In recent years, Airbnb has surged in popularity with travelers looking for a home-from-home alternative to a hotel, a unique experience stay or in the heart of a city’s culture, away from the typical tourist districts.
The US has more Airbnb listings than any other country in the world, with approximately 660,000 available to book right now, and many families especially now actively consider booking one of these as opposed to a hotel or resort.
And it’s easy to see why.
When traveling with kids, a hotel room can be limiting to some extent, whilst an Airbnb can offer the opportunity to enjoy time in a new city with all of the facilities (and probably more) that are available at home. It’s the little things that make all the difference, and convenience is right up there in travelers’ top priorities when planning a vacation.
But one thing we also know is that many are working to a set budget when planning a trip away, and this is even more so for families.
And we wanted to find out whether it’s cheaper to book a hotel room or an Airbnb in the US’ 100 largest cities.
The Cities Where it’s Cheaper to Book a Hotel Than an Airbnb
In four cities across the US, it costs a staggering 200%+ more to book a night in an Airbnb than a hotel, with Austin coming in at $444 higher.
Here are the top 20 cities ranked by the cost-saving booking a hotel vs an Airbnb:
Rank | City | State | Average Nightly Rate (Hotel) | Average Nightly Rate (Airbnb) | % Difference |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Austin | TX | $174 | $618 | +255.17% |
| 2 | Phoenix | AZ | $132 | $464 | +251.52% |
| 3 | Chandler | AZ | $113 | $370 | +227.43% |
| 4 | Scottsdale | AZ | $196 | $595 | +203.57% |
| 5 | Fresno | CA | $100 | $296 | +196.00% |
| 6 | Garland | TX | $63 | $167 | +165.08% |
| 7 | Henderson | NV | $115 | $296 | +157.39% |
| 8 | Corpus Christi | TX | $108 | $275 | +154.63% |
| 9 | North Las Vegas | NV | $89 | $216 | +142.70% |
| 10 | Glendale | AZ | $127 | $295 | +132.28% |
| 11 | San Diego | CA | $170 | $351 | +106.47% |
| 12 | Gilbert | AZ | $97 | $198 | +104.12% |
| 13 | Mesa | AZ | $81 | $163 | +101.23% |
| 14 | Nashville | TN | $204 | $384 | +88.24% |
| 15 | Virginia Beach | VA | $136 | $238 | +75.00% |
| 16 | New Orleans | LA | $142 | $240 | +69.01% |
| 17 | Reno | NV | $124 | $205 | +65.32% |
| 18 | Chula Vista | CA | $99 | $159 | +60.61% |
| 19 | Las Vegas | NV | $129 | $200 | +55.04% |
| 20 | San Antonio | TX | $134 | $207 | +54.48% |
Austin, TX
In Austin, Texas, you’ll pay an average of 255.17% more to book an Airbnb ($618) than a hotel room ($174) for the night.
Phoenix, AZ
In Phoenix, Arizona, you’ll pay an average of 251.52% more to book an Airbnb ($464) than a hotel room ($132) for the night.
Chandler, AZ
In Chandler, Arizona, you’ll pay an average of 227.43% more to book an Airbnb ($370) than a hotel room ($113) for the night.
The Cities Where it’s Cheaper to Book an Airbnb Than a Hotel
By booking an Airbnb instead of a hotel room, you could save up to 56.40%, with 13 cities offering you the opportunity to reduce your accommodation cost by more than 25% per night.
Here are the top 20 cities ranked by the cost-saving booking an Airbnb vs a hotel:
Rank | City | State | Average Nightly Rate (Hotel) | Average Nightly Rate (Airbnb) | % Difference |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Jersey City | NJ | $250 | $109 | -56.40% |
| 2 | New York | NY | $276 | $158 | -42.75% |
| 3 | Newark | NJ | $166 | $97 | -41.57% |
| 4 | Stockton | CA | $119 | $73 | -38.66% |
| 5 | Philadelphia | PA | $195 | $122 | -37.44% |
| 6 | Baltimore[m] | MD | $164 | $106 | -35.37% |
| 7 | Boston | MA | $294 | $191 | -35.03% |
| 8 | Washington | DC | $237 | $155 | -34.60% |
| 9 | San Jose | CA | $199 | $134 | -32.66% |
| 10 | Fremont | CA | $151 | $106 | -29.80% |
| 11 | Fort Wayne | IN | $112 | $80 | -28.57% |
| 12 | Oakland | CA | $180 | $129 | -28.33% |
| 13 | Detroit | MI | $183 | $136 | -25.68% |
| 14 | Honolulu | HI | $244 | $185 | -24.18% |
| 15 | Chicago | IL | $208 | $160 | -23.08% |
| 16 | Seattle | WA | $219 | $171 | -21.92% |
| 17 | Pittsburgh | PA | $153 | $123 | -19.61% |
| 18 | San Francisco | CA | $260 | $210 | -19.23% |
| 19 | Anchorage | AK | $175 | $144 | -17.71% |
| 20 | Portland | OR | $163 | $135 | -17.18% |
Jersey City, NJ
In Jersey City, New Jersey, you’ll pay an average of 56.4% less to book an Airbnb ($109) than a hotel room ($250) for the night.
