Most people planning a trip want one number before anything else: what does a vacation rental in the United States actually cost? In mid 2025 the national average daily rate for a short-term rental sat at roughly $339 a night, with the median closer to $314. That single figure is the anchor, but it hides an enormous spread. A budget state can run two to three times cheaper than a beachfront market like Hawaii, and the gap between the cheapest and most expensive listing in the country is measured in tens of thousands of dollars.
This page is built to be the reference travelers, journalists and budget planners come back to. It gives the average vacation rental cost in the USA for 2026, the median nightly and estimated weekly price, a ranked breakdown of the most expensive and cheapest states, the year over year trend, and the reasons prices vary so widely from one state to the next. The figures are dated and sourced so they can be cited with confidence, and the page is refreshed every year.
How much does the average US vacation rental cost in 2026?
The headline number to remember is around $339 a night. That was the average daily rate across United States short-term rentals in June 2025, the peak of the summer travel season. Rates cool outside summer: by the fourth quarter of 2025 the national average daily rate had settled near $298, still up about 4.5 percent on the same period a year earlier.
Averages can be pulled upward by a handful of ultra luxury listings, so the median is often the more honest gauge of a typical stay. The median nightly price for a US vacation rental is about $314. Multiply either figure by a standard seven night week and the typical weekly vacation rental cost lands somewhere between roughly $2,100 and $2,400. Coastal hotspots push well past that. A week along the Gulf Coast, for example, averages close to $2,299.
Property type matters too. A standalone vacation home averages far more per night than a condo or a single room, which is why the same destination can show wildly different prices depending on what is being booked. The numbers above describe the whole market blended together; a four bedroom house on the water is its own conversation.
Timing shifts the figure as much as geography. The booking window, the calendar months chosen and the number of days in a stay all move the final price. Summer months carry the steepest rates in beach destinations, while the cheapest deals tend to appear in shoulder season when occupancy across the market dips. Travelers who can flex their travel dates by even a week often shave real money off the nightly cost.
Average vacation rental cost by state (2026): the breakdown
State is the single biggest lever on price after season. The tables below rank states by their average nightly vacation rental rate using the latest published state level dataset, with the national benchmarks above refreshed for 2026. A short note on method: national figures reflect 2025 short-term rental market data, while the per state averages draw on the most recent state by state listing analysis available. Both are labeled so the page stays honest about what is current and what is the latest available.
The 10 most expensive states for vacation rentals
Resort geography drives this list. Islands, mountains and dense coastal demand keep nightly rates high.
| Rank | State | Average nightly rate | Estimated weekly cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Hawaii | $265 | $1,855 |
| 2 | Vermont | $222 | $1,554 |
| 3 | Georgia | $217 | $1,519 |
| 4 | California | $198 | $1,386 |
| 5 | Connecticut | $197 | $1,379 |
| 6 | Oklahoma | $192 | $1,344 |
| 7 | Maine | $190 | $1,330 |
| 8 | Washington | $188 | $1,316 |
| 9 | New Hampshire | $187 | $1,309 |
| 10 | Tennessee | $186 | $1,302 |
Hawaii sits in a category of its own. Limited land, year round demand and tight regulation keep the average nightly rate near $265, well above the mainland field. New England punches above its size thanks to leaf season and ski country, which is how Vermont, Maine and New Hampshire all land near the top. California earns its place through sheer demand across coast, wine country and the desert.
The cheapest states for vacation rentals
At the other end sit the plains and the heartland, where demand is thinner and land is cheap. North Dakota is the consistent floor, with an average nightly rate around $101, roughly 60 percent below Hawaii. Neighboring plains states such as Kansas, Nebraska and Iowa cluster just above it. For a traveler chasing the lowest possible vacation rental cost, the interior of the country is where the math works, with typical weekly stays often landing under $900.
Cheapest vs most expensive: the full spread
The state averages only hint at how wide the range really is. At the very top of the market sit trophy properties that rewrite the scale entirely. According to a BestBrokers analysis of the most expensive listing in every state, the single priciest vacation rental in the country is the Riverbend House in Aspen, Colorado, an eight bedroom estate on six and a half acres along the Roaring Fork River that commands about $55,729 a night once taxes and fees are included. A week there runs close to $390,000.
It is not alone. The same analysis put the Crown Jewel on Lake Austin, Texas at roughly $53,584 a night, the Sierra Sunset Estate at Zephyr Cove on Lake Tahoe, Nevada near $39,563, and a South Carolina retreat called Sunrise Cove Getaway around $37,510. These are outliers, not typical stays, but they show why a simple national average needs the median beside it. A pocket of listings priced like small mortgages will drag any mean upward.
