Top 100 Best Places in Australia to Invest in Airbnb & Short-Term Rentals (2025)

Source: AirROI

Last updated: 2025-12-01

Unlock high-ROI opportunities in Australia‘s booming short-term rental (STR) market. This 2025 Airbnb investment guide from AirROI leverages cutting-edge Airbnb data analytics to pinpoint the most profitable cities for Airbnb and vacation rental entrepreneurs. Whether you’re scaling your portfolio or making your first STR investment, discover markets with strong rental demand, high revenue potential, and favorable regulations. We are committed to providing trustworthy insights based on comprehensive market analysis, and you can learn more about our rigorous approach to data accuracy.

Our STR market analysis dives deep into key performance indicators like monthly revenue, average daily rates (ADR), occupancy trends, property counts, and regulatory landscapes across Australia. We go beyond simple rankings to provide the context you need for informed investment decisions using reliable Airbnb data.

Explore the data-driven insights below to identify the premier short-term rental investment hotspots and high ROI Airbnb markets in Australia for 2025.

Top Short-Term Rental Markets in Australia

Rank:#1Market:MelbourneCountry:AustraliaProperties:17,598Monthly Revenue:$2222.61Daily Rate (ADR):$217.95Occupancy:45.52%Regulation:Low
Rank:#2Market:SydneyCountry:AustraliaProperties:12,518Monthly Revenue:$2855.94Daily Rate (ADR):$244.47Occupancy:51.35%Regulation:High
Rank:#3Market:Gold Coast CityCountry:AustraliaProperties:5,577Monthly Revenue:$3331.00Daily Rate (ADR):$280.69Occupancy:49.42%Regulation:Low
Rank:#4Market:Greater BrisbaneCountry:AustraliaProperties:5,508Monthly Revenue:$2532.76Daily Rate (ADR):$207.66Occupancy:51.22%Regulation:Low
Rank:#5Market:AdelaideCountry:AustraliaProperties:3,640Monthly Revenue:$2744.94Daily Rate (ADR):$212.22Occupancy:49.78%Regulation:Low
Rank:#6Market:Sunshine Coast RegionalCountry:AustraliaProperties:3,429Monthly Revenue:$2938.16Daily Rate (ADR):$260.45Occupancy:47.03%Regulation:Low
Rank:#7Market:HobartCountry:AustraliaProperties:1,610Monthly Revenue:$2764.12Daily Rate (ADR):$190.75Occupancy:54.54%Regulation:High
Rank:#8Market:Shoalhaven City CouncilCountry:AustraliaProperties:1,152Monthly Revenue:$3268.49Daily Rate (ADR):$399.99Occupancy:35.38%Regulation:High
Rank:#9Market:Noosa HeadsCountry:AustraliaProperties:1,036Monthly Revenue:$4233.19Daily Rate (ADR):$391.38Occupancy:47.07%Regulation:Low
Rank:#10Market:Byron BayCountry:AustraliaProperties:1,000Monthly Revenue:$4231.35Daily Rate (ADR):$430.01Occupancy:43.16%Regulation:High
Rank:#11Market:Newcastle-MaitlandCountry:AustraliaProperties:988Monthly Revenue:$2736.25Daily Rate (ADR):$235.09Occupancy:46.85%Regulation:High
Rank:#12Market:CairnsCountry:AustraliaProperties:935Monthly Revenue:$2646.78Daily Rate (ADR):$180.87Occupancy:55.08%Regulation:Low
Rank:#13Market:GosfordCountry:AustraliaProperties:897Monthly Revenue:$2823.47Daily Rate (ADR):$361.81Occupancy:36.79%Regulation:High
Rank:#14Market:Central Coast CouncilCountry:AustraliaProperties:891Monthly Revenue:$2868.79Daily Rate (ADR):$359.90Occupancy:35.09%Regulation:High
Rank:#15Market:CowesCountry:AustraliaProperties:711Monthly Revenue:$2199.06Daily Rate (ADR):$263.36Occupancy:33.28%Regulation:Low
Rank:#16Market:Cairns RegionalCountry:AustraliaProperties:703Monthly Revenue:$3723.67Daily Rate (ADR):$323.27Occupancy:42.86%Regulation:Low
Rank:#17Market:DarwinCountry:AustraliaProperties:695Monthly Revenue:$2422.26Daily Rate (ADR):$197.88Occupancy:48.49%Regulation:Low
Rank:#18Market:Port DouglasCountry:AustraliaProperties:632Monthly Revenue:$3003.59Daily Rate (ADR):$343.91Occupancy:38.86%Regulation:Low
