Which Costs More - Hotels or Airbnbs

Call it the battle of the beds for your travel dollars. Which costs more – hotels or Airbnbs? Like most things, it depends.

Price comparisons between hotels and Airbnbs_ecoXplorer — Photo: Wilshire Hotel, Los Angeles

In some cities and travel seasons, hotels are less expensive, and elsewhere Airbnbs are cheaper. As in all things travel-related, you have to search for the best deal for comfort and convenience, which includes location to the sights you’ll be visiting, and public transportation.

Recently the website Upgraded Points conducted a comprehensive analysis comparing the average nightly costs of Airbnbs and hotels in 100 of the largest cities in the United States.

The survey also included price differences for renting a room in somebody’s house or apartment and sharing the TV remote and perhaps the bathroom, or renting the “entire place” with no owner present and available only via phone, text or email in case of a problem.

However, the survey does not take into account the time and work Airbnb guests are required to do when they leave, such as stripping the beds, cleaning the kitchen including doing the dishes and taking out the garbage.

None of that, of course, is required in a hotel, which also offers a front desk for assistance, including a lost key, often a concierge to help make restaurant and theater recommendations and reservations, and loyalty points for frequent travelers.

Travel tips: comparing costs of hotels and Airbnbs in US cities_ecoXplorer — Airbnb image, recognized by ecoXplorer Evelyn Kanter as digitally enhanced, perhaps even fully AI generated

Top Cities Where Airbnbs Cost More Than Hotels

Madison, Wisconsin

Airbnb Average: $223.49
Hotel Average: $167.18

Tucson, Arizona

Airbnb Average: $142.07
Hotel Average: $99.40

Bakersfield, California

Airbnb Average: $163.89
Hotel Average: $123.48

Jackson, Mississippi

Airbnb Average: $150.68
Hotel Average: $113.20

Scranton, Pennsylvania

Airbnb Average: $185
Hotel Average: $150

hotel front desk_ecoxplorer — Kimpton’s Hotel Monaco, Portland, Oregon

Top Cities Where Hotels Cost More Than Airbnbs:

Milwaukee, Wisconsin

Hotel Average: $350.50
Airbnb Average: $138.31

Chicago, Illinois

Hotel Average: $363.95
Airbnb Average: $165.56

Omaha, Nebraska

Hotel Average: $343.30
Airbnb Average: $145.06

Cleveland, Ohio

Hotel Average: $322.29
Airbnb Average: $125.09

Charleston, South Carolina

Hotel Average: $395.38
Airbnb Average: $209.72

Airbnb Dominates

71 out of 100 cities: Airbnb is usually more cost-effective.
Average nightly price: Airbnb – $156 | Hotel – $208
Overall savings: Approximately $52 per night by choosing an Airbnb.

Close Comparisons

San Jose, California: Difference of about $1.50 per night.
McAllen, Texas: Difference of around $1.50 per night.

Study Methodology

Upgraded Points conducted an analysis of the average nightly prices of Airbnbs (entire places) and hotels in the 100 largest cities in the United States. Airbnb data was obtained directly from Airbnb, while hotel data was sourced from Kayak. The analysis considered average nightly costs for each city, with hotel prices based on a single room for two adults. Any nightly cost exceeding $1,000 was excluded.

ecoXplorer Evelyn Kanter is a journalist with 25+ years of experience as a newspaper and magazine writer, radio & TV news producer & reporter, and author of guidebooks and smartphone apps – all focusing on travel, automotive, the environment and your rights as a consumer.