Kathmandu

As of June 2026, Kathmandu, Bhaktapur have 1,044 active Airbnb and VRBO listings. This represents a 1% decrease from the previous year.

The average Airbnb or VRBO in Kathmandu generates NPR326K per year. High-performing properties earn NPR1.5M/year, while low-performing properties earn NPR94K/year. With supply essentially flat and revenue declining double-digits year-over-year despite minimal competition changes, the market appears demand-constrained rather than supply-saturated. The 15x spread between high and low performers suggests significant performance variance within a soft market environment.

Airbnb and VRBO can be profitable in Kathmandu. Average annual revenue is NPR326K with 20% occupancy. High-performing properties earn up to NPR1.5M/year. Declining revenue despite flat supply suggests softening demand, indicating a competitive market where property performance varies significantly—the 4.5x gap between average and top earners reflects substantial differentiation among listings.

The average occupancy rate for Airbnbs and VRBOs in Kathmandu is 20%. This occupancy level, combined with an average nightly rate of NPR6K, results in a RevPAR (revenue per available room) of NPR680 per day.

3-bedroom properties demonstrate the strongest performance in Kathmandu, with annual revenue of NPR600K. These properties balance operating costs and rental demand most effectively in the Kathmandu market. Property performance varies significantly by location, amenities, and management quality.

Short-term rental regulations vary by jurisdiction in the Kathmandu area. Kathmandu: Lenient. No specific short-term rental regulations or registration requirements. Tourism businesses need basic registration with Department of Tourism, but enforcement is minimal. Many hosts operate informally without permits. Bhaktapur: Lenient. Similar to Kathmandu - no dedicated STR framework. Guest house permits theoretically required through municipality, but enforcement is weak. Most hosts operate without formal compliance in this heritage city. Always verify current regulations with local authorities and obtain necessary permits before operating a short-term rental.

The Kathmandu Airbnb and VRBO market is currently showing balanced conditions. Supply has declined 1% year-over-year, while RevPAR has decreased 15%. This indicates balanced supply-demand dynamics. The significant gap between average revenue ($326,130) and top performers ($1,456,686) suggests market stratification, where a small subset of properties capture disproportionate returns despite the overall 20% occupancy rate and declining revenue environment.

Launch around August, 2-3 months before peak fall season (November peaks). This pre-peak timing lets you build reviews when competition is 100% lower than peak months. Avoid launching during peak season when established listings dominate, or slow months (July-September) when gaining traction is harder.

The most common amenities in Kathmandu listings include: Kitchen (97%), Washing Machine (80%), Tv (69%), Heating (67%), Air Conditioning (63%). Amenities that boost revenue the most include Gym, Air Conditioning, Tv, with Gym properties earning approximately 60% more (NPR1.9M/year vs NPR1.2M/year).

Monthly estimated revenue per listing in Kathmandu over the last 12 months: May: NPR18K, June: NPR17K, July: NPR18K, August: NPR19K, September: NPR16K, October: NPR20K, November: NPR27K, December: NPR26K, January: NPR18K, February: NPR21K, March: NPR24K, April: NPR25K. These figures are based on RevPAR (revenue per available room) multiplied by the number of days in each month.

The overall average nightly rate in Kathmandu is NPR6K, up 14% year-over-year. By property size: 1-bedroom properties average NPR5K/night, 2-bedroom properties average NPR7K/night, 3-bedroom properties average NPR10K/night, 4+ bedroom properties average NPR15K/night. Rates peak in February and are lowest in June.

Guests in Kathmandu book an average of 18 days in advance, down 14% from last year. By property size: 1-bedroom: 18 days, 2-bedroom: 18 days, 3-bedroom: 17 days, 4+ bedroom: 21 days. Larger properties tend to have longer booking windows as guests plan group trips further ahead.

Over the past year, the Kathmandu Airbnb and VRBO market has seen the following changes: supply declined 1%, revenue per listing decreased 15%, occupancy fell 14%, average nightly rates increased 14%, and lead time decreased 14%. The combination of rising nightly rates amid falling occupancy and revenue suggests hosts are competing for fewer bookings in a softening market. The significant gap between average revenue ($326k) and top performers ($1.46M) indicates performance is highly concentrated among premium properties.

In Kathmandu, Friday sees the highest booking demand while Monday has the lowest. Nightly rates peak on Saturday and are lowest on Wednesday.