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Airbnb in Sydney: License, Income & Investment Guide 2026

By HostPal Editorial·Updated 354 days ago·Source: Inside Airbnb + Government registry

Sydney Airbnb market: 32% occupancy (+9pts YoY), ~$137.28 ADR. Regulation: NSW STRA register mandatory for all properties. Non-hosted lets in Greater Sydney capped at 180 nights/year. Hosted (own

At a glance
Median occupancy
32%
+9 pts YoY
Median daily rate
$137.28
+3% YoY
Active listings
13,211
18,608 total
Revenue per available night
$28.78

Year-over-year performance

Compared to the closest snapshot from approximately 12 months ago, the Sydney short-term rental market has shifted in measurable ways. Occupancy among active listings is up 9 points, while the median daily rate is up 3 percent.

Sydney — occupancy over time 20% 3y ago 2022-09 20% 2y ago 2023-09 23% 1y ago 2024-09 32% Now 2025-08

Looking further back: three years ago, occupancy was 12.3 points lower. Two years ago, 12.3 points lower.

When Sydney Airbnbs perform best

Monthly occupancy data shows the seasonal rhythm of the Sydney short-term rental market. Use this to plan dynamic pricing, target peak demand, and avoid lulls.

Sydney — monthly occupancy 47% 54% 53% 51% 61% 62% 62% 58% 42% 42% 48% 51% JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec 100% 0%

How Sydney compares to Australia

Benchmarked against 11 other Australia markets we track, Sydney's metrics tell a clear story.

Occupancy vs national
+2 pts vs national
National median: 30%
Daily rate vs national
-14% vs national
National median: $159.7

License & regulation

Risk: mediumLicense requiredRegistration required180-night annual cap

NSW STRA register mandatory for all properties. Non-hosted lets in Greater Sydney capped at 180 nights/year. Hosted (owner present) is unlimited. Strata schemes can ban STR by majority vote.

Worst case
Strata by-laws can outright prohibit STR in apartment buildings — confirm building rules before purchase.

Source: https://www.nsw.gov.au/housing-and-construction/short-term-rental-accommodation

What kind of Airbnbs are in Sydney?

Of the 13,211 active operating listings, 81.9% are entire homes (vs private rooms), and 39% are operated by Airbnb Superhosts.

Bedroom mix among active listings
1 BR
2 BR
3 BR
4+ BR
Studio: 5.3%1 BR: 44.7%2 BR: 28.7%3 BR: 12.4%4+ BR: 8.9%

Top neighborhoods in Sydney

The 38 neighborhoods we track range from established tourist hotspots to emerging investment zones. Here are the five strongest by revenue.

NeighborhoodListingsOccupancyRevPARYoY
Mosman15040%$46.2+18.4 pts YoY
Sydney3,38436%$40.85+3.1 pts YoY
North Sydney55742%$39.4+10.8 pts YoY
Pittwater51630%$38.08+16.8 pts YoY
Manly60330%$37.03+10.3 pts YoY

Frequently asked questions

Do I need a license to run an Airbnb in Sydney?
Sydney does not require a license, but hosts must register their short-term rental with the city.
How many nights can I rent my Airbnb in Sydney?
Sydney caps short-term rentals at 180 nights per year for entire homes.
What is the average Airbnb occupancy in Sydney?
Active Airbnb listings in Sydney run at ~32% occupancy (up 9 points year over year). Source: Inside Airbnb.
What is the median daily rate for an Airbnb in Sydney?
The median Airbnb daily rate (ADR) in Sydney is approximately $137.28, up 3% year over year. Based on listings with at least one review in the last 12 months.
How many active Airbnb listings are in Sydney?
There are approximately 13,211 active short-term rental listings in Sydney (listings with at least one booking in the last 12 months).
Is Airbnb income growing or shrinking in Sydney?
Compared to a year ago, Sydney short-term rental performance has shifted: occupancy +9 pts, daily rate +3%. Underlying data comes from the latest Inside Airbnb snapshot vs the closest archive ~12 months prior.

Keep exploring

Regulation deep-dive
Airbnb rules in Sydney
Risk level: medium · 180-night cap
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Property-level financials, stress tests, neighborhood-by-neighborhood breakdowns, and an AI verdict on whether to buy.

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Methodology. Market metrics are derived from Inside Airbnb's 2025-08 snapshot, filtered to active listings (those with at least one booking in the last 12 months). Year-over-year deltas compare against the closest archived snapshot ~12 months prior. Sample sizes: occupancy n=7,902, ADR n=11,641.