East London Airbnb Market Analysis 2025: Short Term Rental Data & Vacation Rental Statistics in Eastern Cape, South Africa
Is Airbnb profitable in East London in 2025? Explore comprehensive Airbnb analytics for East London, Eastern Cape, South Africa to uncover income potential. This 2025 STR market report for East London, based on AirROI data from April 2024 to March 2025, reveals key trends in the market of 383 active listings.
Whether you're considering an Airbnb investment in East London, optimizing your existing vacation rental, or exploring rental arbitrage opportunities, understanding the East London Airbnb data is crucial. Leveraging the low regulation environment is key to maximizing your short term rental income potential. Let's dive into the specifics.
Key East London Airbnb Performance Metrics Overview
Monthly Airbnb Revenue Variations & Income Potential in East London (2025)
Understanding the monthly revenue variations for Airbnb listings in East London 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 East London is typically December, while August often presents the lowest earnings, highlighting opportunities for strategic pricing adjustments during shoulder and low seasons. Explore the typical Airbnb income in East London across different performance tiers:
- Best-in-class properties (Top 10%) achieve $1,094+ monthly, often utilizing dynamic pricing and superior guest experiences.
- Strong performing properties (Top 25%) earn $666 or more, indicating effective management and desirable locations/amenities.
- Typical properties (Median) generate around $350 per month, representing the average market performance.
- Entry-level properties (Bottom 25%) see earnings around $160, often with potential for optimization.
Average Monthly Airbnb Earnings Trend in East London
East London Airbnb Occupancy Rate Trends (2025)
Maximize your bookings by understanding the East London STR occupancy trends. Seasonal demand shifts significantly influence how often properties are booked. Typically, Decembersees the highest demand (peak season occupancy), while January 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 East London:
- Best-in-class properties (Top 10%) achieve 61%+ occupancy, indicating high desirability and potentially optimized availability.
- Strong performing properties (Top 25%) maintain 38% or higher occupancy, suggesting good market fit and guest satisfaction.
- Typical properties (Median) have an occupancy rate around 21%.
- Entry-level properties (Bottom 25%) average 10% occupancy, potentially facing higher vacancy.
Average Monthly Occupancy Rate Trend in East London
Average Daily Rate (ADR) Airbnb Trends in East London (2025)
Effective short term rental pricing strategy in East London involves understanding monthly ADR fluctuations. The Average Daily Rate (ADR) for Airbnb in East London typically peaks in July and dips lowest during March. 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 $102+ per night, often due to premium features or locations.
- Strong performing properties (Top 25%) achieve nightly rates of $67 or more.
- Typical properties (Median) charge around $46 per night.
- Entry-level properties (Bottom 25%) earn around $34 per night.
Average Daily Rate (ADR) Trend by Month in East London
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Airbnb Seasonality Analysis & Trends in East London (2025)
Peak Season (December, April, May)
- Revenue averages $709 per month
- Occupancy rates average 31.1%
- Daily rates average $62
Shoulder Season
- Revenue averages $490 per month
- Occupancy maintains around 25.4%
- Daily rates hold near $61
Low Season (February, August, September)
- Revenue drops to average $398 per month
- Occupancy decreases to average 26.2%
- Daily rates adjust to average $61
Seasonality Insights for East London
- The Airbnb seasonality in East London 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 East London's highest earning potential, with monthly revenues capable of climbing to $725, occupancy reaching a high of 38.4%, and ADRs peaking at $63.
- 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 $367, occupancy could drop to 22.4%, and ADRs may adjust down to $58.
- 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 East London.
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 East London seasonality benchmarks and adjust your pricing and availability strategy accordingly.
