Hotel Cost vs Airbnb Calculator
Compare total trip cost between a hotel and an Airbnb (or VRBO), accounting for nightly rate, fees, taxes, and meal savings from a kitchen.
What is Hotel Cost vs Airbnb Calculator?
The hotel vs Airbnb calculator compares total stay cost between a hotel and short-term rental, accounting for taxes, cleaning fees, service fees, and meal savings from having a kitchen.
Formula
Hotel = nightly rate × nights × (1 + tax). Airbnb = (nightly rate × nights + cleaning) × (1 + service fee). Subtract daily meal savings from Airbnb total.
Worked example
5 nights, hotel $180/night × 1.15 tax = $1035. Airbnb $150 × 5 + $80 cleaning = $830 × 1.14 = $946. Minus $30/day kitchen savings × 5 = $796. Airbnb wins by $239.
How to use this calculator
- Enter both nightly rates and the number of nights.
- Add hotel tax % and Airbnb cleaning + service fee.
- Estimate daily meal savings from cooking some meals in the rental.
Frequently asked questions
How big are Airbnb cleaning fees?
Vary widely. $50–100 for typical rentals; $150–300 for larger or luxury properties. Some hosts charge no cleaning. Always factor it in for trips under 5 nights.
What's the typical Airbnb service fee?
14–16% in most markets, charged to the guest. Hosts also pay a small fee, usually 3%.
When does Airbnb beat a hotel?
Long stays (5+ nights), groups (2+ rooms), or family travel where a kitchen and washer/dryer reduce daily costs. Short solo trips often favor hotels.
Hotel reward points vs Airbnb?
Hotels earn loyalty points worth ~1¢ each. Airbnb has no points program. Heavy travelers may prefer hotels for elite-status benefits.