Kigali Airbnb Market Analysis 2025: Short Term Rental Data & Vacation Rental Statistics in Kigali City, Rwanda
Is Airbnb profitable in Kigali in 2025? Explore comprehensive Airbnb analytics for Kigali, Kigali City, Rwanda to uncover income potential. This 2025 STR market report for Kigali, based on AirROI data from June 2024 to May 2025, reveals key trends in the market of 380 active listings.
Whether you're considering an Airbnb investment in Kigali, optimizing your existing vacation rental, or exploring rental arbitrage opportunities, understanding the Kigali Airbnb data is crucial. Understanding the local regulations is key to maximizing your short term rental income potential. Let's dive into the specifics.
Key Kigali Airbnb Performance Metrics Overview
Monthly Airbnb Revenue Variations & Income Potential in Kigali (2025)
Understanding the monthly revenue variations for Airbnb listings in Kigali is key to maximizing your short term rental income potential. Seasonality significantly impacts earnings. Our analysis, based on data from the past 12 months, shows that the peak revenue month for STRs in Kigali is typically January, while April often presents the lowest earnings, highlighting opportunities for strategic pricing adjustments during shoulder and low seasons. Explore the typical Airbnb income in Kigali across different performance tiers:
- Best-in-class properties (Top 10%) achieve $1,458+ monthly, often utilizing dynamic pricing and superior guest experiences.
- Strong performing properties (Top 25%) earn $804 or more, indicating effective management and desirable locations/amenities.
- Typical properties (Median) generate around $373 per month, representing the average market performance.
- Entry-level properties (Bottom 25%) see earnings around $173, often with potential for optimization.
Average Monthly Airbnb Earnings Trend in Kigali
Kigali Airbnb Occupancy Rate Trends (2025)
Maximize your bookings by understanding the Kigali STR occupancy trends. Seasonal demand shifts significantly influence how often properties are booked. Typically, Decembersees the highest demand (peak season occupancy), while May experiences the lowest (low season). Effective strategies, like adjusting minimum stays or offering promotions, can boost occupancy during slower periods. Here's how different property tiers perform in Kigali:
- Best-in-class properties (Top 10%) achieve 70%+ occupancy, indicating high desirability and potentially optimized availability.
- Strong performing properties (Top 25%) maintain 48% or higher occupancy, suggesting good market fit and guest satisfaction.
- Typical properties (Median) have an occupancy rate around 28%.
- Entry-level properties (Bottom 25%) average 14% occupancy, potentially facing higher vacancy.
Average Monthly Occupancy Rate Trend in Kigali
Average Daily Rate (ADR) Airbnb Trends in Kigali (2025)
Effective short term rental pricing strategy in Kigali involves understanding monthly ADR fluctuations. The Average Daily Rate (ADR) for Airbnb in Kigali typically peaks in May and dips lowest during December. Leveraging Airbnb dynamic pricing tools or strategies based on this seasonality can significantly boost revenue. Here's a look at the typical nightly rates achieved:
- Best-in-class properties (Top 10%) command rates of $131+ per night, often due to premium features or locations.
- Strong performing properties (Top 25%) achieve nightly rates of $81 or more.
- Typical properties (Median) charge around $43 per night.
- Entry-level properties (Bottom 25%) earn around $24 per night.
Average Daily Rate (ADR) Trend by Month in Kigali
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Airbnb Seasonality Analysis & Trends in Kigali (2025)
Peak Season (January, December, February)
- Revenue averages $712 per month
- Occupancy rates average 38.5%
- Daily rates average $66
Shoulder Season
- Revenue averages $649 per month
- Occupancy maintains around 34.8%
- Daily rates hold near $62
Low Season (April, May, November)
- Revenue drops to average $477 per month
- Occupancy decreases to average 25.9%
- Daily rates adjust to average $66
Seasonality Insights for Kigali
- The Airbnb seasonality in Kigali shows moderate seasonality with distinct peak and low periods. While the sections above show seasonal averages, it's also insightful to look at the extremes:
- During the high season, the absolute peak month showcases Kigali's highest earning potential, with monthly revenues capable of climbing to $718, occupancy reaching a high of 40.1%, and ADRs peaking at $70.
- Conversely, the slowest single month of the year, typically falling within the low season, marks the market's lowest point. In this month, revenue might dip to $457, occupancy could drop to 23.8%, and ADRs may adjust down to $61.
- Understanding both the seasonal averages and these monthly peaks and troughs in revenue, occupancy, and ADR is crucial for maximizing your Airbnb profit potential in Kigali.
Seasonal Strategies for Maximizing Profit
- Peak Season: Maximize revenue through premium pricing and potentially longer minimum stays. Ensure high availability.
