Mombasa Airbnb Market Analysis 2025: Short Term Rental Data & Vacation Rental Statistics in Mombasa County, Kenya

Source: AirROI
Last updated: 2025-03-31

Is Airbnb profitable in Mombasa in 2025? Explore comprehensive Airbnb analytics for Mombasa, Mombasa County, Kenya to uncover income potential. This 2025 STR market report for Mombasa, based on AirROI data from April 2024 to March 2025, reveals key trends in the niche market of 165 active listings.

Whether you're considering an Airbnb investment in Mombasa, optimizing your existing vacation rental, or exploring rental arbitrage opportunities, understanding the Mombasa 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 Mombasa Airbnb Performance Metrics Overview

Avg. Daily Rate (ADR)(?)
$63
The average rental revenue earned for an occupied room per day in Mombasa.
Occupancy Rate(?)
30.9%
Moderate demand with booking opportunities.
Median Annual Revenue(?)
$4,250
Typical annual income for an Airbnb listing in Mombasa. Factors like property type, size, and location influence actual earnings.
Revenue Growth YoY(?)
8.2%
Positive growth (8.2%) vs. last year.
Peak Revenue Month(?)
December
The month with the highest average earnings, indicating peak season in Mombasa.
Lowest Revenue Month(?)
March
The month with the lowest average earnings, indicating the low season in Mombasa.
STR Regulation Level(?)
Low
Fewer regulations, offering more operational flexibility.
Active Airbnb Listings(?)
165
Total number of active short-term rentals listed.

Monthly Airbnb Revenue Variations & Income Potential in Mombasa (2025)

Understanding the monthly revenue variations for Airbnb listings in Mombasa 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 Mombasa is typically December, while March often presents the lowest earnings, highlighting opportunities for strategic pricing adjustments during shoulder and low seasons. Explore the typical Airbnb income in Mombasa across different performance tiers:

  • Best-in-class properties (Top 10%) achieve $1,484+ monthly, often utilizing dynamic pricing and superior guest experiences.
  • Strong performing properties (Top 25%) earn $834 or more, indicating effective management and desirable locations/amenities.
  • Typical properties (Median) generate around $422 per month, representing the average market performance.
  • Entry-level properties (Bottom 25%) see earnings around $197, often with potential for optimization.

Average Monthly Airbnb Earnings Trend in Mombasa

Mombasa Airbnb Occupancy Rate Trends (2025)

Maximize your bookings by understanding the Mombasa STR occupancy trends. Seasonal demand shifts significantly influence how often properties are booked. Typically, Decembersees the highest demand (peak season occupancy), while June 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 Mombasa:

  • Best-in-class properties (Top 10%) achieve 67%+ 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 26%.
  • Entry-level properties (Bottom 25%) average 13% occupancy, potentially facing higher vacancy.

Average Monthly Occupancy Rate Trend in Mombasa

Average Daily Rate (ADR) Airbnb Trends in Mombasa (2025)

Effective short term rental pricing strategy in Mombasa involves understanding monthly ADR fluctuations. The Average Daily Rate (ADR) for Airbnb in Mombasa typically peaks in October 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 $156+ per night, often due to premium features or locations.
  • Strong performing properties (Top 25%) achieve nightly rates of $88 or more.
  • Typical properties (Median) charge around $45 per night.
  • Entry-level properties (Bottom 25%) earn around $26 per night.

Average Daily Rate (ADR) Trend by Month in Mombasa

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Airbnb Seasonality Analysis & Trends in Mombasa (2025)

Peak Season (December, May, April)
  • Revenue averages $955 per month
  • Occupancy rates average 36.0%
  • Daily rates average $74
Shoulder Season
  • Revenue averages $610 per month
  • Occupancy maintains around 32.4%
  • Daily rates hold near $73
Low Season (February, March, October)
  • Revenue drops to average $400 per month
  • Occupancy decreases to average 27.6%
  • Daily rates adjust to average $67

Seasonality Insights for Mombasa

  • The Airbnb seasonality in Mombasa shows highly seasonal trends requiring careful strategy. 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 Mombasa's highest earning potential, with monthly revenues capable of climbing to $1,022, occupancy reaching a high of 44.0%, and ADRs peaking at $78.
  • 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 $384, occupancy could drop to 23.3%, and ADRs may adjust down to $60.
  • 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 Mombasa.