Rank:#19Market:Wollongong City CouncilCountry:AustraliaProperties:606Monthly Revenue:$2700.42Daily Rate (ADR):$245.22Occupancy:46.45%Regulation:High
Rank:#20Market:LauncestonCountry:AustraliaProperties:581Monthly Revenue:$2335.17Daily Rate (ADR):$174.25Occupancy:50.80%Regulation:High
Rank:#21Market:JindabyneCountry:AustraliaProperties:580Monthly Revenue:$2381.80Daily Rate (ADR):$405.63Occupancy:30.10%Regulation:High
Rank:#22Market:City of StirlingCountry:AustraliaProperties:573Monthly Revenue:$3032.32Daily Rate (ADR):$190.57Occupancy:60.82%Regulation:High
Rank:#23Market:City Of BusseltonCountry:AustraliaProperties:567Monthly Revenue:$3799.13Daily Rate (ADR):$319.61Occupancy:44.26%Regulation:High
Rank:#24Market:DunsboroughCountry:AustraliaProperties:519Monthly Revenue:$3707.65Daily Rate (ADR):$316.21Occupancy:46.99%Regulation:High
Rank:#25Market:GeelongCountry:AustraliaProperties:512Monthly Revenue:$1789.19Daily Rate (ADR):$168.90Occupancy:44.43%Regulation:Low
Rank:#26Market:CessnockCountry:AustraliaProperties:511Monthly Revenue:$3967.52Daily Rate (ADR):$425.81Occupancy:35.53%Regulation:High
Rank:#27Market:TorquayCountry:AustraliaProperties:500Monthly Revenue:$2509.49Daily Rate (ADR):$308.73Occupancy:38.66%Regulation:Low
Rank:#28Market:Nelson BayCountry:AustraliaProperties:496Monthly Revenue:$2444.65Daily Rate (ADR):$362.96Occupancy:30.86%Regulation:High
Rank:#29Market:BrightCountry:AustraliaProperties:491Monthly Revenue:$3134.91Daily Rate (ADR):$287.54Occupancy:39.64%Regulation:Low
Rank:#30Market:TownsvilleCountry:AustraliaProperties:478Monthly Revenue:$1928.37Daily Rate (ADR):$194.94Occupancy:47.30%Regulation:Low
Rank:#31Market:Ocean GroveCountry:AustraliaProperties:457Monthly Revenue:$2218.32Daily Rate (ADR):$280.08Occupancy:37.62%Regulation:Low
Rank:#32Market:Eurobodalla Shire CouncilCountry:AustraliaProperties:451Monthly Revenue:$2120.28Daily Rate (ADR):$261.36Occupancy:36.37%Regulation:High
Rank:#33Market:DaylesfordCountry:AustraliaProperties:444Monthly Revenue:$3029.72Daily Rate (ADR):$301.77Occupancy:35.86%Regulation:Low
Rank:#34Market:North CanberraCountry:AustraliaProperties:434Monthly Revenue:$1935.16Daily Rate (ADR):$145.14Occupancy:50.57%Regulation:Low
Rank:#35Market:YambaCountry:AustraliaProperties:428Monthly Revenue:$2610.57Daily Rate (ADR):$315.92Occupancy:36.27%Regulation:High
Rank:#36Market:VincentiaCountry:AustraliaProperties:425Monthly Revenue:$3345.17Daily Rate (ADR):$371.53Occupancy:36.59%Regulation:High
Rank:#37Market:BallaratCountry:AustraliaProperties:422Monthly Revenue:$1765.63Daily Rate (ADR):$154.46Occupancy:45.61%Regulation:Low
Rank:#38Market:Margaret RiverCountry:AustraliaProperties:420Monthly Revenue:$4169.72Daily Rate (ADR):$235.93Occupancy:61.83%Regulation:High
Rank:#39Market:Port MacquarieCountry:AustraliaProperties:419Monthly Revenue:$2120.94Daily Rate (ADR):$213.48Occupancy:45.01%Regulation:High
Rank:#40Market:ForsterCountry:AustraliaProperties:417Monthly Revenue:$1943.44Daily Rate (ADR):$278.17Occupancy:31.88%Regulation:High
Rank:#41Market:Apollo BayCountry:AustraliaProperties:417Monthly Revenue:$2502.68Daily Rate (ADR):$268.81Occupancy:37.46%Regulation:Low
Rank:#42Market:LorneCountry:AustraliaProperties:397Monthly Revenue:$2645.43Daily Rate (ADR):$387.07Occupancy:31.31%Regulation:Low
Rank:#43Market:City of Greater GeelongCountry:AustraliaProperties:393Monthly Revenue:$2365.95Daily Rate (ADR):$298.44Occupancy:37.53%Regulation:Low
Rank:#44Market:Shire of Colac OtwayCountry:AustraliaProperties:387Monthly Revenue:$2737.83Daily Rate (ADR):$302.33Occupancy:37.09%Regulation:Low
Rank:#45Market:Airlie BeachCountry:AustraliaProperties:385Monthly Revenue:$3668.92Daily Rate (ADR):$296.78Occupancy:50.11%Regulation:Low
Rank:#46Market:PerthCountry:AustraliaProperties:372Monthly Revenue:$2705.54Daily Rate (ADR):$160.06Occupancy:61.50%Regulation:High
