How do I do a cheap San Diego trip, and where are the cheap motels?
Stay at a Hotel Circle, airport or South Bay motel (often $60–$90 a night off-season) or a hostel, visit in winter, skip the rental car, and lean on free beaches, Balboa Park and sunsets.
- Budget motel
- $60–$90
- Cheapest months
- Sept, Dec–Feb
- Hotel tax
- 10.5–12.5%
- Free sights
- Plenty
Off-season, with taxes
Plus tourism fees
Beaches, parks, sunsets
The short version
- Motel 6 locations in Mission Valley, downtown, the airport area and South Bay listed $60 to $90 a night with taxes on winter dates.
- Hotel Circle motels sit beside the trolley's Green Line, so you can skip the car.
- Prices bottom out in winter and September; summer weekends cost far more.
- San Diego adds a 10.5% to 12.5% hotel tax, so compare totals, not nightly rates.
- Beaches, Balboa Park gardens, La Jolla's sea lions and sunset spots are all free.
San Diego is pricey in summer but very doable on a budget the rest of the year. The big three costs are your room, your car and paid attractions, and you can cut all three.
Where to sleep cheaply
Budget areas compared
| Hotel Circle / Mission Valley | Airport / Point Loma | South Bay / Chula Vista | Hostels | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Typical budget price | ~$75–$95 | ~$60–$80 | ~$60–$75 | Dorm beds, often well under a motel |
| Getting around | Trolley Green Line | Bus 923, near airport | Trolley Blue Line | Downtown, OB, PB |
| Best for | Central base, Old Town, stadium | Short trips, Liberty Station | Lowest prices, border trips | Solo travelers |
| Trade-off | Freeway noise | Few dining options | 20 min from downtown | Shared rooms |
Hotel Circle / Mission Valley
- Typical budget price
- ~$75–$95
- Getting around
- Trolley Green Line
- Best for
- Central base, Old Town, stadium
- Trade-off
- Freeway noise
Airport / Point Loma
- Typical budget price
- ~$60–$80
- Getting around
- Bus 923, near airport
- Best for
- Short trips, Liberty Station
- Trade-off
- Few dining options
South Bay / Chula Vista
- Typical budget price
- ~$60–$75
- Getting around
- Trolley Blue Line
- Best for
- Lowest prices, border trips
- Trade-off
- 20 min from downtown
Hostels
- Typical budget price
- Dorm beds, often well under a motel
- Getting around
- Downtown, OB, PB
- Best for
- Solo travelers
- Trade-off
- Shared rooms
| Example motel | Area | Listed price (with taxes) |
|---|---|---|
| Motel 6 Downtown | Cortez Hill | $70–$90 |
| Motel 6 Airport–Harbor | Near SAN | ~$70 |
| Motel 6 Hotel Circle | Mission Valley | $84–$93 |
| Motel 6 Southbay | Nestor | ~$81 |
| Motel 6 San Ysidro | Border | ~$74–$76 |
Motel 6 Downtown
- Area
- Cortez Hill
- Listed price (with taxes)
- $70–$90
Motel 6 Airport–Harbor
- Area
- Near SAN
- Listed price (with taxes)
- ~$70
Motel 6 Hotel Circle
- Area
- Mission Valley
- Listed price (with taxes)
- $84–$93
Motel 6 Southbay
- Area
- Nestor
- Listed price (with taxes)
- ~$81
Motel 6 San Ysidro
- Area
- Border
- Listed price (with taxes)
- ~$74–$76
Expedia and Hotels.com listings for winter 2025–26 dates, checked Nov. 8, 2026. Summer and event weekends cost more.
Other ways to save
Budget moves that matter
- 01
Go in the off-season
September (after Labor Day) and December through February usually have the lowest rates. Avoid Comic-Con week in July.
- 02
Skip the rental car
Airport rentals add hefty fees. The trolley, bus and Coronado ferry cover most sights; see do I need a car?.
- 03
Do the free stuff
Beaches, Balboa Park's gardens, Old Town, Cabrillo on free days, and sunsets. See free things to do.
- 04
Eat like a local
A $10 burrito or taco plate beats a $40 tourist dinner. Start with where locals get burritos and happy hours.
Want a full budget? See how much a San Diego trip costs. Driving in? You can't sleep in your car on city streets near homes.
Is this still right?
We last checked this tip against its sources on November 8, 2026, and we re-research every tip on a schedule. Things in San Diego change, sometimes overnight.
Bars, restaurants and hotels change owners, hours, menus and even team loyalties faster than anyone can keep up. Call ahead or check the place's own website or social accounts before you go.
This is general information, not legal, financial, tax, medical or safety advice.
KEEP READING
SOURCES
Everything above traces back to one of these. Follow them — if one has changed and we haven't, that's our mistake, not yours.
Expedia · Winter 2025–26 dates
Motel 6 Airport–Harbor ~$70; Chula Vista ~$64 with taxes
Expedia
Downtown ~$70, Hotel Circle ~$84, San Ysidro ~$74–$76
KAYAK
Recent rates $76–$110; September and December cheapest
Hotels.com
$93 with taxes
- BackgroundHotel tax in San Diego
sandiego.tips
TOT and tourism-district assessments