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 Mombasa seasonality benchmarks and adjust your pricing and availability strategy accordingly.

Best Areas for Airbnb Investment in Mombasa (2025)

Exploring the top neighborhoods for short-term rentals in Mombasa? 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 / AreaWhy Host Here? (Target Guests & Appeal)Key Attractions & Landmarks
Nyali
A popular beach resort area known for its scenic coastline, luxury hotels, and vibrant nightlife. Ideal for tourists looking to enjoy the beach life and various water sports.
Nyali Beach, Wild Waters, Nyali Cinemax, Mombasa Marine National Park, Bamburi Beach
Diani Beach
Renowned for its white sandy beaches and crystal-clear waters, Diani Beach attracts both tourists and expats, making it a prime location for Airbnb investments.
Diani Beach, Vuma Caves, Colobus Conservation, Diani Sea Resort, The Diani Chale Marine National Park
Mombasa Old Town
Steeped in history and culture, Mombasa Old Town offers a unique experience with its narrow streets and Swahili architecture. Great for guests interested in cultural heritage.
Fort Jesus, Old Port of Mombasa, Mombasa Tusks, Swahili Culture Museum, Market Street
Shanzu
A growing tourist destination featuring beautiful beaches and resorts, Shanzu attracts both local and international visitors looking for a quieter place to stay.
Shanzu Beach, Bamburi Beach, Mombasa Marine National Park, Kongo River, Pirates Beach
Bamburi
Famous for its stunning beaches and family-friendly resorts, Bamburi is ideal for vacation rentals catering to families and groups.
Bamburi Beach, Haller Park, Mombasa Marine National Park, Mombasa Butterfly House, Nairobi Railway Museum
Kilifi
Located north of Mombasa, Kilifi offers pristine beaches and a laid-back atmosphere. Perfect for travelers seeking tranquility away from the bustling city.
Kilifi Creek, Gold Rock Beach, Mnarani Ruins, Kilifi Boatyard, Takaungu Beach
Likoni
A lesser-known area offering a more local experience, Likoni has access to beautiful beaches and is perfect for guests wanting to escape the tourist crowds.
Likoni Ferry, Maboko Island, Kivukoni Beach, Tudor Creek, Mtongwe Beach
Malindi
A coastal town north of Mombasa, known for its beautiful beaches and rich cultural history, making it an attractive destination for international tourists.
Malindi Marine National Park, Gedi Ruins, Malindi Beach, Lamu Island, Arabuko Sokoke Forest

Understanding Airbnb License Requirements & STR Laws in Mombasa (2025)

While Mombasa, Mombasa County, Kenya 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 Mombasa to ensure full compliance before hosting.

(Source: AirROI data, 2025, finding no licensed listings among those analyzed)

Top Performing Airbnb Properties in Mombasa (2025)

Benchmark your potential! Explore examples of top-performing Airbnb properties in Mombasabased on Trailing Twelve Month (TTM) revenue. Analyze their characteristics, revenue, occupancy rate, and ADR to understand what drives success in this market.

Your Coastal Oasis!

Your Coastal Oasis!

Entire Place • 3 bedrooms

$35,088
Revenue
47.4%
Occupancy
$157.75
Daily Rate
Saba House on the creek

Saba House on the creek

Entire Place • 2 bedrooms

$32,011
Revenue
54.9%
Occupancy
$132.40
Daily Rate
Angani Apt | AC Installed | Ocean View & Rftp Pool

Angani Apt | AC Installed | Ocean View & Rftp Pool

Entire Place • 3 bedrooms

$26,314
Revenue
40.6%
Occupancy
$128.72
Daily Rate
Trinder House

Trinder House

Entire Place • 5 bedrooms

$25,299
Revenue
26.9%
Occupancy
$314.86
Daily Rate
Sultana Holiday Homes
Kikambala

Sultana Holiday Homes Kikambala

Entire Place • 5 bedrooms

$20,661
Revenue
29.6%
Occupancy
$253.43
Daily Rate
Coastal charm Getaway

Coastal charm Getaway

Entire Place • 2 bedrooms

$20,046
Revenue
61.5%
Occupancy
$77.69
Daily Rate

Note: Performance varies based on location, size, amenities, seasonality, and management quality. Data reflects the past 12 months.