Rank:#47Market:Hervey BayCountry:AustraliaProperties:362Monthly Revenue:$2133.91Daily Rate (ADR):$170.93Occupancy:51.99%Regulation:Low
Rank:#48Market:Whitsunday RegionalCountry:AustraliaProperties:360Monthly Revenue:$6519.52Daily Rate (ADR):$558.14Occupancy:48.55%Regulation:Low
Rank:#49Market:KingscliffCountry:AustraliaProperties:356Monthly Revenue:$3343.05Daily Rate (ADR):$387.30Occupancy:39.17%Regulation:High
Rank:#50Market:Port Stephens CouncilCountry:AustraliaProperties:353Monthly Revenue:$3267.44Daily Rate (ADR):$399.59Occupancy:34.01%Regulation:High
Rank:#51Market:OrangeCountry:AustraliaProperties:347Monthly Revenue:$2505.45Daily Rate (ADR):$222.15Occupancy:43.96%Regulation:High
Rank:#52Market:Shire of South GippslandCountry:AustraliaProperties:343Monthly Revenue:$1998.64Daily Rate (ADR):$229.88Occupancy:35.55%Regulation:Low
Rank:#53Market:Port FairyCountry:AustraliaProperties:337Monthly Revenue:$2188.90Daily Rate (ADR):$281.89Occupancy:33.86%Regulation:Low
Rank:#54Market:Coffs HarbourCountry:AustraliaProperties:334Monthly Revenue:$2735.75Daily Rate (ADR):$240.52Occupancy:44.16%Regulation:High
Rank:#55Market:InverlochCountry:AustraliaProperties:329Monthly Revenue:$1706.49Daily Rate (ADR):$254.05Occupancy:32.68%Regulation:Low
Rank:#56Market:Townsville CityCountry:AustraliaProperties:326Monthly Revenue:$1632.68Daily Rate (ADR):$219.15Occupancy:34.95%Regulation:Low
Rank:#57Market:MandurahCountry:AustraliaProperties:321Monthly Revenue:$2982.68Daily Rate (ADR):$263.00Occupancy:45.66%Regulation:High
Rank:#58Market:FremantleCountry:AustraliaProperties:316Monthly Revenue:$2927.30Daily Rate (ADR):$174.35Occupancy:62.95%Regulation:High
Rank:#59Market:CanberraCountry:AustraliaProperties:310Monthly Revenue:$1857.69Daily Rate (ADR):$158.92Occupancy:48.93%Regulation:Low
Rank:#60Market:Mid-Coast CouncilCountry:AustraliaProperties:310Monthly Revenue:$2081.48Daily Rate (ADR):$241.23Occupancy:35.82%Regulation:High
Rank:#61Market:BendigoCountry:AustraliaProperties:301Monthly Revenue:$2019.72Daily Rate (ADR):$172.74Occupancy:47.14%Regulation:Low
Rank:#62Market:Wagga Wagga City CouncilCountry:AustraliaProperties:285Monthly Revenue:$2102.66Daily Rate (ADR):$207.43Occupancy:44.07%Regulation:High
Rank:#63Market:Scenic Rim RegionalCountry:AustraliaProperties:283Monthly Revenue:$3381.65Daily Rate (ADR):$254.87Occupancy:47.31%Regulation:Low
Rank:#64Market:Sunshine BeachCountry:AustraliaProperties:282Monthly Revenue:$3686.51Daily Rate (ADR):$421.04Occupancy:41.92%Regulation:Low
Rank:#65Market:Brisbane CityCountry:AustraliaProperties:281Monthly Revenue:$1852.02Daily Rate (ADR):$177.96Occupancy:51.80%Regulation:Low
Rank:#66Market:ThredboCountry:AustraliaProperties:277Monthly Revenue:$2733.18Daily Rate (ADR):$548.67Occupancy:26.51%Regulation:High
Rank:#67Market:ToowoombaCountry:AustraliaProperties:274Monthly Revenue:$2340.28Daily Rate (ADR):$147.29Occupancy:55.71%Regulation:Low
Rank:#68Market:Shire of HepburnCountry:AustraliaProperties:273Monthly Revenue:$3002.29Daily Rate (ADR):$313.49Occupancy:36.20%Regulation:Low
Rank:#69Market:RobeCountry:AustraliaProperties:271Monthly Revenue:$2078.56Daily Rate (ADR):$213.96Occupancy:39.13%Regulation:Low
Rank:#70Market:AngleseaCountry:AustraliaProperties:267Monthly Revenue:$2026.70Daily Rate (ADR):$312.91Occupancy:32.09%Regulation:Low
Rank:#71Market:BathurstCountry:AustraliaProperties:264Monthly Revenue:$2198.12Daily Rate (ADR):$273.04Occupancy:36.44%Regulation:High
Rank:#72Market:AlbanyCountry:AustraliaProperties:262Monthly Revenue:$3172.19Daily Rate (ADR):$214.46Occupancy:55.76%Regulation:High
Rank:#73Market:WarrnamboolCountry:AustraliaProperties:253Monthly Revenue:$2312.51Daily Rate (ADR):$214.03Occupancy:43.33%Regulation:Low