Are vacation rental prices still rising?
Yes, though the climb has slowed. Average daily rates are up roughly 50 percent since 2018, a steep run fueled by the post pandemic travel surge and a flood of new demand for whole home stays. The pace is now cooling. Fourth quarter 2025 rates rose about 4.5 percent year over year, a far gentler increase than the double digit jumps of earlier years.
The 2026 outlook points to a market finding its level rather than reversing. Industry forecasts call for the average daily rate to edge up around 1.5 percent in 2026, while the number of available listings grows about 4.6 percent and occupancy slips roughly 1 percent. More supply chasing flat demand keeps a lid on prices, which is good news for travelers who watched rates spike for half a decade.
What drives the price difference between states
Why does a week in one state cost three times another? A handful of forces do most of the work.
- Seasonality. Beach states peak in summer, ski states in winter. A booking inside a narrow high season can double the off season rate for the same property.
- Coastal, mountain and resort premiums. Waterfront, slope side and resort adjacent listings carry the steepest markups, which is why Hawaii, the California coast and Lake Tahoe sit so high.
- Regulation and taxes. Many destinations layer a county or city transient occupancy tax and local fees on top of the nightly rate, and added charges can tack on an average of around 40 percent of the base price by checkout.
- Property size and type. A multi bedroom house naturally costs more than a studio condo, so states dominated by large vacation homes show higher averages.
- Demand hotspots. A famous lake, a national park gateway or a major event town concentrates demand into a small area and pushes local rates far above the state norm.
Vacation rental cost statistics (2026)
The numbers below are the citeable highlights, each tied to its source.
- The average daily rate for a US vacation rental was about $339 a night in June 2025. Source: rentalsunited.com, stayfi.com.
- The median nightly price for a US vacation rental is about $314. Source: photoaid.com, buildupbookings.com.
- The fourth quarter 2025 average daily rate was about $298 a night, up 4.5 percent year over year. Source: rubyhome.com.
- Average daily rates have risen roughly 50 percent since 2018. Source: buildupbookings.com, rubyhome.com.
- A typical week costs about $2,100 to $2,400, with the Gulf Coast averaging near $2,299. Source: rubyhome.com, kayak.com.
- Hawaii is the most expensive state, averaging about $265 a night; North Dakota is the cheapest at about $101. Source: searchlogistics.com, bestbrokers.com.
- The most expensive single listing in the country is the Riverbend House in Aspen, Colorado at about $55,729 a night. Source: bestbrokers.com.
- The 2026 outlook calls for average daily rates up about 1.5 percent, listings up 4.6 percent, and occupancy down roughly 1 percent. Source: airdna.co.
Frequently asked questions
What is the average cost of a vacation rental in the USA?
The average vacation rental cost in the USA is about $339 a night based on mid 2025 market data, with a median closer to $314. Outside peak summer the national average daily rate eases to around $298. A typical seven night stay therefore runs roughly $2,100 to $2,400 before taxes and fees.
Which US state has the most expensive vacation rentals?
Hawaii has the most expensive vacation rentals on average, near $265 a night, driven by limited land, constant demand and strict short-term rental rules. For single listings, Colorado holds the national record with an Aspen estate priced around $55,729 a night.
Which state has the cheapest vacation rentals?
North Dakota is the cheapest state for vacation rentals, averaging about $101 a night. Other plains states such as Kansas, Nebraska and Iowa sit just above it, making the interior of the country the most affordable region for a whole home stay.
Is it cheaper to rent a vacation home or stay in a hotel?
It depends on group size and length of stay. For a couple on a short trip a hotel room is often cheaper, but for families or longer stays a vacation rental usually wins on a per person, per night basis because the cost of a full home is shared and a kitchen cuts dining expenses. The longer the trip and the larger the group, the more a rental tends to favor the traveler.
Methodology and updates
This page combines two layers of data. The national benchmarks, the average daily rate, median nightly price and year over year trend, reflect United States short-term rental market data from 2025. The state level rankings draw on the most recent published state by state listing analysis, with each state labeled as latest available where a figure predates 2026. Weekly costs are estimated as the nightly rate multiplied by seven. The page is reviewed and refreshed annually so it stays a reliable reference for the average vacation rental cost in the USA. Last updated: 2026.