1 June 2026·7 min read
Indicative monthly gross by Penang area (illustrative planning ranges)
- Indicative planning ranges only — not verified MyBnB portfolio data, and not a forecast for any specific unit.
- George Town heritage core 1-bedroom: RM 4,200 – RM 6,800 gross/month at 75–88% occupancy.
- Karpal Singh Drive seafront 1-bedroom (Maritime Suites): RM 4,500 – RM 7,500 gross/month at 78–90% occupancy.
- Jelutong inland serviced apartment 1-bedroom (Straits Garden Suites): RM 3,600 – RM 5,800 gross/month at 75–88% occupancy.
- Karpal Singh Drive landed whole-house lets (Nautilus Bay — landed terrace houses, 4 bedrooms): RM 7,000 – RM 11,500 gross/month at 70–85% occupancy.
- Batu Ferringhi beachside 2-bedroom: RM 7,000 – RM 12,000 gross/month, very seasonal (peaks Nov–Feb and school holidays).
- Bayan Lepas / airport-side 1-bedroom: RM 3,200 – RM 5,200 gross/month, weekday business demand dominant.
What moves your number up or down
- View, floor and natural light — sea-view, high-floor units generally command a higher nightly rate than internal-facing units in the same block; the size of the premium varies by building and season.
- Furnishing quality — hotel-grade linen, real cookware, fast Wi-Fi and proper photography move conversion sharply on Airbnb and Booking.com.
- Multi-platform listing — a single-platform listing is only seen by one audience. Airbnb + Booking.com + Agoda on one synced calendar widens demand; the effect on occupancy varies by building, season and pricing.
- Dynamic pricing — flat year-round pricing under-prices Penang event weeks (CNY, school holidays, F1, marathon weekends) and over-prices quiet weeks; the revenue effect varies unit by unit.
- Operator response time — sub-5-minute Airbnb response rate is a ranking signal; slower responses push your unit down the search.
Gross vs net: what owners actually receive
- Plan for roughly 40% of gross (typical band 35–45%) to come off the top for housekeeping, linen, consumables, OTA commission and utilities — that leaves about 60% of gross as net operating profit.
- MyBnB's standard structure is a 70/30 split (owner/MyBnB) of net operating profit — on the cost assumption above, the owner keeps around 42% of gross. We earn only when you earn.
- Net operating profit is gross booking revenue for the month (Airbnb, Booking.com and Agoda, including any guest cleaning fee collected) less that unit's own operating costs: OTA commissions, housekeeping and linen, guest consumables, utilities and Wi-Fi, JMB/MC charges, the unit's channel-manager and pricing subscriptions, and repair parts or third-party contractor invoices. It does not deduct MyBnB staff salaries, office overhead or our internal software, and it does not include ownership costs such as loan instalments, insurance, assessment or quit rent.
- Utilities (TNB, water, Wi-Fi, JMB fees) remain owner cost on most units. Budget RM 350–650/month depending on size and air-con use.
Want a candid number for your specific unit?
- Send your building name, unit size and a photo on WhatsApp. We'll talk you through what comparable units in your building achieve and what your own unit would need — no obligation.
Frequently asked questions
Are Penang Airbnb earnings guaranteed?
No reputable Penang operator can guarantee earnings — demand, seasonality and competition shift monthly. MyBnB talks through indicative ranges for comparable units and the assumptions behind them, rather than quoting a guaranteed figure.
Which Penang areas command the highest nightly rates?
On a per-night basis, beachside Batu Ferringhi and seafront Karpal Singh Drive units lead. On a year-round occupancy basis, the George Town heritage core and the Karpal Singh Drive seafront corridor are the steadiest.
Is short-stay rental more profitable than long-term tenancy in Penang?
A suitable short-stay unit may generate higher gross revenue than long-term rental, but the owner's final payout depends on occupancy, nightly rate, operating expenses, location and seasonality. We provide a side-by-side projection during assessment.