Rank:#74Market:Lennox HeadCountry:AustraliaProperties:252Monthly Revenue:$2974.37Daily Rate (ADR):$346.90Occupancy:43.89%Regulation:High
Rank:#75Market:YallingupCountry:AustraliaProperties:248Monthly Revenue:$4206.83Daily Rate (ADR):$369.46Occupancy:47.17%Regulation:High
Rank:#76Market:HuskissonCountry:AustraliaProperties:245Monthly Revenue:$3747.38Daily Rate (ADR):$346.31Occupancy:39.01%Regulation:High
Rank:#77Market:BlackheathCountry:AustraliaProperties:240Monthly Revenue:$3108.96Daily Rate (ADR):$272.81Occupancy:44.11%Regulation:High
Rank:#78Market:Shoal BayCountry:AustraliaProperties:240Monthly Revenue:$2690.05Daily Rate (ADR):$381.40Occupancy:30.43%Regulation:High
Rank:#79Market:Surf Coast ShireCountry:AustraliaProperties:239Monthly Revenue:$2054.98Daily Rate (ADR):$312.13Occupancy:33.82%Regulation:Low
Rank:#80Market:BusseltonCountry:AustraliaProperties:234Monthly Revenue:$3344.46Daily Rate (ADR):$239.25Occupancy:51.02%Regulation:High
Rank:#81Market:Snowy Monaro Regional CouncilCountry:AustraliaProperties:229Monthly Revenue:$3581.33Daily Rate (ADR):$397.50Occupancy:34.84%Regulation:High
Rank:#82Market:Mid-Western Regional CouncilCountry:AustraliaProperties:224Monthly Revenue:$3070.10Daily Rate (ADR):$309.29Occupancy:34.78%Regulation:High
Rank:#83Market:Livingstone ShireCountry:AustraliaProperties:221Monthly Revenue:$1817.65Daily Rate (ADR):$190.37Occupancy:38.40%Regulation:Low
Rank:#84Market:KiamaCountry:AustraliaProperties:220Monthly Revenue:$3166.58Daily Rate (ADR):$377.13Occupancy:38.37%Regulation:High
Rank:#85Market:MudgeeCountry:AustraliaProperties:218Monthly Revenue:$3310.30Daily Rate (ADR):$302.92Occupancy:40.99%Regulation:High
Rank:#86Market:District of BelconnenCountry:AustraliaProperties:216Monthly Revenue:$1758.13Daily Rate (ADR):$133.29Occupancy:48.95%Regulation:Low
Rank:#87Market:Noosa ShireCountry:AustraliaProperties:216Monthly Revenue:$2670.86Daily Rate (ADR):$285.96Occupancy:41.12%Regulation:Low
Rank:#88Market:Shire of East GippslandCountry:AustraliaProperties:214Monthly Revenue:$1571.77Daily Rate (ADR):$207.10Occupancy:32.37%Regulation:Low
Rank:#89Market:MerimbulaCountry:AustraliaProperties:213Monthly Revenue:$2494.14Daily Rate (ADR):$255.34Occupancy:41.37%Regulation:High
Rank:#90Market:TerrigalCountry:AustraliaProperties:208Monthly Revenue:$2787.82Daily Rate (ADR):$365.03Occupancy:36.80%Regulation:High
Rank:#91Market:AlburyCountry:AustraliaProperties:205Monthly Revenue:$2202.24Daily Rate (ADR):$162.11Occupancy:51.66%Regulation:High
Rank:#92Market:Agnes WaterCountry:AustraliaProperties:205Monthly Revenue:$2210.14Daily Rate (ADR):$247.88Occupancy:37.49%Regulation:Low
Rank:#93Market:Byron Shire CouncilCountry:AustraliaProperties:204Monthly Revenue:$4030.38Daily Rate (ADR):$426.04Occupancy:44.35%Regulation:High
Rank:#94Market:Halls GapCountry:AustraliaProperties:203Monthly Revenue:$2271.27Daily Rate (ADR):$191.77Occupancy:40.36%Regulation:Low
Rank:#95Market:JoondalupCountry:AustraliaProperties:202Monthly Revenue:$2483.92Daily Rate (ADR):$166.21Occupancy:57.96%Regulation:High
Rank:#96Market:South CanberraCountry:AustraliaProperties:201Monthly Revenue:$2125.60Daily Rate (ADR):$149.24Occupancy:52.74%Regulation:Low
Rank:#97Market:Surfers ParadiseCountry:AustraliaProperties:199Monthly Revenue:$1784.56Daily Rate (ADR):$241.96Occupancy:45.81%Regulation:Low
Rank:#98Market:Crescent HeadCountry:AustraliaProperties:195Monthly Revenue:$1790.99Daily Rate (ADR):$219.32Occupancy:35.36%Regulation:High
Rank:#99Market:BowralCountry:AustraliaProperties:194Monthly Revenue:$4110.80Daily Rate (ADR):$396.22Occupancy:43.29%Regulation:High
Rank:#100Market:Rainbow BeachCountry:AustraliaProperties:194Monthly Revenue:$2050.71Daily Rate (ADR):$224.78Occupancy:39.14%Regulation:Low

