Hotel vs Vacation Rental Cost Calculator
Enter both options’ prices and fees to see which is really cheaper for your stay.
Your numbers
Your results
Hotel vs Vacation Rental Cost Calculator by TheCalcTools
How the Hotel vs Vacation Rental Cost Calculator works
Advertised nightly rates hide fees. Hotels often add resort or destination fees per night; rentals add a one-off cleaning fee and a platform service fee, and both add local taxes.
The cleaning fee is spread over the stay, so rentals look worse for short stays and better for longer ones. A kitchen can also save on meals, which you can enter as a nightly saving.
The formula
Worked example
Using the default values shown in the calculator:
| Nights | 5 |
|---|---|
| Hotel rate per night | $140 |
| Hotel resort or service fee per night | $20 |
| Hotel taxes | 14 % |
| Rental rate per night | $120 |
| Rental cleaning fee (one-off) | $90 |
| Rental service fee | 14 % |
| Rental taxes | 12 % |
| Food savings per night from a kitchen | $0 |
- 5 nights: hotel $912.00 ($182.40 a night) vs rental $880.99 ($176.20 a night).
- Vacation rental, by 31.01.
Result:
| Hotel total | $912.00 |
|---|---|
| Vacation rental total (after kitchen savings) | $880.99 |
| Hotel per night | $182.40 |
| Rental per night | $176.20 |
| Cheaper option | Vacation rental, by 31.01 |
| Nights at which the rental becomes cheaper | 4 nights or more |
Frequently asked questions
Is the service fee taxed?
It depends on the place. This calculator applies the tax to the subtotal including the service fee; check your booking’s breakdown.
What else should I compare?
Location and transport costs, parking, cancellation terms and how many beds and bathrooms you get.
Sources and further reading
Related calculators
More in Travel · All calculators
This calculator gives estimates for information only. Check important results independently before you rely on them. See our disclaimer.