Airbnb Market Analytics, Statistics and Data in Kandy, Central Province, Sri Lanka
Last updated: 2025-01-31
Looking to make more money with hosting or rental arbitraging Airbnbs, short-term rentals, vacation rentals in Kandy? 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 Kandy:
How much do Airbnb hosts make on average per month in Kandy?
The short-term rental market in Kandy 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 $376 per month
- Strong performing properties (top 25%) make $861 or more
- Best-in-class properties (top 10%) achieve $1,619+ monthly
- Entry-level properties (bottom 25%) typically earn around $149
Revenue Variations by Month
Occupancy Rates Throughout the Year in Kandy
The market in Kandy 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 26% occupancy rates
- Strong performing properties (top 25%) achieve 48% or higher
- Best-in-class properties (top 10%) reach 69%+occupancy
- Entry-level properties (bottom 25%) average around 13%
Occupancy Variations by Month
Average Daily Rates Seasonal Trends in Kandy
Daily rates in Kandy 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 $32 per night
- Strong performing properties (top 25%) secure $56 or more
- Best-in-class properties (top 10%) pull in $93+ per night
- Entry-level properties (bottom 25%) earn around $21
Daily Rate Variations by Month
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Seasonality patterns in Kandy
Peak Season (March, May, April)
- Revenue peaks at $897.15 per month
- Occupancy rates reach 43.76%
- Daily rates average $57.11
Shoulder Season
- Revenue averages $720.73 per month
- Occupancy maintains 32.80%
- Daily rates hold at $52.00
Low Season (October, July, September)
- Revenue drops to $553.43 per month
- Occupancy decreases to 23.64%
- Daily rates adjust to $49.11
Is it still profitable to do Airbnb in Kandy in 2025?
Yes! Kandy demonstrates moderate seasonality with good off-peak opportunities, featuring a growing occupancy rate of 33% and monthly revenue averaging $721 and With 213 active listings, the market shows established demand while maintaining room for growth. 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 (families on vacation, festival goers, adventure tourists, international visitors)
- Create targeted promotional campaigns to drive occupancy
Top Places to Start Airbnb in Kandy
| Area | Why Choose This Area | Key Attractions |
|---|---|---|
| Kandy Lake | A scenic area near the iconic Kandy Lake, offering a tranquil environment with easy access to city attractions. Ideal for tourists looking for beauty and relaxation. | Kandy Lake, Temple of the Tooth, Royal Botanical Gardens, Kandy City Center, Udawatta Kele Sanctuary |
| Temple of the Tooth | One of the most important religious sites in Sri Lanka, attracting both local and international visitors. Perfect for cultural tourism and pilgrims. | Temple of the Tooth, Kandy Museum, Kandyan Cultural Dance, Sri Dalada Maligawa, Kandy Lake |
| Peradeniya | Home to the famous Peradeniya Botanical Gardens, this area is appealing for nature lovers and those interested in botany and horticulture. | Royal Botanical Gardens, Peradeniya Railway Station, Kandy-Mahaweli River |
| Hanthana | A serene area known for hiking and panoramic views, attracting adventure seekers and nature enthusiasts. | Hanthana Mountain Range, Tea Plantations, Hanthana Eco Park |
| Kandy City Center | The main commercial hub of Kandy, attracting business travelers and shopping enthusiasts. Offers modern amenities and accessibility. | Kandy City Center Mall, Local markets, Food courts, Cultural shows |
| Gadaladeniya | Known for its ancient temples and historical significance, this area attracts history buffs and tourists interested in heritage. | Gadaladeniya Temple, Lankatilaka Temple, Ancient Ruins |
| Nuwara Eliya Road | A scenic route that leads to beautiful hill country, appealing for tourists wishing to explore the central hills of Sri Lanka. | Tea estates, Scenic views, Hiking trails, Waterfalls |
| Mahaweli River | A picturesque area offering river views and outdoor activities. Great for tourists seeking nature-based experiences. | Mahaweli River, Boating, Fishing, Picnic spots |
Do you need a license for Airbnb in Kandy?
We recommend checking directly with Kandy'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 Kandy
Luxury River View Villa
Entire Place • 6 bedrooms
Kingsman House
Entire Place • 8 bedrooms
Ultramodern Riverfront Villa-2 Rooms/Infinity Pool
Private Room • 2 bedrooms
Dendrobium House, large villa near Kandy
Private Room • 6 bedrooms
Riverside Wabi-Sabi Oasis: Zen Bathtub Bliss
Private Room • N/A
Fortuna Heritage Home - Whole Villa / Kandy City
Entire Place • 4 bedrooms
Top Performing Professional Hosts in Kandy
| Host Name | Properties | Grossing Revenue | Stay Reviews | Avg Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wei 魏 | 6 | $143,064 | 1347 | 4.76/5.0 |
| Cavan | 1 | $102,867 | 11 | 5.00/5.0 |
| Dinesh | 8 | $77,324 | 2264 | 4.89/5.0 |
| Ravi | 1 | $63,149 | 12 | 5.00/5.0 |
| Poorna | 5 | $43,347 | 39 | 3.66/5.0 |
| Sachintha | 6 | $39,301 | 356 | 4.25/5.0 |
| 101443988 | 1 | $31,079 | 0 | 0.00/5.0 |
| Bernard | 5 | $20,395 | 1566 | 4.84/5.0 |
| Krishni | 3 | $20,315 | 38 | 4.90/5.0 |
| Suriyamal | 5 | $20,225 | 12 | 1.88/5.0 |
Additional analytics on vacation rental, real estate, short term rental data in Kandy
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 private room listings (60.6%), with house and boutique & hotels properties comprising 75.6% of inventory
- Strong specialty sector (33.4%) combining boutique hotels, unique stays, and outdoor accommodations indicates market maturity and premium opportunities
- Untapped potential in others, outdoor & mobile segments (4.7% combined)
Room Capacity Distribution
Analysis of 213 properties in Kandy shows that 1 bedroom properties are most prevalent, making up 34.7% of the market. The market tends to favor smaller properties, with 1 bedroom and 2 bedrooms together representing 49.3% of all listings.
