Hotel vs Airbnb Total Cost Calculator

Enter the nightly rates and every hidden extra for each option to see which stay is cheaper overall, including per-night and per-guest comparisons for transparent budgeting.

Length of the stay in nights.
Room rate before taxes and fees.
Combined tax, resort, or service percentage added to hotel bills.
Base nightly price for the rental.
Optional. Default $0 — one-time cleaning charge.
Optional. Default 12% service fee charged by the platform.
Optional. Default 0% — add city or state occupancy taxes.
Optional. Default $0 — parking, breakfast, or resort flat charges.
Optional. Default 1 guest — use to see per-person cost.

Prices fluctuate with season and availability. Confirm cancellation policies and taxes before booking.

Examples

  • 3 nights, hotel $180 + 14.75% tax, Airbnb $240 + $130 cleaning + 12% fee ⇒ Hotel total: $621.87 (per guest $310.94, per night $207.29) • Airbnb total: $918.40 (per guest $459.20, per night $306.13) • Hotel cheaper by $296.53 ($98.84 per night).
  • 5 nights NYC, hotel $290 with 14.75% tax + $35/night resort (entered as fixed $175), Airbnb $240 + $150 cleaning + 14% service + 4% tax split among 3 guests ⇒ Hotel total: $1,785.63 (per guest $595.21, per night $357.13) • Airbnb total: $1,574.40 (per guest $524.80, per night $314.88) • Airbnb cheaper by $211.23 ($42.25 per night).

FAQ

How do I factor loyalty points?

Estimate the value of the points earned and subtract it from the hotel total, or treat it as a negative fixed fee if you plan to redeem immediately.

What about refundable security deposits?

Exclude refundable deposits unless you expect to forfeit them—they are usually returned and should not affect the cost comparison.

Can I include shared costs like groceries?

Add them to the relevant fixed fee field (hotel or Airbnb) to incorporate into the per-guest comparison.

Additional Information

  • Some cities charge both hotel and short-term rental occupancy taxes—include them to compare apples to apples.
  • Cleaning fees are one-time, so longer stays dilute their impact relative to nightly rates.
  • Use the fixed hotel fees field for parking, resort fees, or paid breakfast packages not already in the nightly rate.

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