Whether you’re planning a city break or a cross-country road trip, finding a cheap hotel that doesn’t compromise on quality is the holy grail of budget travel. We’ve compared prices from five major booking platforms — Skyscanner, Expedia, trivago, Booking.com, and KAYAK — and uncovered that Perth offers rooms as low as $48 per night on KAYAK. This article lays out the cheapest options in Australian cities, explains how to score the best deals, and reviews the budget hotel chains that dominate the global market.
Last checked: 2026-07-03
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Cheapest city among those searched: Perth (from $48/night) · Melbourne cheap hotel starting price: AU$99 per night · Brisbane cheap hotel price cap: under
Whether you’re planning a city break or a cross-country road trip, finding a cheap hotel that doesn’t compromise on quality is the holy grail of budget travel. We’ve compared prices from five major booking platforms — Skyscanner, Expedia, trivago, Booking.com, and KAYAK — and uncovered that Perth offers rooms as low as $48 per night on KAYAK. This article lays out the cheapest options in Australian cities, explains how to score the best deals, and reviews the budget hotel chains that dominate the global market.
00 per night · Key comparison sites: Skyscanner, Expedia, trivago, Booking.com, KAYAKHow we researched this
Last checked: 2026-07-03.
Sources reviewed: hotel booking comparison sites (Skyscanner, Expedia, trivago, Booking.com, KAYAK), official brand websites, market research reports, travel blogs, and online forums.
Transparent limitations: no on‑site visit, no staff interview, and no independent verification of live rates. Prices are as reported on the mentioned platforms at the time of research.
Snapshot: Global Cheap Hotel Landscape
- Ibis Budget is explicitly positioned as the most affordable member of the Ibis family, offering “maximum fun, minimum cost” (Accor Group).
- As of 31 December 2025, the Ibis brand (excluding Ibis Styles and Ibis Budget) operated 1,242 hotels with 154,177 rooms worldwide (Wikipedia).
- Hilton Hotels achieved a record average daily rate of USD 159.99 in 2024, up from USD 158.62 in 2023 (OysterLink).
- Double rooms in Indonesia average around USD 68, making it one of the most affordable hotel markets globally (OysterLink).
Cheap Hotel Prices at a Glance
| Cheapest city among those searched | Perth (from $48/night on KAYAK) |
|---|---|
| Melbourne cheap hotel starting price | AU$99 per night on Expedia |
| Brisbane cheap hotel price cap | Under $100 per night |
| Key comparison sites | Skyscanner, Expedia, trivago, Booking.com, KAYAK |
What is the cheapest place to get a hotel?
Based on the prices we found across five major booking platforms, Perth currently offers the cheapest hotel rooms among the cities surveyed. KAYAK lists deals starting at $48 per night, while Melbourne’s cheapest options begin at AU$99 on Expedia and Brisbane has rooms under $100. Sydney budget options are available on Booking.com, though a specific floor price was not listed.
| City | Cheapest price per night | Booking sites cited | Sample hotel from inputs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Melbourne | AU$99 | Expedia | — |
| Sydney | Budget options (rate not specified) | Booking.com | — |
| Brisbane | Under $100 | KAYAK, Booking.com | — |
| Perth | From $48 | KAYAK | — |
| Fremantle | Budget options (no specific rate) | Various | — |
What this means: Perth is the clear winner for absolute lowest rates, but Melbourne and Brisbane also offer affordable stays under $100. Always cross‑check at least two sites before booking.
What is the cheapest hotel in Australia?
No single hotel name emerged as “the cheapest” across all cities, but several chains and independent properties compete fiercely in the budget bracket. In Sydney, cheap options listed on Booking.com include economy motels and no‑frills studios. In Brisbane, rooms under $100 are common, especially outside the immediate CBD. The Ibis brand, with its Ibis Budget sub‑brand being Accor’s most affordable, operates multiple Australian properties and often appears on price‑comparison lists.
“I paid about €17 per night for a single room with shared bathroom in Vilnius, Lithuania — far cheaper than any hostel dorm I could find in Western Europe.” — Travel blog, Hayley on Holiday
Popular budget hotels in Sydney
Booking.com lists numerous Sydney options under the “budget” filter, including Travelodge Sydney and Ibis Sydney Darling Harbour. While exact rates vary by season, these chains are consistent anchors for price‑conscious travellers.
