Las Vegas tops the list as the most expensive city for overnight stays, driven primarily by the highest food and beverage costs among all cities.
A recent study by Slot.Day revealed the most expensive U.S. cities for a one-night stay by analysing key cost factors in the 30 cities with the highest number of overseas visitors. The study assessed accommodation costs, including the average price of a one-night stay in a hotel or hostel, as well as meal expenses for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Transportation costs were measured using the price of a one-way public transport ticket, and safety was factored inversely, assuming that lower safety levels could lead to additional precautionary expenses. Finally, the cities were ranked in descending order based on their expense score to determine the priciest destinations for a single-night stay.
Las Vegas is the most expensive city for a night with a score of 100, driven primarily by the highest food and beverage costs among all cities at $29.17—over 22% higher than second-placed West Palm Beach. The entertainment capital maintains moderately priced accommodations at $158 per night while offering mid-range safety ratings, creating an expensive yet accessible overnight experience for visitors.
West Palm Beach comes in 2nd with a score of 98, featuring the most expensive accommodation costs at $234 per night—48% higher than Las Vegas. The Florida destination also has the costliest public transportation at $5 per one-way ticket, nearly double Las Vegas’s $2.79 fare, making it the most infrastructure-expensive city on the list.
Orlando holds the 3rd position with a score of 72, balancing mid-range accommodation costs ($154) with the third-highest food and beverage expenses ($23.75). Its safety score of 50.4 surpasses both higher-ranked cities, offering better security for nearly 30% less overall cost.
Los Angeles secures 4th place with a score of 70, offering the most affordable accommodations among the top 10 at $138 per night. The city presents travellers with competitive food costs and the cheapest public transportation at just $1.88 per ride, although its middling safety score of 46.2 impacts its overall position on the list.
Honolulu takes 5th place with a score of 68.1, featuring the third most expensive accommodation rates at $183 per night. The Hawaiian capital offers above-average safety ratings and relatively moderate food costs, though its public transportation costs are second highest at $4 per ride, reflecting the island’s premium pricing structure.
New York ranks 6th with a score of 68, narrowly behind Honolulu by just 0.1 points. The Big Apple charges $175 for accommodation with moderate food costs of $19.21, balancing these expenses with decent safety ratings and typical public transportation costs despite being the largest city on the list.
Chicago is positioned 7th with a score of 65, featuring the second-highest accommodation cost ($198)—84% of West Palm Beach’s rate. Surprisingly, Chicago offers the lowest food expenses ($18.26) of any top city, 37% less than Las Vegas’s leading $29.17, though this is offset by the poorest safety rating (33.9).
Boston occupies 8th place with a score of 57, with the highest safety rating (60.2)—42% higher than Chicago. Its accommodation cost ($166) sits in the middle range, while its food expenses match Chicago’s economy-tier pricing, making it the safest value among all cities analysed.
Buffalo claims the 9th spot with a score of 56, with mid-range accommodation costs ($155) nearly identical to Las Vegas and Orlando. Surprisingly, Buffalo’s food costs ($20.79) exceed those of higher-placed cities like New York, Honolulu, Boston, and Chicago, although its safety rating (51.4) surpasses six of the higher-ranked cities, including Las Vegas and West Palm Beach.
Phoenix completes the list at 10th with a score of 50, with the second most affordable accommodation rates ($144)—only higher than Los Angeles. Its metrics generally sit at the middle of the range for all categories, with food costs higher than Chicago and Boston but lower than Las Vegas and Orlando.
A spokesperson from Slot.Day commented on the study: “There are some surprising patterns across American urban centres, where entertainment value often outweighs basic infrastructure costs in determining overall prices. Food and beverage spending creates bigger price differences than accommodation costs in top-ranked destinations, while public transportation pricing varies dramatically across similarly sized urban areas. Most telling is the disconnect between safety ratings and total costs, suggesting travelers prioritize experience over security when budgeting for overnight stays in major tourism destinations.