% combined)

Room Capacity Distribution

Analysis of 117 properties in Sandakan shows that 3 bedrooms properties are most prevalent, making up 48.7% of the market. The market tends to favor larger properties, with 3 bedrooms and 2 bedrooms together representing 72.6% of all listings.

Key Insights

Most common: 3 bedrooms (48.7%)
Least common: 5+ bedrooms (4.3%)
Market concentration: 72.6% in top 2 sizes
Market skew: Favors larger properties

Guest Capacity Distribution

Analysis of 117 properties in Sandakan reveals that 8+ guests properties dominate the market, representing 30.8% of all listings. The average property accommodates 5.8 guests, with a clear trend towards larger guest capacities. Properties accommodating 8+ guests and 6 guests make up 52.1% of the market.

Key Insights

Most common capacity: 8+ guests (30.8% of market)
Least common capacity: 1 guest (0.9% of market)
Average guest capacity: 5.8 guests per property
Market concentration: 52.1% in top 2 capacity sizes
Market segmentation: Predominantly larger guest capacities

Booking and Availability Patterns

Available Days Distribution

Booked Days Distribution

Among 117 properties in Sandakan, the most common availability pattern is 271-366 days (65% of properties). For actual bookings, properties most frequently secure bookings for 1-30 days (33.3% of properties).

Key Insights

Most common availability window: 271-366 days (65%)
Most common booking duration: 1-30 days (33.3%)
Properties with high availability (180+ days): 88.0%
Properties with long-term bookings (180+ days): 13.7%

Minimum Stay Distributions

1 Night (83.6%)

1 Night

92 listings

83.6% of total

2 Nights (16.4%)

2 Nights

18 listings

16.4% of total

Key Insights

Short stays (1-2 nights) dominate the market at 100.0%
Mid-length stays (4-6 nights) represent 0% of listings
Monthly+ stays (0%) suggest a stable extended-stay market
High market flexibility with 100.0% 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 (60.7%)

Flexible

51 listings

60.7% of total

Moderate (9.5%)

Moderate

8 listings

9.5% of total

Firm (10.7%)

Firm

9 listings

10.7% of total

Strict (19%)

Strict

16 listings

19% of total

Key Insights

Flexible is the preferred policy at 60.7% of listings
Guest-friendly policies (Flexible & Moderate) dominate at 70.2% of the market
Strong market consensus around Flexible policies
Moderate policies are least common at 9.5% 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 Feb, Jan, Apr, averaging 34 days
Shortest booking windows are in Dec, Oct, Jun, averaging 18 days
Winter shows the longest average booking window at 30 days, while Fall has the shortest at 21 days

Recommendations

Implement dynamic pricing strategies for Winter bookings at least 30 days in advance
Consider early bird discounts during Fall to encourage longer lead times
Focus on last-minute booking promotions during Dec-Jun when lead times are shortest

Popular Airbnb Amenities in Sandakan

Below is the distribution of amenities across listings in Sandakan:

Traveler Demographics

Guest Origin Distribution

Top 5 Cities of Origin

Top 5 Countries of Origin

Top 5 Languages Spoken

Age Distribution

Key Insights

Domestic travelers make up 40% of total guests, indicating a significant local market share.
Primary international markets: United Kingdom (21.8%) and Germany (8.1%)
English is the top language at 58.6%, followed by Malay (17.8%)
Notable demographic segment in <=1950s (Pre-1950s (Silent Gen)) at 8.1%

Recommendations

Target marketing campaigns for Sabah and Kota Kinabalu markets
Develop localized content for United Kingdom and Germany
Prioritize English and Malay 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 Sandakan. These nearby markets offer diverse opportunities for property investors and hosts:

Market	Properties	Monthly Revenue	Daily Rate	Occupancy
Semporna	300	$599	$101.76	31%
Lahad Datu	14	$446	$55.30	31%
Tawau	69	$407	$59.84	25%

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