Accommodation is usually your second-biggest cost after flights, and the one with the widest range — a dorm bed, a mid-range hotel and a beachfront resort in the same city can differ tenfold. So the real question isn't "what's cheapest?" but "what gives me the most for this trip?"
Match the stay to the trip, not the other way round
The biggest accommodation mistake is picking a type out of habit. Someone who always books hotels overpays on a two-week family trip where a rental with a kitchen would have been cheaper and roomier; a couple who default to the cheapest hostel dorm end up paying for two private-room upgrades that cost more than a small hotel. The type that's "best value" genuinely changes with who you're travelling with, how long you're staying, and what you want from the place.
Which type suits which trip
- Hostel — cheapest, social, great solo or for backpackers. Private rooms exist if dorms aren't your thing, though for two people they often cost as much as a budget hotel.
- Hotel — reliable and easy, daily housekeeping, good when you just want to drop your bags and go. Best for short city stays where you're out most of the day.
- Airbnb / rental — best for groups, families and longer stays. A kitchen and separate space cut food and laundry costs and earn their keep the longer you stay.
- Resort — priciest per night, but on a switch-off beach holiday the pool, the food and not having to leave can be the entire point. Value depends on how much you'll actually use it.
Compare the totals
Type aside, the only way to compare fairly is over your whole stay, not per night. Drop your rough nightly prices in below and it sorts them by total cost and flags the best value.
Compare your options → totals over your whole stay
Enter your own quoted prices — the totals are only as real as the nightly rates you put in.
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The catch with the cheapest
A bargain far from the centre can cost you the saving back in transfers and time — a "cheap" room an hour out, with a daily taxi or two, often ends up dearer than a pricier central one. Before you decide on the nightly rate alone, weigh location, free cancellation, and what's actually included: breakfast, a kitchen, towels and Wi-Fi can all tilt the real cost. The headline price is the start of the comparison, not the end of it.
Go deeper
Questions
Is a hostel or Airbnb cheaper?
Solo, a hostel dorm usually wins. For two or more, an Airbnb or rental split between you often beats hostel private rooms — and adds a kitchen. Run both through the comparison above.
Does a kitchen really save money?
Over a longer stay, a lot — breakfast and a few self-cooked meals add up fast, especially in pricey countries. It's a big reason rentals win for families and long trips.
Should I always pick the cheapest?
No — weigh location, what's included and cancellation flexibility. A cheap room an hour out can cost more in transfers and lost time than a pricier central one.
Nightly prices vary hugely by destination, season and how far ahead you book. Figures here are whatever you enter — always check current prices for your dates. A planning aid, not financial advice.