Our Data-Driven Methodology for STR Market Analysis

At AirROI, our market rankings and insights are powered by a robust methodology combining comprehensive Airbnb data collection with sophisticated STR analytics techniques. We strive to provide the most accurate and actionable intelligence for short-term rental investors.

Data Collection & Scope

  • Global Coverage: We aggregate STR data from tens of millions of active short-term rental listings across platforms like Airbnb and Vrbo worldwide.
  • Real-Time Metrics: Our systems track key performance indicators (KPIs) daily, including booking rates, nightly pricing (ADR), occupancy rates, and revenue.
  • Regulatory Monitoring: We actively monitor and incorporate local short-term rental regulations, licensing requirements, and tax obligations into our market analysis.

Analysis & Ranking

  • Proprietary Algorithms: AI and machine learning models analyze booking patterns, predict seasonal demand shifts, and identify emerging market trends in the STR space.
  • Key Metric Evaluation: We evaluate markets based on a weighted combination of critical investment factors using our extensive Airbnb analytics:
    • Revenue Potential: Average Monthly Revenue and Average Daily Rate (ADR).
    • Market Demand: Occupancy Rate and booking lead times.
    • Investment Scale: Number of active properties and market growth trends.
    • Regulatory Environment: Assessed impact of local STR regulations on operational feasibility and profitability.
  • Benchmarking: Performance is benchmarked against regional and global averages to provide context for vacation rental investment potential.

Key Metrics Explained

  • Properties: The count of active short-term rental listings in the market.
  • Monthly Revenue: Average revenue generated per property per month, a key indicator for Airbnb profitability.
  • Daily Rate (ADR): Average nightly booking price.
  • Occupancy: Percentage of nights booked out of total available nights, crucial for understanding STR demand.
  • Regulation: An indicator of the local regulatory climate impacting Airbnb investment.

This rigorous approach ensures our recommendations are based on real-world performance Airbnb data and forward-looking market analysis, empowering you to invest smarter in the vacation rental market.

Access Real-Time Airbnb API

This report is powered by our industry-leading Airbnb Data API, providing direct access to live short-term rental data from global markets like Australia. Use this data to build powerful analytics tools, discover investment opportunities, and inform your vacation rental strategy.

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