- Low Season: Offer competitive pricing, special promotions (e.g., extended stay discounts), and flexible cancellation policies. Target off-season travelers like remote workers or budget-conscious guests.
- Shoulder Seasons: Implement dynamic pricing that balances peak and low rates. Target weekend travelers or specific events. Offer slightly more flexible terms than peak season.
- Regularly analyze your own performance against these Kigali seasonality benchmarks and adjust your pricing and availability strategy accordingly.
Best Areas for Airbnb Investment in Kigali (2025)
Exploring the top neighborhoods for short-term rentals in Kigali? This section highlights key areas, outlining why they are attractive for hosts and guests, along with notable local attractions. Consider these locations based on your target guest profile and investment strategy.
| Neighborhood / Area | Why Host Here? (Target Guests & Appeal) | Key Attractions & Landmarks |
|---|---|---|
| Kigali City Center | The bustling heart of Kigali, known for its vibrant culture, business opportunities, and accessibility to attractions. It’s a prime location for tourists looking to experience the city’s modern urban life. | Kigali Genocide Memorial, Presidential Palace Museum, Kimironko Market, Inema Art Center, Kigali Convention Centre |
| Kimironko | A lively neighborhood known for its local markets and cultural experiences. It’s popular with both tourists and locals, providing a genuine Rwandan experience. | Kimironko Market, Local restaurants, Kigali Public Library, Art galleries, Cultural events |
| Nyamirambo | A vibrant neighborhood known for its diversity and rich culture. It offers a unique experience with local crafts and diverse communities. | Nyamirambo Women's Center, Local street markets, Mosques and churches, Cultural tours, Food tasting experiences |
| Kibagabaga | An upscale residential area known for its tranquility and beautiful views of Kigali. It appeals to visitors looking for a peaceful stay away from the city bustle. | Kibagabaga Hospital, Beautiful vistas, Quiet parks, Local coffee shops, Scenic walks |
| Kacyiru | An affluent neighborhood with many embassies and NGOs, making it a favorite among expatriates and business travelers. | Kigali City Tower, Kigali Convention Centre, Kigali Genocide Memorial, Cultural institutions, Local restaurants |
| Gikondo | A growing area in Kigali known for its local industries and connection to major transport routes, appealing to business travelers. | Kigali Trade and Exhibition Center, Local workshops, Market areas, Food stalls, Transport links |
| Nyarutarama | A modern suburb known for its upscale living and leisure facilities. Popular with families and business travelers. | Nyarutarama Lake, Sports facilities, Restaurants and cafes, Residential parks, Kigali Golf Club |
| Rebero | A hilltop neighborhood offering stunning views of Kigali. Ideal for visitors looking for a relaxing environment with nature. | Rebero Mountain, Nature trails, Scenic viewpoints, Local eateries, Peaceful environment |
Understanding Airbnb License Requirements & STR Laws in Kigali (2025)
With 10% of listings showing registration in 2025, understanding potential Airbnb license requirements is crucial in Kigali. Always verify the latest short term rental regulations and Airbnb license requirements directly with local government authorities for Kigali to ensure full compliance before hosting.
(Source: AirROI data, 2025, based on 10% licensed listings)
Top Performing Airbnb Properties in Kigali (2025)
Benchmark your potential! Explore examples of top-performing Airbnb properties in Kigalibased on Trailing Twelve Month (TTM) revenue. Analyze their characteristics, revenue, occupancy rate, and ADR to understand what drives success in this market.
High Ground Villa: 14-Bedrooms 11 bathrooms VILLA
Entire Place • 14 bedrooms
Luxe suite ac x 4 pool gym steam rm steps to golf
Entire Place • 3 bedrooms
Kigali Golf View Apartment Flat 1
Entire Place • 2 bedrooms
Sip wine w/golfview: pool aircon x3 paid gym
Entire Place • 2 bedrooms
Kigali Golf View Apartment Flat 2
Entire Place • 2 bedrooms
Tennis court/Washer/Dryer/Office/Deck w/Rooftop
Entire Place • 4 bedrooms
Note: Performance varies based on location, size, amenities, seasonality, and management quality. Data reflects the past 12 months.
