Hint: New York is not #1. If you’re traveling to any of these 10 US cities, be careful before booking your hotel room.
New Orleans, Louisiana
Visiting what Americans call the “Big Easy” – because of its relaxed lifestyle – could hurt your wallet. According to 2017 data provided by hotels.com, a hotel room will cost you an average of $193 per night.
Fortunately, hosting isn’t everything. Despite higher-than-average room costs, New Orleans remains one of the most affordable destinations, according to Money Crashers, thanks to cheap public transit, walkable architectural tours ( and therefore, free), and the strong presence of street artists who entertain you for next to nothing.
JOSE L. STEPHENS/SHUTTERSTOCK
Seattle, Washington
Home to tech giants Microsoft and Amazon, a multinational coffee house (hello, Starbucks), and hipsters, it’s no wonder Seattle is one of the cities with the most expensive hotels.
A night there costs an average of $197. And you might also have to think twice before relaxing over a pint of craft beer – the “Emerald City” is the most expensive beer and wine in the United States, according to WalletHub.
Los Angeles, California
Given the fascination of Hollywood and Beverly Hills, Los Angeles is unsurprisingly one of the most popular cities. A room will cost you an average of $198 per night. And since the cost of public transport is very high there and the car is essential, you will also have to devote part of your budget to Uber.
Nashville, Tennessee
In 2017, it was Nashville that saw the biggest rise in the cost of living in the United States, and it seems that accommodation costs have not been spared. A stay in Music City costs around $199 a night, making it the most expensive city in the South for a hotel stay.
Chicago, Illinois
This is where we hit the $200 mark: A one-night stay in the Windy City will set you back around $201, according to data from hotels.com. Fortunately, you can save money during your stay by taking the Chicago Riverwalk, which runs along the Chicago River, to admire the breathtaking architecture of the city on foot.
Honolulu, Hawaii
Fleeing the continent to take refuge in this little corner of paradise could cost you dearly! Even from the west coast, it’s a long-haul flight – Vancouver or Los Angeles are actually closer to New York than Honolulu – and the cheapest tickets are around $450. If you add in the rooms at $216 on average per night, this tourist destination will hurt your wallet, even once you land.
Washington, D.C.
Congress isn’t the only one tightening the budget — you might have to scrape funds from drawers to afford a trip to Washington. Visiting the American capital will cost you around $218 per night. On the positive side, however, its biggest tourist attractions, such as the monuments of the National Mall and the museums of the Smithsonian, are free, which will put a little balm on your accommodation expenses.
San Francisco, California
If you want to visit the Golden Gate Bridge, you better have your own gold stash because accommodation there is not cheap. San Francisco’s rental market is known to be the most expensive in America, so it’s no surprise that the city ranks third in accommodation costs.
According to data from hotels.com, hotel rooms sell for around $231, which does not prevent it from welcoming some three million visitors each year.
New York, New York
In the city that never sleeps, laying your head on a pillow might cause you to lose a few feathers! New York attracts over 13 million tourists each year, making it the most visited city in the country. And hotel prices reflect this high demand: a single night in the Big Apple will cost you an average of $258. New York is also home to the most expensive hotel in America, the Mark Hotel, whose finest suite rents for $75,000 a night.
Boston, Massachusetts
Chances are you didn’t see our #1 coming. Boston may not be the biggest city in the country, but that’s precisely what drives its prices sky high, according to the Boston Globe.
In this modest-sized city whose expansion is limited by water, real estate can become very expensive. Plus, as a college town, it’s a year-round attraction for parents, alumni, and scholars, not to mention anyone who just wants to check out some fascinating sites in this birthplace of the United States.
The average cost of a hotel room is just over twice that of a hotel room nationwide: $267 a night.
