Whether you’re planning a summer getaway, a business trip, or working remotely on a workcation, Airbnb has become a go-to option for short-term travel accommodations. And even though short-term rentals offer convenience, expenses for Airbnb rentals can quickly add up and bust your travel budget.
Between cleaning fees, service fees, and taxes, the daily rate for an Airbnb can easily soar to hundreds of dollars.
But which cities are the most expensive for Airbnb customers?
In order to find out, we analyzed data from more than 160,000 listings located within the largest cities across the country. Our analysis included the average daily rate for a rental in each city as well as the number of listings in each city per 100,000 residents.
Key findings
- Cities in California and Arizona dominate the list of the top 25 most expensive markets for Airbnb rentals. Overall, California is home to seven of the top 25 most expensive markets and Arizona is home to five.
- Oxnard, California; Scottsdale, Arizona and Austin, Texas are the top three most expensive cities to rent an Airbnb.
- Miami, Florida; Scottsdale, Arizona and St. Petersburg, Florida have the most active Airbnb listings per 100,000 residents.
Which cities have the most expensive Airbnb rentals?
When it comes to the priciest Airbnb rentals, look no further than California’s Pacific coast. An average night at an Airbnb in Oxnard, California will set travelers back nearly $500. A two-bedroom rental costs an average of $273, while a three-bedroom in Oxnard is $405.
Overall, several California cities are home to the most expensive Airbnb rentals, which probably isn’t much of a surprise considering the Golden State has some of the most expensive real estate in the country.
Other expensive Airbnb destinations within California include San Diego, which ranks 8th ($295), Santa Clarita, which ranks 9th ($292), and Huntington Beach, which ranks 10th ($287).
Arizona’s metro Phoenix area is also a hot spot for expensive Airbnb rentals. Scottsdale ranks 2nd ($394), while nearby Glendale ranks 12th ($282) and the city of Phoenix ranks 13th ($282).
Top five cities with the most expensive Airbnb rentals
#1. Oxnard, California
- Avg. Daily Rate: $488
- Avg. Rate for One Bedroom: $110
- Avg. Rate for Two Bedroom: $273
- Avg. Rate for Three Bedroom: $405
- Listings Per 100,000: 95
#2. Scottsdale, Arizona
- Avg. Daily Rate: $394
- Avg. Rate for One Bedroom: $114
- Avg. Rate for Two Bedroom: $151
- Avg. Rate for Three Bedroom: $264
- Listings Per 100,000: 1,370
#3. Austin, Texas
- Avg. Daily Rate: $373
- Avg. Rate for One Bedroom: $127
- Avg. Rate for Two Bedroom: $203
- Avg. Rate for Three Bedroom: $297
- Listings Per 100,000: 606
#4. Las Vegas, Nevada
- Avg. Daily Rate: $360
- Avg. Rate for One Bedroom: $106
- Avg. Rate for Two Bedroom: $187
- Avg. Rate for Three Bedroom: $221
- Listings Per 100,000: 801
#5. Honolulu, Hawaii
- Avg. Daily Rate: $315
- Avg. Rate for One Bedroom: $167
- Avg. Rate for Two Bedroom: $346
- Avg. Rate for Three Bedroom: $389
- Listings Per 100,000: 940
Cities with the most Airbnb listings
Along with analyzing the most expensive cities for Airbnb rentals, we also took a look at which cities offer the largest number of listings per 100,000 residents.
Overall, Miami tops the list of cities with the most active Airbnb listings. The city offers more than 1,400 Airbnb listings per 100,000.
Elsewhere, Scottsdale comes in at No. 2 with 1,369 listings, followed by St. Petersburg, Florida (1,274); Orlando, Florida (1,252) and New Orleans, Louisiana (1,035).
Airbnb can provide convenient accommodation but be sure to budget carefully depending on where you plan to stay. Remember to keep in mind that fees for cleaning as well as taxes can be tacked-on to the final cost and drive-up expenses.
When booking your trip, consider avoiding travel dates during major holidays and try staying outside of large tourist destinations in order to save on expenses.
Methodology
To determine our ranking, we analyzed more than 160,000 Airbnb cities in the most populated 115 census-defined places via the U.S. Census Bureau’s American Community Survey and Airbnb listing data. The average daily rate included listings for studios and up to five or more bedrooms. Data for the number of Airbnb listings in each city only includes active Airbnb listings as of April 2023.
Sources: Airbnb, U.S. Census Bureau’s American Community Survey
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