Top Performing Airbnb Hosts in Kigali (2025)
Learn from the best! This table showcases top-performing Airbnb hosts in Kigali based on the number of properties managed and estimated total revenue over the past year. Analyze their scale and performance metrics.
| Host Name | Properties | Grossing Revenue | Stay Reviews | Avg Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bode | 6 | $76,784 | 108 | 4.87/5.0 |
| Jean Claude | 4 | $67,290 | 145 | 4.91/5.0 |
| Kathrin & Alphonse | 5 | $58,021 | 195 | 4.92/5.0 |
| Uwacu | 5 | $44,785 | 115 | 4.79/5.0 |
| Robert | 6 | $39,491 | 101 | 4.76/5.0 |
| Tanya | 2 | $32,235 | 64 | 4.90/5.0 |
| Jeanne | 6 | $32,158 | 160 | 4.78/5.0 |
| Ishimwe | 13 | $29,301 | 117 | 4.68/5.0 |
| Sharifa | 1 | $24,288 | 65 | 4.89/5.0 |
| Dot | 1 | $23,859 | 16 | 4.81/5.0 |
Analyzing the strategies of top hosts, such as their property selection, pricing, and guest communication, can offer valuable lessons for optimizing your own Airbnb operations in Kigali.
Dive Deeper: Advanced Kigali STR Market Data (2025)
Ready to unlock more insights? AirROI provides access to advanced metrics and comprehensive Airbnb data for Kigali. Explore detailed analytics beyond this report to refine your investment strategy, optimize pricing, and maximize your vacation rental profits.
Explore Advanced MetricsKigali Short-Term Rental Market Composition (2025): Property & Room Types
Room Type Distribution
Property Type Distribution
Market Composition Insights for Kigali
- The Kigali Airbnb market composition is heavily skewed towards Entire Home/Apt listings, which make up 73.7% of the 380 active rentals. This indicates strong guest preference for privacy and space.
- Looking at the property type distribution in Kigali, Apartment/Condo properties are the most common (52.6%), reflecting the local real estate landscape.
- Houses represent a significant 38.7% portion, catering likely to families or larger groups.
- The presence of 6.1% Hotel/Boutique listings indicates integration with traditional hospitality.
- Smaller segments like others, outdoor/unique, unique stays (combined 2.6%) offer potential for unique stay experiences.
Kigali Airbnb Room Capacity Analysis (2025): Bedroom Distribution
Distribution of Listings by Number of Bedrooms
Room Capacity Insights for Kigali
- The dominant room capacity in Kigali is 1 bedroom listings, making up 32.6% of the market. This suggests a strong demand for properties suitable for couples or solo travelers.
- Together, 1 bedroom and 2 bedrooms properties represent 56.8% of the active Airbnb listings in Kigali, indicating a high concentration in these sizes.
- A significant 27.1% of listings offer 3+ bedrooms, catering to larger groups and families seeking more space in Kigali.
Kigali Vacation Rental Guest Capacity Trends (2025)
Distribution of Listings by Guest Capacity
Guest Capacity Insights for Kigali
- The most common guest capacity trend in Kigali vacation rentals is listings accommodating 2 guests (32.4%). This suggests the primary traveler segment is likely couples or solo travelers.
- Properties designed for 2 guests and 4 guests dominate the Kigali STR market, accounting for 55.3% of listings.
- 17.2% of properties accommodate 6+ guests, serving the market segment for larger families or group travel in Kigali.
- On average, properties in Kigali are equipped to host 3.1 guests.
Kigali Airbnb Booking Patterns (2025): Available vs. Booked Days
Available Days Distribution
Booked Days Distribution
Booking Pattern Insights for Kigali
- The most common availability pattern in Kigali falls within the 271-366 days range, representing 77.1% of listings. This suggests many properties have significant open periods on their calendars.
- Approximately 95.0% of listings show high availability (181+ days open annually), indicating potential for increased bookings or specific owner usage patterns.
- For booked days, the 1-30 days range is most frequent in Kigali (38.7%), reflecting common guest stay durations or potential owner blocking patterns.
- A notable 5.8% of properties secure long booking periods (181+ days booked per year), highlighting successful long-term rental strategies or significant owner usage.
Kigali Airbnb Minimum Stay Requirements Analysis
Distribution of Listings by Minimum Night Requirement
1 Night
205 listings
57.1% of total
2 Nights
77 listings
21.4% of total
3 Nights
33 listings
9.2% of total
4-6 Nights
8 listings
2.2% of total
7-29 Nights
9 listings
2.5% of total
30+ Nights
27 listings
7.5% of total
Key Insights
- The most prevalent minimum stay requirement in Kigali is 1 Night, adopted by 57.1% of listings. This highlights the market's preference for shorter, flexible bookings.
- A strong majority (78.5%) of the Kigali Airbnb data shows acceptance of very short stays (1-2 nights), indicating a dynamic, high-turnover market.
Recommendations
- Align with the market by considering a 1 Night minimum stay, as 57.1% of Kigali hosts use this setting.
- Explore offering discounts for stays of 30+ nights to attract the 7.5% of the market seeking extended stays.
- Adjust minimum nights based on seasonality – potentially shorter during low season and longer during peak demand periods in Kigali.