Best Areas for Airbnb Investment in East London (2025)
Exploring the top neighborhoods for short-term rentals in East London? 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Grahamstown | A charming historic town known for its cultural festivals and educational institutions. Ideal for visitors attending the National Arts Festival and Rhodes University events. | National Arts Festival, Rhodes University, Grahamstown Cathedral, The Owl House, Fort Selwyn |
| East London Central | The heart of East London with easy access to shopping, dining, and entertainment. Perfect for travelers looking for convenience and local experiences. | East London Museum, Jan Smuts Stadium, Orient Beach, Boardwalk Mall, East London Harbor |
| Beacon Bay | A suburban area with scenic river views and popular beaches. Attracts families and beach lovers looking for a relaxed atmosphere. | Nahoon Beach, Beacon Bay Retail Park, Hemingway's Mall, Buffalo River, Eagle's Nest |
| Southernwood | A vibrant suburb close to the city center with many educational institutions and a youthful vibe. Popular with students and budget travelers. | Buffalo City Stadium, City Hall, City Centre Markets, Southernwood Community Park, St. James Church |
| Bunkers Hill | A tranquil residential area with close proximity to the beach. Ideal for guests seeking quiet and comfort near the ocean. | Bunkers Hill Golf Club, Nahoon Beach, Gonubie Beach, The Cove, East London Zoo |
| Cintsa | A coastal village near East London known for its stunning beaches and outdoor activities. Perfect for nature lovers and adventure seekers. | Cintsa Beach, Cintsa River, Wild Coast Sun, Kayaking opportunities, Hiking trails |
| Willowbrook | A suburban area that provides a peaceful retreat while being close to East London attractions. Great for families and longer stays. | Willowbrook Villas, Outdoor Markets, Bushy Park, Local eateries, Community parks |
| Scenery Park | An emerging area that showcases local culture and community spirit. Ideal for travelers looking for an authentic experience. | Scenery Park Community Centre, Local artisan shops, Cultural festivals, Buffalo City Park, Nature walks |
Understanding Airbnb License Requirements & STR Laws in East London (2025)
While East London, Eastern Cape, South Africa currently shows low STR regulations, specific Airbnb license requirements might still exist or change. Always verify the latest short term rental regulations and Airbnb license requirements directly with local government authorities for East London to ensure full compliance before hosting.
(Source: AirROI data, 2025, based on 0% licensed listings)
Top Performing Airbnb Properties in East London (2025)
Benchmark your potential! Explore examples of top-performing Airbnb properties in East Londonbased on Trailing Twelve Month (TTM) revenue. Analyze their characteristics, revenue, occupancy rate, and ADR to understand what drives success in this market.
Kingfisher Guest Home in urban forest.
Entire Place • 4 bedrooms
Luxury Holiday Home in Nahoon
Entire Place • 3 bedrooms
Suburban Sanctuary
Entire Place • 3 bedrooms
Homely Serenity
Entire Place • 4 bedrooms
Gwivemos Beach Sanctuary @ Lotus
Entire Place • 4 bedrooms
11 on Riverview
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 East London (2025)
Learn from the best! This table showcases top-performing Airbnb hosts in East London 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pauline | 17 | $73,483 | 56 | 2.71/5.0 |
| Mark | 7 | $69,528 | 640 | 4.88/5.0 |
| Host #98487916 | 17 | $46,570 | 2 | 0.00/5.0 |
| Carike Gouws | 7 | $38,296 | 533 | 4.79/5.0 |
| Peter And Claire | 1 | $36,273 | 27 | 4.96/5.0 |
| Sonja | 3 | $34,300 | 69 | 4.78/5.0 |
| Liam | 13 | $33,984 | 103 | 3.79/5.0 |
| Renee | 2 | $30,226 | 15 | 4.96/5.0 |
| Nolufefe | 1 | $29,896 | 12 | 4.58/5.0 |
| Carin | 8 | $28,442 | 148 | 3.49/5.0 |
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 East London.
Dive Deeper: Advanced East London STR Market Data (2025)
Ready to unlock more insights? AirROI provides access to advanced metrics and comprehensive Airbnb data for East London. Explore detailed analytics beyond this report to refine your investment strategy, optimize pricing, and maximize your vacation rental profits.