New York City, NY
In New York City, you’ll pay an average of 42.75% less to book an Airbnb ($158) than a hotel room ($276) for the night.
Newark, NJ
In Newark, New Jersey, you’ll pay an average of 41.57% less to book an Airbnb ($97) than a hotel room ($166) for the night.
Hotels vs Airbnbs in the US’ 100 Largest Cities
Here’s how the cost of a hotel room compared with the cost of an Airbnb for a night compares across the US’ 100 largest cities:
Rank | City | State | Average Nightly Rate (Hotel) | Average Nightly Rate (Airbnb) | % Difference |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Jersey City | NJ | $250 | $109 | -56.40% |
| 2 | New York | NY | $276 | $158 | -42.75% |
| 3 | Newark | NJ | $166 | $97 | -41.57% |
| 4 | Stockton | CA | $119 | $73 | -38.66% |
| 5 | Philadelphia | PA | $195 | $122 | -37.44% |
| 6 | Baltimore | MA | $164 | $106 | -35.37% |
| 7 | Boston | MA | $294 | $191 | -35.03% |
| 8 | Washington | DC | $237 | $155 | -34.60% |
| 9 | San Jose | CA | $199 | $134 | -32.66% |
| 10 | Fremont | CA | $151 | $106 | -29.80% |
| 11 | Fort Wayne | IN | $112 | $80 | -28.57% |
| 12 | Oakland | CA | $180 | $129 | -28.33% |
| 13 | Detroit | MI | $183 | $136 | -25.68% |
| 14 | Honolulu | HI | $244 | $185 | -24.18% |
| 15 | Chicago | IL | $208 | $160 | -23.08% |
| 16 | Seattle | WA | $219 | $171 | -21.92% |
| 17 | Pittsburgh | PA | $153 | $123 | -19.61% |
| 18 | San Francisco | CA | $260 | $210 | -19.23% |
| 19 | Anchorage | AK | $175 | $144 | -17.71% |
| 20 | Portland | OR | $163 | $135 | -17.18% |
| 21 | Minneapolis | MN | $172 | $144 | -16.28% |
| 22 | Spokane | WA | $131 | $110 | -16.03% |
| 23 | St. Louis[m] | MI | $148 | $126 | -14.86% |
| 24 | Sacramento | CA | $142 | $123 | -13.38% |
| 25 | Aurora | CO | $129 | $112 | -13.18% |
| 26 | Memphis | TN | $166 | $145 | -12.65% |
| 27 | Irving | TX | $129 | $114 | -11.63% |
| 28 | Laredo | TX | $93 | $84 | -9.68% |
| 29 | Cleveland | OH | $171 | $155 | -9.36% |
| 30 | Winston–Salem | NC | $118 | $107 | -9.32% |
| 31 | Denver | CO | $181 | $166 | -8.29% |
| 32 | Houston | TX | $153 | $141 | -7.84% |
| 33 | Boise | ID | $118 | $110 | -6.78% |
| 34 | St. Petersburg | FL | $129 | $122 | -5.43% |
| 35 | Wichita | KS | $98 | $93 | -5.10% |
| 36 | Orlando | FL | $153 | $146 | -4.58% |
| 37 | Charlotte | NC | $149 | $144 | -3.36% |
| 38 | Saint Paul | MN | $120 | $116 | -3.33% |
| 39 | Toledo | OH | $105 | $102 | -2.86% |
| 40 | Kansas City | MS | $134 | $132 | -1.49% |
| 41 | Dallas | TX | $160 | $158 | -1.25% |
| 42 | Atlanta | GA | $174 | $173 | -0.57% |
| 43 | Milwaukee | WI | $140 | $140 | 0.00% |
| 44 | Tampa | FL | $134 | $135 | +0.75% |
| 45 | Los Angeles | CA | $194 | $197 | +1.55% |
| 46 | Irvine | CA | $149 | $152 | +2.01% |
| 47 | Durham | NC | $125 | $132 | +5.60% |
| 48 | Indianapolis | IN | $142 | $150 | +5.63% |
| 49 | Richmond | VA | $131 | $139 | +6.11% |
| 50 | Raleigh | NC | $123 | $132 | +7.32% |
| 51 | Colorado Springs | CO | $156 | $168 | +7.69% |
| 52 | Fort Worth | TX | $124 | $137 | +10.48% |
| 53 | Tucson | AZ | $111 | $123 | +10.81% |
| 54 | Riverside | CA | $150 | $167 | +11.33% |