Top Performing Airbnb Hosts in Mombasa (2025)

Learn from the best! This table showcases top-performing Airbnb hosts in Mombasa based on the number of properties managed and estimated total revenue over the past year. Analyze their scale and performance metrics.

Host NamePropertiesGrossing RevenueStay ReviewsAvg Rating
Pwani Luxury3$38,502914.73/5.0
Aly1$35,088474.91/5.0
Valery Anita L1$32,011554.93/5.0
Jane3$27,879753.14/5.0
Iain1$26,314154.67/5.0
Faith1$25,299294.59/5.0
Rosalyn2$24,734494.79/5.0
Host #4939607861$20,66100.00/5.0
Scott1$20,046324.75/5.0
Sania1$16,099454.69/5.0

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 Mombasa.

Dive Deeper: Advanced Mombasa STR Market Data (2025)

Ready to unlock more insights? AirROI provides access to advanced metrics and comprehensive Airbnb data for Mombasa. Explore detailed analytics beyond this report to refine your investment strategy, optimize pricing, and maximize your vacation rental profits.

Explore Advanced Metrics

Mombasa Short-Term Rental Market Composition (2025): Property & Room Types

Room Type Distribution

Property Type Distribution

Market Composition Insights for Mombasa

  • The Mombasa Airbnb market composition is heavily skewed towards Entire Home/Apt listings, which make up 92.7% of the 165 active rentals. This indicates strong guest preference for privacy and space.
  • Looking at the property type distribution in Mombasa, Apartment/Condo properties are the most common (87.9%), reflecting the local real estate landscape.
  • Smaller segments like others, hotel/boutique (combined 2.4%) offer potential for unique stay experiences.

Mombasa Airbnb Room Capacity Analysis (2025): Bedroom Distribution

Distribution of Listings by Number of Bedrooms

Room Capacity Insights for Mombasa

  • The dominant room capacity in Mombasa is 1 bedroom listings, making up 43% of the market. This suggests a strong demand for properties suitable for couples or solo travelers.
  • Together, 1 bedroom and 3 bedrooms properties represent 64.8% of the active Airbnb listings in Mombasa, indicating a high concentration in these sizes.
  • A significant 29.0% of listings offer 3+ bedrooms, catering to larger groups and families seeking more space in Mombasa.

Mombasa Vacation Rental Guest Capacity Trends (2025)

Distribution of Listings by Guest Capacity

Guest Capacity Insights for Mombasa

  • The most common guest capacity trend in Mombasa vacation rentals is listings accommodating 2 guests (35.2%). This suggests the primary traveler segment is likely couples or solo travelers.
  • Properties designed for 2 guests and 4 guests dominate the Mombasa STR market, accounting for 54.0% of listings.
  • 30.3% of properties accommodate 6+ guests, serving the market segment for larger families or group travel in Mombasa.
  • On average, properties in Mombasa are equipped to host 4.0 guests.

Mombasa Airbnb Booking Patterns (2025): Available vs. Booked Days

Available Days Distribution

Booked Days Distribution

Booking Pattern Insights for Mombasa

  • The most common availability pattern in Mombasa falls within the 271-366 days range, representing 70.9% of listings. This suggests many properties have significant open periods on their calendars.
  • Approximately 86.7% 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 Mombasa (37.6%), reflecting common guest stay durations or potential owner blocking patterns.
  • A notable 14.5% of properties secure long booking periods (181+ days booked per year), highlighting successful long-term rental strategies or significant owner usage.

Mombasa Airbnb Minimum Stay Requirements Analysis

Distribution of Listings by Minimum Night Requirement

1 Night (73.9%)

1 Night

105 listings

73.9% of total

2 Nights (19%)

2 Nights

27 listings

19% of total

3 Nights (1.4%)

3 Nights

2 listings

1.4% of total

30+ Nights (5.6%)

30+ Nights

8 listings

5.6% of total

Key Insights

  • The most prevalent minimum stay requirement in Mombasa is 1 Night, adopted by 73.9% of listings. This highlights the market's preference for shorter, flexible bookings.
  • A strong majority (92.9%) of the Mombasa 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 73.9% of Mombasa hosts use this setting.
  • Explore offering discounts for stays of 30+ nights to attract the 5.6% of the market seeking extended stays.
  • Adjust minimum nights based on seasonality – potentially shorter during low season and longer during peak demand periods in Mombasa.