Explore Advanced MetricsEast London Short-Term Rental Market Composition (2025): Property & Room Types
Room Type Distribution
Property Type Distribution
Market Composition Insights for East London
- The East London Airbnb market composition is heavily skewed towards Entire Home/Apt listings, which make up 54.8% of the 383 active rentals. This indicates strong guest preference for privacy and space.
- However, a notable 44.9% share for Private Rooms suggests opportunities for budget-conscious travelers or hosts renting out spare rooms.
- Looking at the property type distribution in East London, Hotel/Boutique properties are the most common (33.4%), reflecting the local real estate landscape.
- Houses represent a significant 22.7% portion, catering likely to families or larger groups.
- The presence of 33.4% Hotel/Boutique listings indicates integration with traditional hospitality.
- Smaller segments like outdoor/unique, unique stays (combined 2.9%) offer potential for unique stay experiences.
East London Airbnb Room Capacity Analysis (2025): Bedroom Distribution
Distribution of Listings by Number of Bedrooms
Room Capacity Insights for East London
- The dominant room capacity in East London is 1 bedroom listings, making up 58% of the market. This suggests a strong demand for properties suitable for couples or solo travelers.
- Together, 1 bedroom and 2 bedrooms properties represent 71.3% of the active Airbnb listings in East London, indicating a high concentration in these sizes.
- With over half the market (58%) consisting of studios or 1-bedroom units, East London is particularly well-suited for individuals or couples.
East London Vacation Rental Guest Capacity Trends (2025)
Distribution of Listings by Guest Capacity
Guest Capacity Insights for East London
- The most common guest capacity trend in East London vacation rentals is listings accommodating 2 guests (51.7%). This suggests the primary traveler segment is likely couples or solo travelers.
- Properties designed for 2 guests and 4 guests dominate the East London STR market, accounting for 64.5% of listings.
- A significant 52.2% of listings cater specifically to 1-2 guests, highlighting strong demand from couples and solo travelers in East London.
- 11.2% of properties accommodate 6+ guests, serving the market segment for larger families or group travel in East London.
- On average, properties in East London are equipped to host 2.7 guests.
East London Airbnb Booking Patterns (2025): Available vs. Booked Days
Available Days Distribution
Booked Days Distribution
Booking Pattern Insights for East London
- The most common availability pattern in East London falls within the 271-366 days range, representing 75.5% of listings. This suggests many properties have significant open periods on their calendars.
- Approximately 89.3% of listings show high availability (181+ days open annually), indicating potential for increased bookings or specific owner usage patterns.
- For booked days, the 31-90 days range is most frequent in East London (37.6%), reflecting common guest stay durations or potential owner blocking patterns.
- A notable 10.7% of properties secure long booking periods (181+ days booked per year), highlighting successful long-term rental strategies or significant owner usage.
East London Airbnb Minimum Stay Requirements Analysis
Distribution of Listings by Minimum Night Requirement
1 Night
261 listings
72.1% of total
2 Nights
54 listings
14.9% of total
3 Nights
4 listings
1.1% of total
4-6 Nights
1 listings
0.3% of total
7-29 Nights
3 listings
0.8% of total
30+ Nights
39 listings
10.8% of total
Key Insights
- The most prevalent minimum stay requirement in East London is 1 Night, adopted by 72.1% of listings. This highlights the market's preference for shorter, flexible bookings.
- A strong majority (87.0%) of the East London Airbnb data shows acceptance of very short stays (1-2 nights), indicating a dynamic, high-turnover market.
- A significant segment (10.8%) caters to monthly stays (30+ nights) in East London, pointing to opportunities in the extended-stay market.
Recommendations
- Align with the market by considering a 1 Night minimum stay, as 72.1% of East London hosts use this setting.
- Explore offering discounts for stays of 30+ nights to attract the 10.8% of the market seeking extended stays.
- Adjust minimum nights based on seasonality – potentially shorter during low season and longer during peak demand periods in East London.