Key Insights
- Most common: 1 bedroom (34.7%)
- Least common: 5+ bedrooms (6.1%)
- Market concentration: 49.3% in top 2 sizes
- Market skew: Favors smaller properties
Guest Capacity Distribution
Analysis of 213 properties in Kandy reveals that 2 guests properties dominate the market, representing 25.4% of all listings. The average property accommodates 2.8 guests, with a clear trend towards larger guest capacities. Properties accommodating 2 guests and 4 guests make up 37.1% of the market.
Key Insights
- Most common capacity: 2 guests (25.4% of market)
- Least common capacity: 1 guest (0.9% of market)
- Average guest capacity: 2.8 guests per property
- Market concentration: 37.1% in top 2 capacity sizes
- Market segmentation: Predominantly larger guest capacities
Booking and Availability Patterns
Available Days Distribution
Booked Days Distribution
Among 213 properties in Kandy, the most common availability pattern is 271-366 days (65.3% of properties). For actual bookings, properties most frequently secure bookings for 1-30 days (35.2% of properties).
Key Insights
- Most common availability window: 271-366 days (65.3%)
- Most common booking duration: 1-30 days (35.2%)
- Properties with high availability (180+ days): 86.4%
- Properties with long-term bookings (180+ days): 15.0%
Minimum Stay Distributions
1 Night
189 listings
92.6% of total
2 Nights
10 listings
4.9% of total
3 Nights
3 listings
1.5% of total
30+ Nights
2 listings
1% of total
Key Insights
- Short stays (1-2 nights) dominate the market at 97.5%
- Mid-length stays (4-6 nights) represent 0% of listings
- Monthly+ stays (1%) suggest a stable extended-stay market
- High market flexibility with 99.0% 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
Super Strict 60 Days
1 listings
0.6% of total
Flexible
94 listings
55.3% of total
Moderate
46 listings
27.1% of total
Firm
5 listings
2.9% of total
Strict
24 listings
14.1% of total
Key Insights
- Flexible is the preferred policy at 55.3% of listings
- Guest-friendly policies (Flexible & Moderate) dominate at 82.4% of the market
- Strong market consensus around Flexible policies
- Super Strict 60 Days policies are least common at 0.6% 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
- Strict policies are rare - carefully consider the impact on bookings before implementing
Booking Lead Time Trends
Key Insights
- Peak booking lead times occur in Apr, Mar, Jul, averaging 41 days
- Shortest booking windows are in Dec, Oct, May, averaging 28 days
- Summer shows the longest average booking window at 38 days, while Fall has the shortest at 31 days
Recommendations
- Implement dynamic pricing strategies for Summer bookings at least 38 days in advance
- Consider early bird discounts during Fall to encourage longer lead times
- Focus on last-minute booking promotions during Dec-May when lead times are shortest
Popular Airbnb Amenities in Kandy
Below is the distribution of amenities across listings in Kandy:
Traveler Demographics
Key Insights
- Domestic travelers make up 1.7% of total guests, indicating a mostly international-driven market.
- Primary international markets: United Kingdom (29.1%) and India (15.4%)
- English is the top language at 57.5%, followed by German (17%)
- Notable demographic segment in <=1950s (Pre-1950s (Silent Gen)) at 3.7%
Recommendations
- Target marketing campaigns for London and England markets
- Develop localized content for United Kingdom and India
- Prioritize English and German 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 Kandy. These nearby markets offer diverse opportunities for property investors and hosts:
| Market | Properties | Monthly Revenue | Daily Rate | Occupancy |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ranna | 10 | $2,289 | $244.11 | 36% |
| Madampagama | 23 | $2,209 | $232.86 | 42% |
| Rajgama | 30 | $1,563 | $167.64 | 33% |
| Seenigama | 13 | $1,540 | $115.59 | 30% |
| Talpe | 104 | $1,513 | $243.26 | 33% |
| Yodha Kandiya | 11 | $1,426 | $129.29 | 42% |
| Maberiyatenna | 16 | $1,387 | $452.28 | 27% |
| Sinimodara | 22 | $1,338 | $111.48 | 35% |
| Trincomalee | 44 | $1,181 | $122.57 | 31% |
| Anniewatta | 14 | $1,100 | $61.49 | 46% |
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