| 55 | Omaha | NE | $110 | $125 | +13.64% |
| 56 | Buffalo | NY | $111 | $127 | +14.41% |
| 57 | Lincoln | NE | $94 | $109 | +15.96% |
| 58 | Arlington | TX | $126 | $147 | +16.67% |
| 59 | Madison | WI | $144 | $169 | +17.36% |
| 60 | Tulsa | OK | $102 | $120 | +17.65% |
| 61 | Columbus | OH | $133 | $158 | +18.80% |
| 62 | Anaheim | CA | $197 | $236 | +19.80% |
| 63 | Greensboro | NC | $109 | $131 | +20.18% |
| 64 | Oklahoma City | OK | $92 | $111 | +20.65% |
| 65 | Plano | TX | $125 | $152 | +21.60% |
| 66 | Baton Rouge | LA | $100 | $123 | +23.00% |
| 67 | Santa Clarita | CA | $151 | $189 | +25.17% |
| 68 | Lexington | KY | $116 | $147 | +26.72% |
| 69 | Cincinnati | OH | $140 | $180 | +28.57% |
| 70 | El Paso | TX | $99 | $129 | +30.30% |
| 71 | Jacksonville | FL | $114 | $154 | +35.09% |
| 72 | Long Beach | CA | $153 | $207 | +35.29% |
| 73 | Chesapeake | VA | $101 | $137 | +35.64% |
| 74 | Louisville | KY | $155 | $212 | +36.77% |
| 75 | Norfolk | VA | $120 | $165 | +37.50% |
| 76 | Bakersfield | CA | $96 | $138 | +43.75% |
| 77 | Albuquerque | NM | $98 | $142 | +44.90% |
| 78 | Lubbock | TX | $94 | $138 | +46.81% |
| 79 | Miami | FL | $143 | $218 | +52.45% |
| 80 | Santa Ana | CA | $114 | $176 | +54.39% |
| 81 | San Antonio | TX | $134 | $207 | +54.48% |
| 82 | Las Vegas | NV | $129 | $200 | +55.04% |
| 83 | Chula Vista | CA | $99 | $159 | +60.61% |
| 84 | Reno | NV | $124 | $205 | +65.32% |
| 85 | New Orleans | LA | $142 | $240 | +69.01% |
| 86 | Virginia Beach | VA | $136 | $238 | +75.00% |
| 87 | Nashville | TN | $204 | $384 | +88.24% |
| 88 | Mesa | AZ | $81 | $163 | +101.23% |
| 89 | Gilbert | AZ | $97 | $198 | +104.12% |
| 90 | San Diego | CA | $170 | $351 | +106.47% |
| 91 | Glendale | AZ | $127 | $295 | +132.28% |
| 92 | North Las Vegas | NV | $89 | $216 | +142.70% |
| 93 | Corpus Christi | TX | $108 | $275 | +154.63% |
| 94 | Henderson | NV | $115 | $296 | +157.39% |
| 95 | Garland | TX | $63 | $167 | +165.08% |
| 96 | Fresno | CA | $100 | $296 | +196.00% |
| 97 | Scottsdale | AZ | $196 | $595 | +203.57% |
| 98 | Chandler | AZ | $113 | $370 | +227.43% |
| 99 | Phoenix | AZ | $132 | $464 | +251.52% |
| 100 | Austin | TX | $174 | $618 | +255.17% |
Methodology
We used data from AllTheRooms to analyze the average daily rate of an Airbnb in each of the US’ 100 largest cities and compared this with the average daily rate of a hotel room from Kayak.
All data collected 13th October 2021.
More about our TFVG Author
A seasoned traveller, Dad, and avid sports tourist, James foundered The Family Vacation Guide to share his expert vacation experiences- especially when it comes to being a travelling family man.
Featured in Travel articles such as Travel + Leisure, TripSavvy and SFGate, you know you're reading some of the best vacation tips online.
- James Brockbankhttps://www.thefamilyvacationguide.com/author/james/
- James Brockbankhttps://www.thefamilyvacationguide.com/author/james/
- James Brockbankhttps://www.thefamilyvacationguide.com/author/james/
- James Brockbankhttps://www.thefamilyvacationguide.com/author/james/