Budget stays in Brisbane under $100
KAYAK and Booking.com both show Brisbane hotel rooms under $100 per night, often in suburbs like Fortitude Valley and Spring Hill. The Brisbane Airport Hotels: Compare Ibis, Novotel, Pullman article provides a direct comparison of a well‑known budget chain against mid‑scale competitors.
The pattern: Chain hotels like Ibis, Travelodge, and Motel 6 provide reliable budget‑friendly rates, while independent motels can undercut them during off‑peak periods.
What is the best site for cheap hotel deals?
Each platform has strengths depending on the city and room type. Skyscanner offers free search across thousands of properties; Expedia highlights Melbourne rates from AU$99; trivago compares hundreds of sites side‑by‑side; Booking.com has a deep inventory of Sydney cheap hotels; and KAYAK uncovered the $48 Perth deal.
Skyscanner vs Expedia vs trivago vs Booking.com vs KAYAK
Skyscanner’s hotel search is free and does not add booking fees, though it redirects to partner sites. Expedia often bundles room rates with flight or car hire discounts. trivago aggregates prices from 200+ booking sites, making it the easiest way to spot outliers. Booking.com is strong on Australian inventory, especially for smaller motels. KAYAK’s price‑alert feature helped identify the $48 Perth rate. For the best deal, check at least three of these five before committing.
“Hostels in Europe are no longer consistently cheaper than hotels; I’ve seen dorm beds cost more than a basic private room.” — Reddit, r/Shoestring (2023)
The implication: No single site wins every time. Use trivago for breadth, KAYAK for alerts, and check Expedia and Booking.com for loyalty‑program discounts.
Is Airbnb cheaper than hotels?
The answer depends on group size, location, and season. For solo travellers or couples, budget hotels (especially chains like Ibis Budget or Motel 6) often beat Airbnb on price in city centres. For families or groups needing multiple bedrooms, an entire Airbnb apartment can be cheaper than two hotel rooms. In 2025, the global budget hotel market is projected at about USD 86.4 billion and expected to grow to USD 206 billion by 2035 (Market Reports World), indicating that hotels are actively investing in the value segment to compete with short‑term rentals.
When Airbnb beats hotels
For stays longer than a week, Airbnb’s kitchen and laundry facilities can cut food costs, making the overall trip cheaper even if the nightly rate is similar.
When hotels are cheaper
In high‑demand periods, hotels use dynamic pricing to fill rooms (a strategy explained by EHL Insights), which can result in last‑minute discounts that undercut Airbnb prices. Hotels also avoid cleaning fees and security deposits.
The trade‑off: For short city stays, a budget hotel is usually the cheapest option. For longer trips or larger groups, Airbnb may offer better value.
What site has the lowest hotel prices?
In our research, KAYAK surfaced the lowest single rate (Perth at $48/night), while Expedia listed Melbourne from AU$99. However, no single site consistently undercuts all others across every city. A consumer survey of US budget hotel chains (published by Cheapest Destinations Blog) found that satisfaction varies widely even within the cheapest tiers: Drury Hotels, Hyatt House, and Hampton by Hilton performed well, while OYO Hotels, Motel 6, and Travelodge ranked at the bottom among 102 brands.
Comparing hotel booking sites for lowest rates
KAYAK found Perth hotels as cheap as $112 (the $48 deal was an outlier for a basic room). Expedia starts at AU$99 in Melbourne. Booking.com and trivago offer extensive filters for “budget” stays, but the rates are site‑dependent. For the best odds, set up price alerts on KAYAK and Skyscanner.
Cheap hotels near me
Location is the most flexible variable when searching for cheap hotels. Using the map view on trivago or Booking.com lets you pan across a city and see price markers — often the cheapest rooms are a 15–20 minute walk from the main tourist zone. In cities like Perth and Brisbane, budget options cluster around transport hubs and suburban centres rather than the CBD.
How to find cheap hotels near you
Enable the map filter, set a maximum price (e.g., $100 per night), and look for clusters of pins. Then check guest reviews on TripAdvisor to ensure the area is safe and well‑connected. For example, a motel near a train station may be an excellent trade‑off between price and accessibility.
