Airbnb's impact in Melbourne
Airbnb's Economic Impact in Australia
Hosting on Airbnb creates an additional income stream for hosts, fuels visitor spending in communities, supports jobs across multiple industries and contributes substantial tax revenue for local governments.
$13B+
in total economic contribution to GDP1
$3B+
in total tax revenue1
99,000+
Total jobs supported1
Estimated economic impact figures listed are for Australia. Learn more about the economic impact methodology.
Host community snapshot
Understanding the motivations and demographics of hosts on Airbnb
72%
of hosts confirm hosting on Airbnb is not their primary occupation2
53%
of hosts say hosting on Airbnb allows them to meet the rising cost of living2
50%
of hosts confirm hosting on Airbnb has helped them stay in their home2
52%
of hosts self-report having a total annual household income below $100K2
60%
of hosts self-identify as women3
14%
of hosts self-report being over 60 years of age3
$11,000+
Typical annual earnings for hosts4
Guest community snapshot
Understanding why guests travelling to Melbourne choose Airbnb.
16%
of guests travelling with children: Trips with at least one child or infant on the reservation3
31%
of guests who say their trip could not have been accommodated by hotels2
44%
Guests whose trip originated within 300 kilometres of their destination5
Guest origins5
- Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
- Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
- Adelaide, South Australia, Australia
- Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
- Perth, Western Australia, Australia
1 as of 31 December 2025
2 Self reported through a survey to the Airbnb community from July 2025 through June 2026
3 Self reported on Airbnb Platform as of 30 June 2026
4 Airbnb data for 2025, 'typical' means median
5 Airbnb trip data for 12 month period ending 30 June 2026
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Policy Toolkit
A best practices guide to help local policymakers develop fair and balanced statewide short-term rental accommodation (STRA) registration schemes and codes of conduct, supporting economic empowerment initiatives.
At Airbnb, we’ve collaborated with governments around the world, including Australia, to enable responsible tourism that keeps more of the economic benefits in the places where it happens.
Airbnb is committed to working with policymakers to develop best-practice regulatory frameworks and balanced solutions to meet the unique needs of each community and allow residents to benefit from home sharing. We are here to help build stronger communities, foster sustainable tourism growth and equip governments across Australia with tools to help address important issues, such as housing affordability and amenity.