Mombasa Airbnb Cancellation Policy Trends Analysis (2025)

Flexible (41.1%)

Flexible

44 listings

41.1% of total

Moderate (19.6%)

Moderate

21 listings

19.6% of total

Firm (13.1%)

Firm

14 listings

13.1% of total

Strict (26.2%)

Strict

28 listings

26.2% of total

Cancellation Policy Insights for Mombasa

  • The prevailing Airbnb cancellation policy trend in Mombasa is Flexible, used by 41.1% of listings.
  • There's a relatively balanced mix between guest-friendly (60.7%) and stricter (39.3%) policies, offering choices for different guest needs.

Recommendations for Hosts

  • Consider adopting a Flexible policy to align with the 41.1% market standard in Mombasa.
  • Regularly review your cancellation policy against competitors and market demand shifts in Mombasa.

Mombasa STR Booking Lead Time Analysis (2025)

Average Booking Lead Time by Month

Booking Lead Time Insights for Mombasa

  • The overall average booking lead time for vacation rentals in Mombasa is 25 days.
  • Guests book furthest in advance for stays during May (average 33 days), likely coinciding with peak travel demand or local events.
  • The shortest booking windows occur for stays in September (average 14 days), indicating more last-minute travel plans during this time.
  • Seasonally, Spring (30 days avg.) sees the longest lead times, while Summer (21 days avg.) has the shortest, reflecting typical travel planning cycles.

Recommendations for Hosts

  • Use the overall average lead time (25 days) as a baseline for your pricing and availability strategy in Mombasa.
  • During September, focus on last-minute booking availability and promotions, as guests book with very short notice (14 days avg.).
  • Target marketing efforts for the Spring season well in advance (at least 30 days) to capture early planners.
  • Monitor your own booking lead times against these Mombasa averages to identify opportunities for dynamic pricing adjustments.

Popular & Essential Airbnb Amenities in Mombasa (2025)

Amenity Prevalence

Amenity Insights for Mombasa

  • Essential amenities in Mombasa that guests expect include: Wifi, TV, Kitchen. Lacking these (any) could significantly impact bookings.
  • Popular amenities like Free parking on premises, Essentials, Iron are common but not universal. Offering these can provide a competitive edge.

Recommendations for Hosts

  • Ensure your listing includes all essential amenities for Mombasa: Wifi, TV, Kitchen.
  • Prioritize adding missing essentials: TV, Kitchen.
  • 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 Mombasa to stay competitive.

Mombasa Airbnb Guest Demographics & Profile Analysis (2025)

Guest Origin: Domestic vs. International
Top 5 Cities of Origin
Top 5 Countries of Origin
Top 5 Languages Spoken
Guest Age Distribution (Birth Decade)

Guest Profile Summary for Mombasa

  • The typical guest profile for Airbnb in Mombasa consists of predominantly international visitors (68%), with top international origins including United States, typically belonging to the Post-2000s (Gen Z/Alpha) group (50%), primarily speaking English or Swahili.
  • Domestic travelers account for 32.1% of guests.
  • Key international markets include Kenya (32.1%) and United States (17.1%).
  • Top languages spoken are English (48.7%) followed by Swahili (12.1%).
  • 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 States.
  • 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 Mombasa 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.

MarketActive PropertiesMonthly RevenueDaily RateAvg. Occupancy
Ramisi ward11$2,492$218.5843%
Matemwe21$2,098$280.1031%
Dabaso ward101$2,051$172.4042%
Tiwi ward21$1,536$167.2232%
Kiwengwa86$1,442$181.9633%
Kinondo ward161$1,247$175.9733%
Ukunda ward273$1,225$130.9536%
Kigomane22$1,086$168.2024%
Mnarani ward34$1,059$153.0522%
Watamu ward236$892$152.9229%

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