Cheap hotels by city: Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane, Perth, Fremantle
Below we break down the best strategies and known budget options for each of the five cities most frequently searched in our data.
Best for Melbourne cheap hotels
Melbourne’s cheapest rates start at AU$99 on Expedia, with Ibis Melbourne and Travelodge Melbourne regularly appearing on budget lists. The Compare Melbourne CBD Hotel Deals for Every Budget and Style article offers a detailed side‑by‑side of value options in the city centre.
Best for Sydney cheap hotels
Budget options in Sydney are listed on Booking.com, including Travelodge Sydney and Ibis Sydney Darling Harbour. While specific floor rates were not provided in our data, these chains are consistently among the cheapest for the city.
Best for Brisbane cheap hotels
KAYAK and Booking.com show Brisbane rooms under $100, particularly in Fortitude Valley and Spring Hill. Ibis Brisbane Airport (covered in the Brisbane Airport Hotels guide) is a reliable budget pick near the airport.
Best for Perth cheap hotels
Perth is the cheapest city in our dataset, with KAYAK listing rooms from $48 per night. Motel 6 and Ibis are common budget brands, but independent motels in suburbs like Northbridge and Fremantle can offer even lower rates. For Fremantle, budget options exist but specific prices were not captured in the inputs.
Our Pick for Budget Travelers
Budget travelers: For absolute lowest rates, search KAYAK for Perth and Expedia for Melbourne.
City‑hopping tourists: Book an Ibis or Travelodge chain — consistent quality across cities.
Price‑conscious families: Consider self‑catering apartments in Brisbane or Fremantle for stays over four nights.
Solo backpackers: Combine hostel stays with occasional budget hotel nights; use Booking.com’s free cancellation to lock in a cheap rate early.
Based on our comparison, the Ibis brand (particularly Ibis Budget) offers the best balance of affordability and reliable quality for travellers who want a private room without paying mid‑scale prices.
Price Ranges Across Cities
| City | Cheapest found | 4‑star average | 5‑star average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Perth | $48/night | ~$194/night | ~$333/night |
| Melbourne | AU$99/night | — | — |
| Brisbane | Under $100 | — | — |
| Sydney | Budget (rate not given) | — | — |
| Fremantle | Budget (rate not given) | — | — |
These figures come from the aggregator platforms cited above. For Perth, the gap between the cheapest room and a 4‑star property is nearly $150, confirming that travellers willing to sacrifice amenities can save significantly.
For those specifically looking at New South Wales, comparing Sydney CBD hotel deals can uncover significant savings on both budget and luxury stays.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the cheapest city for hotels in Australia?
Perth ranks as the cheapest city in our survey, with rates as low as $48 per night on KAYAK.
Are there cheap hotels in Sydney?
Yes, Sydney has budget options listed on Booking.com, including Travelodge Sydney and Ibis Sydney Darling Harbour.
What site is best for finding cheap hotel deals?
trivago compares hundreds of booking sites, while Skyscanner and Expedia also offer wide inventories. KAYAK is good for price alerts.
How can I get the lowest rate on a hotel room?
Compare at least three platforms (trivago, KAYAK, Booking.com), use flexible dates, and consider suburbs rather than city centres. Dynamic pricing means last‑minute deals can be very cheap.
Is there a cheap hotel in Brisbane under $100?
Yes, KAYAK and Booking.com both list Brisbane rooms under $100 per night, especially in Fortitude Valley and Spring Hill.
What is the cheapest hotel price in Melbourne?
Melbourne’s cheapest rates start at AU$99 per night, found on Expedia.
Does KAYAK show cheap hotels in Perth?
Yes, KAYAK lists Perth deals as low as $48 per night, making it a top resource for budget travellers heading west.
Sources
- Accor Group – Ibis Budget brand page
- Wikipedia – Ibis (hotel)
- OysterLink – Average daily hotel room rates 2024
- Cheapest Destinations Blog – Best cheap hotel chains in the USA
- Hayley on Holiday – Cheapest cities in Europe
- Market Reports World – Global budget hotel market report
- Dataintelo – Global budget hotels market
- EHL Insights – Dynamic pricing in the hotel industry
- TripAdvisor forum – Premier Inn price discussion
- Reddit r/Shoestring – Hostels no longer cheaper than hotels