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It may seem counterintuitive, but booking a longer Airbnb stay could save you money.
The vacation rental platform makes it easy for hosts to apply discounts for longer stays, typically of a week or longer.
The median nightly rate for a seven-night Airbnb stay is about 18% cheaper than the nightly rate for a one-night stay, according to data provided to NerdWallet by the short-term rental analytics firm AirDNA. Stick around for a month to bring your nightly rate even lower — a 43% discount for committing to 30 days versus just one.
AirDNA provided NerdWallet with data looking at Airbnb pricing for nearly 2 million nights in the U.S. across various factors, including the length of stay (one day, seven days or 30 days). The March 2026 dataset focused on median nightly rates (excluding taxes and fees) for “entire place” properties in the U.S. from March 2025 through February 2026.
Here’s what the data showed.
| Median price per night in major U.S. metros (1 bedroom) | Percent cheaper per night versus 1-night stay | |
|---|---|---|
| 1-night stay | $164. | N/A. |
| 7-night stay | $134. | 18%. |
| 30-night stay | $94. | 43%. |
Long-term stay discounts vary by city
Some cities offer even bigger discounts for long-term stays. In Austin, Texas, 30-day trips come out 47% cheaper per night versus staying in the same rental for just one night. Weekly stays are 22% cheaper per night than one-night stays. Keep in mind these numbers are calculated using median nightly rates, and individual properties will differ.
Other cities that offer larger discounts for weeklong stays include Atlanta (22% cheaper) and Houston (21% cheaper). For monthlong stays, Los Angeles (46% cheaper) and St. Petersburg, Florida (43% cheaper), are good options as well.
Not all cities offer such deep discounts or any discounts at all. In San Diego, seven-night stays were 20% more expensive than a one-night stay. However, monthlong stays still offer a 29% discount.
In the Phoenix area, weeklong Airbnb stays were 18% more expensive, but monthlong stays were 30% cheaper.
Other factors that make Airbnbs cheaper per-night for long stays
Airbnb host discounts are the main reason long-term stays are cheaper than one-day stays on a per-night basis — but they’re not the only one.
Lower per-night cleaning fees
Most Airbnbs charge cleaning fees, and while these vary by property, some can be pretty hefty. These one-off fees are intended to cover the extra expenses hosts incur when resetting homes between guests, such as washing sheets and towels, or vacuuming up the crumbs left behind.
Few Airbnbs will clean your rental mid-stay, so cleaning fees are usually only charged once and are the same price no matter the length of your stay. A $30 cleaning fee amortized over 30 nights is just $1 per night. But a $30 cleaning fee on a one-night stay is still $30, which is why it’s more economical to stay in an Airbnb for more than one night.
Fewer (or no) taxes
Some cities don't charge taxes for longer stays, or they tax extended stays at a lower rate than shorter stays. For example, while Austin charges an 11% hotel occupancy tax (on top of the state’s 6% tax), it considers people who stay in one place for 30 days or more to be permanent residents, at which point the hotel occupancy tax does not apply.
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Staying in one place can save money
Whether you’re staying in an Airbnb or not, there are plenty of other ways that longer trips can be more affordable than you think.
- You might be more likely to buy groceries for long stays, saving money on dining out.
- You won’t be moving suitcases between various lodgings, cutting down on how often you'll need to tip cab drivers and bellhops. (Plus, you'll save time by not having to pack up for a new place every night.)
And then there’s the feeling that money can’t buy: slow travel. Stay in one place and you’ll live like a local, wandering off the beaten path. There’s a better chance you’ll meet new friends on the road and make memories other than waiting in line to check in and out of hotels.
How to maximize your rewards
You want a travel credit card that prioritizes what’s important to you. Here are some of the best travel credit cards of 2026:
- Flexibility, point transfers and a large bonus: Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card
- No annual fee: Wells Fargo Autograph® Card
- Flat-rate travel rewards: Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card
- Bonus travel rewards and high-end perks: Chase Sapphire Reserve®
- Luxury perks: American Express Platinum Card®
- Business travelers: Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card
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