East London Airbnb Cancellation Policy Trends Analysis (2025)
Non-refundable
25 listings
8.7% of total
Refundable
37 listings
12.8% of total
Flexible
117 listings
40.5% of total
Moderate
48 listings
16.6% of total
Firm
22 listings
7.6% of total
Strict
40 listings
13.8% of total
Cancellation Policy Insights for East London
- The prevailing Airbnb cancellation policy trend in East London is Flexible, used by 40.5% of listings.
- There's a relatively balanced mix between guest-friendly (57.1%) and stricter (21.4%) policies, offering choices for different guest needs.
Recommendations for Hosts
- Consider adopting a Flexible policy to align with the 40.5% market standard in East London.
- Using a Strict policy might deter some guests, as only 13.8% 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 East London.
East London STR Booking Lead Time Analysis (2025)
Average Booking Lead Time by Month
Booking Lead Time Insights for East London
- The overall average booking lead time for vacation rentals in East London is 36 days.
- Guests book furthest in advance for stays during December (average 50 days), likely coinciding with peak travel demand or local events.
- The shortest booking windows occur for stays in April (average 23 days), indicating more last-minute travel plans during this time.
- Seasonally, Fall (40 days avg.) sees the longest lead times, while Summer (30 days avg.) has the shortest, reflecting typical travel planning cycles.
Recommendations for Hosts
- Use the overall average lead time (36 days) as a baseline for your pricing and availability strategy in East London.
- For December stays, consider implementing length-of-stay discounts or slightly higher rates for bookings made less than 50 days out to capitalize on advance planning.
- Target marketing efforts for the Fall season well in advance (at least 40 days) to capture early planners.
- Monitor your own booking lead times against these East London averages to identify opportunities for dynamic pricing adjustments.
Popular & Essential Airbnb Amenities in East London (2025)
Amenity Prevalence
Amenity Insights for East London
- Essential amenities in East London that guests expect include: TV, Wifi. Lacking these (any) could significantly impact bookings.
- Popular amenities like Free parking on premises, Essentials, Hot water are common but not universal. Offering these can provide a competitive edge.
Recommendations for Hosts
- Ensure your listing includes all essential amenities for East London: TV, Wifi.
- Prioritize adding missing essentials: TV, Wifi.
- Consider adding popular differentiators like Free parking on premises or Essentials 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 East London to stay competitive.
East London Airbnb Guest Demographics & Profile Analysis (2025)
Guest Profile Summary for East London
- The typical guest profile for Airbnb in East London consists of primarily domestic travelers (89%), often arriving from nearby Cape Town, typically belonging to the Post-2000s (Gen Z/Alpha) group (50%), primarily speaking English or Xhosa.
- Domestic travelers account for 88.9% of guests.
- Key international markets include South Africa (88.9%) and United States (2.6%).
- Top languages spoken are English (55.3%) followed by Xhosa (16.7%).
- A significant demographic segment is the Post-2000s (Gen Z/Alpha) group, representing 50% of guests.
Recommendations for Hosts
- Target domestic marketing efforts towards travelers from Cape Town and East London.
- 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 East London 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ngqushwa Local Municipality | 15 | $878 | $179.86 | 28% |
| Ndlambe Local Municipality | 345 | $679 | $114.48 | 28% |
| Great Kei Local Municipality | 144 | $564 | $107.87 | 26% |
| Gonubie | 95 | $482 | $78.04 | 26% |
| Kidd's Beach | 10 | $476 | $72.19 | 26% |
| Makana Local Municipality | 107 | $475 | $67.08 | 30% |
| Nkonkobe Local Municipality | 85 | $447 | $71.69 | 24% |
| King Sabata Dalindyebo Local Municipality | 63 | $268 | $55.32 | 24% |
| Elundini Local Municipality | 11 | $195 | $47.60 | 19% |
| Lukhanji Local Municipality | 40 | $161 | $58.83 | 18% |