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Quick answer: For a solo traveller on a tight budget, a hostel dorm bed is usually the cheapest bed in town and the easiest way to meet people. For two or more people travelling together, or anyone staying a week or longer, a whole Airbnb apartment split between you can work out cheaper per person, and gives you privacy and a kitchen. The only reliable way to know is to compare the total price per person per night, including all fees, for your actual dates.
How we put this guide together: We didn’t run a price survey, and prices vary too much by city, season and day of the week for any average to be useful. Instead, this guide explains how each option charges you, based on Airbnb’s help centre and Hostelworld’s support pages, and sets out the trade-offs so you can compare real quotes yourself.
Hostel vs Airbnb at a glance
| Hostel | Airbnb | |
|---|---|---|
| Usually cheapest for | Solo travellers, short stays | Groups and couples sharing a whole place; longer stays |
| Privacy | Low in dorms; private rooms available at many hostels | Private room or whole home |
| Meeting people | Easy: common rooms, events, shared kitchens | Harder, unless you rent a room in a host’s home |
| Kitchen | Often a shared guest kitchen | Often your own kitchen |
| Fees to watch | Booking-site fee or deposit, locker or linen charges at some hostels | Guest service fee, cleaning fee, extra-guest fees |
| Staff on site | Usually a 24-hour or long-hours reception | Depends on the host; often self check-in |
How the fees work
Airbnb
On top of the nightly price and any host fees such as cleaning, Airbnb says guests “pay a service fee ranging from 14.1% to 16.5% of the booking subtotal”, and that it can be higher or lower depending on the booking. The service fee is shown in the price breakdown before you book. A cleaning fee is a flat charge per stay, so it weighs heavily on a one- or two-night booking and much less on a week-long one.
Hostels booked through Hostelworld
Hostelworld explains that the guest pays a percentage of the price when booking to secure the bed, and that this payment “is retained by Hostelworld as a service fee/commission”. The rest is paid directly to the hostel, usually at check-in. Whether that upfront payment is refundable depends on the rate you choose, so read the rate type before booking. Booking directly on a hostel’s own website can avoid the booking-site fee, so it’s worth comparing.
How to compare the real cost
- Get the total price for your exact dates on each option, including every fee and tax shown at checkout.
- Divide by the number of people and nights to get a cost per person per night.
- Add what you’d spend on food. Cooking in an apartment kitchen, or in a hostel’s shared kitchen, can save a lot compared with eating out for every meal.
- Factor in location. A cheap stay far from where you want to be can cost more in transport and time.
As a rule of thumb, the more people sharing and the longer the stay, the better an Airbnb’s numbers look, because the place’s price and its one-off cleaning fee are split between more people and nights. Solo and for a night or two, a dorm bed is very hard to beat.
Safety and comfort
- Hostels: look for lockers (bring your own padlock), female-only dorms if you want one, and 24-hour reception. Read recent guest reviews for comments on cleanliness, noise and security.
- Airbnb: read recent reviews of the specific listing and host, check the exact location before booking, and keep all messages and payments on the platform.
- Both: consider travel insurance, and check the cancellation policy before you pay.
Which should you choose?
Our verdict: Choose a hostel if you’re travelling solo, want the lowest price for a short stay, and would like to meet other travellers. Choose an Airbnb if you’re travelling as a couple, family or group, staying a week or more, need a quiet place to work, or want to cook most of your meals.
Can’t decide? Many hostels offer private rooms, which give you privacy while keeping the social side and staff on site, and are worth pricing against an Airbnb private room.
Frequently asked questions
Is a hostel always cheaper than an Airbnb?
For one person, usually, but not always. For groups sharing a whole apartment, or for longer stays, an Airbnb can be cheaper per person. Compare the total price per person per night, with all fees included.
How much is Airbnb’s service fee?
Airbnb’s help centre says the guest service fee ranges from 14.1% to 16.5% of the booking subtotal (the nightly price plus host-charged fees), and can be higher or lower depending on the booking. You’ll see it in the price breakdown before you book.
Are hostels safe?
Most well-reviewed hostels are safe, with lockers, staffed receptions and key-card access. Check recent guest reviews, use a locker for valuables, and choose a female-only dorm or a private room if that makes you more comfortable.
Can families stay in hostels?
Many hostels have private family rooms, but some have age limits for dorms. Check the hostel’s policies before booking.
Further reading
- Booking.com Review: Is It Good for Budget Stays?
- Best Budget Travel Tips
- Cheap Travel Destinations on a Shoestring Budget
Further reading
Sources
- Airbnb Help Centre, “What are Airbnb service fees?” airbnb.com (checked October 10, 2026)
- Hostelworld Support, “Understanding how payments work on Hostelworld”. support.hostelworld.com (checked October 10, 2026)
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