Kigali Airbnb Cancellation Policy Trends Analysis (2025)
Flexible
148 listings
48.4% of total
Moderate
72 listings
23.5% of total
Firm
46 listings
15% of total
Strict
40 listings
13.1% of total
Cancellation Policy Insights for Kigali
- The prevailing Airbnb cancellation policy trend in Kigali is Flexible, used by 48.4% of listings.
- The market strongly favors guest-friendly terms, with 71.9% of listings offering Flexible or Moderate policies. This suggests guests in Kigali may expect booking flexibility.
Recommendations for Hosts
- Consider adopting a Flexible policy to align with the 48.4% market standard in Kigali.
- Using a Strict policy might deter some guests, as only 13.1% of listings use it. Evaluate if potential revenue protection outweighs possible lower booking rates.
- Regularly review your cancellation policy against competitors and market demand shifts in Kigali.
Kigali STR Booking Lead Time Analysis (2025)
Average Booking Lead Time by Month
Booking Lead Time Insights for Kigali
- The overall average booking lead time for vacation rentals in Kigali is 22 days.
- Guests book furthest in advance for stays during August (average 28 days), likely coinciding with peak travel demand or local events.
- The shortest booking windows occur for stays in November (average 16 days), indicating more last-minute travel plans during this time.
- Seasonally, Summer (25 days avg.) sees the longest lead times, while Spring (22 days avg.) has the shortest, reflecting typical travel planning cycles.
Recommendations for Hosts
- Use the overall average lead time (22 days) as a baseline for your pricing and availability strategy in Kigali.
- Target marketing efforts for the Summer season well in advance (at least 25 days) to capture early planners.
- Monitor your own booking lead times against these Kigali averages to identify opportunities for dynamic pricing adjustments.
Popular & Essential Airbnb Amenities in Kigali (2025)
Amenity Prevalence
Amenity Insights for Kigali
- Essential amenities in Kigali that guests expect include: Wifi, Kitchen, Free parking on premises. Lacking these (any) could significantly impact bookings.
- Popular amenities like Hot water, TV, Essentials are common but not universal. Offering these can provide a competitive edge.
Recommendations for Hosts
- Ensure your listing includes all essential amenities for Kigali: Wifi, Kitchen, Free parking on premises.
- Prioritize adding missing essentials: Wifi, Kitchen, Free parking on premises.
- Consider adding popular differentiators like Hot water or TV to increase appeal.
- Highlight unique or less common amenities you offer (e.g., hot tub, dedicated workspace, EV charger) in your listing description and photos.
- Regularly check competitor amenities in Kigali to stay competitive.
Kigali Airbnb Guest Demographics & Profile Analysis (2025)
Guest Profile Summary for Kigali
- The typical guest profile for Airbnb in Kigali consists of predominantly international visitors (93%), with top international origins including United Kingdom, typically belonging to the Post-2000s (Gen Z/Alpha) group (50%), primarily speaking English or French.
- Domestic travelers account for 6.8% of guests.
- Key international markets include United States (19.7%) and United Kingdom (8.4%).
- Top languages spoken are English (47%) followed by French (19.2%).
- A significant demographic segment is the Post-2000s (Gen Z/Alpha) group, representing 50% of guests.
Recommendations for Hosts
- Focus marketing internationally, particularly towards travelers from United Kingdom.
- Tailor amenities and listing descriptions to appeal to the dominant Post-2000s (Gen Z/Alpha) demographic (e.g., highlight fast WiFi, smart home features, local guides).
- Highlight unique local experiences or amenities relevant to the primary guest profile.
- Consider seasonal promotions aligned with peak travel times for key origin markets.
Nearby Short-Term Rental Market Comparison
How does the Kigali Airbnb market stack up against its neighbors? Compare key performance metrics like average monthly revenue, ADR, and occupancy rates in surrounding areas to understand the broader regional STR landscape.
| Market | Active Properties | Monthly Revenue | Daily Rate | Avg. Occupancy |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Musanze | 10 | $557 | $103.15 | 19% |
| Kinyinya | 35 | $410 | $79.59 | 38% |
| Kimihurura | 129 | $337 | $64.89 | 31% |
| Gisozi | 70 | $296 | $67.97 | 27% |
| Gisenyi | 12 | $238 | $101.72 | 16% |
| Kagarama | 25 | $213 | $51.31 | 28% |
| Muhoza | 17 | $200 | $65.37 | 19% |
| Gatsata / Karuruma | 21 | $188 | $46.59 | 27% |
| Kicukiro | 30 | $155 | $45.96 | 28% |
| Masaka City | 10 | $91 | $51.80 | 18% |