The Best Cheap Hotels in San Diego

Budget-Friendly and Affordable Places to Stay in San Diego

Balboa Park, San Diego Balboa Park, San Diego

San Diego, California is a vibrant destination with plenty of fun activities and attractions. If you're traveling on a budget, finding an affordable place to stay might be a challenge, though. But does San Diego have cheap hotel rooms? Absolutely. With so many budget-friendly hotels and motels available, there is no need to break the bank for a comfortable and relaxing stay here. So, if you're looking for where to stay on a budget, or trying to figure out how to find cheap rooms in San Diego, we've figured it out for you already. When looking for affordable places to stay, everyone should consider a variety of factors, including the price, but also the location, amenities, level of service, and guest ratings. While low prices are important, travelers should also consider the comfort and relaxation of the rooms, as well as the location of the hotel, which can greatly impact their experience in San Diego. Some of the best budget-friendly hotels in San Diego offer amenities such as pools, providing guests with a great place to cool off and unwind after a long day of exploring the city. When considering guest ratings, travelers should look for hotels with a proven track record of providing comfortable stays, while also being easy on the wallet. We've analyzed the best budget-friendly hotels and motels in San Diego based not just on the prices, but also the locations, guest ratings, amenities, and nearby activities as described. So, below you'll see the results of our research, which includes the best values and great bargain hotels in San Diego. Whether you're traveling solo or with a group, there are plenty of cheap stays available in San Diego that will meet your needs and your budget. So, let's get to it: here's where to sleep cheap in San Diego.

(Prices are listed in U.S. Dollars.)

Best Western Plus Hacienda Hotel Old Town

3-star Hotel with prices starting at $168 (before taxes) - See All Prices
A Nice Budget Stay
  • Great Value: the price is lower than average for 3-star hotels.
  • Family-Friendly
  • Outdoor pool

Located at 4041 Harney Street, Best Western Plus Hacienda Hotel Old Town has great rooms from $168 (before taxes). It offers an outdoor pool, room service, a restaurant, a fitness center, and a bar. It has a terrific 8.40 rating out of 10 from previous guests who have stayed here. Only 3.4 miles from the city center, budget travelers will especially love parking, rooms with kitchenettes, laundry services, golf, and a hot tub at this affordable hotel. We find the kitchenette here to be a great way to get a good breakfast and save time and money. The price of this hotel is less than average for budget hotels, which makes it a great value.

Budget Hotel Amenities
  • Outdoor pool
  • Parking
  • Laundry facilities
  • Budget
More Great Amenities
  • Restaurant
  • Fitness center
  • Bar/Lounge
  • Kitchenette
  • Laundry service
  • Hot tub
  • Family rooms
  • Air-conditioned
  • Microwave
  • Refrigerator
  • Family-Friendly


The Westin San Diego

4-star Hotel with prices starting at $192 (before taxes) - See All Prices
One of the Best Deals in San Diego
  • Great Value: the price is lower than average for 4-star hotels.
  • Family-Friendly
  • Outdoor pool

A great place to stay is The Westin San Diego which has nice rooms starting at $192. Offering an outdoor pool, room service, a restaurant, a fitness center, and a bar, it also has a great guest rating of 8.30 out of 10 from many previous guests. It's located at 400 West Broadway. This relaxing hotel is also nice because it offers laundry services, pet-friendly rooms, a hot tub, a spa, and car rentals which visitors will enjoy. Also, it's just 0.5 miles from the city center. Everyone loves a good hot tub, and this one is really nice. It's also less than the average price for budget hotels, so it's a great value.

Budget Hotel Amenities
  • Outdoor pool
  • Laundry facilities
  • Budget
More Great Amenities
  • Restaurant
  • Fitness center
  • Bar/Lounge
  • Laundry service
  • Pets allowed
  • Hot tub
  • Bicycle rental
  • Family rooms
  • Air-conditioned
  • Family-Friendly


The Lafayette Hotel Swim Club & Bungalows

3-star Hotel with prices starting at $137 (before taxes) - See All Prices
A Fantastic Bargain in San Diego
  • Great Value: the price is lower than average for 3-star hotels.
  • Family-Friendly
  • Outdoor pool
  • Heated pool

We found The Lafayette Hotel Swim Club & Bungalows to be a great place to stay, and the price starts at $137. We loved that is has an outdoor pool, room service, a restaurant, a fitness center, and a bar, and it also has a terrific guest rating of 8.00 out of 10 from previous guests. It's located at 2223 El Cajon Boulevard. You'll also find parking, rooms with kitchens, laundry services, laundry facilities, and family rooms which travelers will love. And this comfortable hotel is just 2.9 miles from the center of town. Having a kitchen means that you'll be able to cook, which is very convenient when you're on the road. It's a great value, too, because it's less than the average price for budget hotels.

Budget Hotel Amenities
  • Outdoor pool
  • Parking
  • Laundry facilities
  • Budget
More Great Amenities
  • Restaurant
  • Fitness center
  • Bar/Lounge
  • Kitchen
  • Laundry service
  • Family rooms
  • Heated pool
  • Air-conditioned
  • Microwave
  • Refrigerator
  • Family-Friendly


Manchester Grand Hyatt San Diego

4-star Hotel with prices starting at $236 (before taxes) - See All Prices
Among the Best Values in San Diego
  • Great Value: the price is lower than average for 4-star hotels.
  • High Quality: guest ratings are higher than average.
  • Outdoor pool

With terrific rooms from $236, Manchester Grand Hyatt San Diego, at 1 Market Place provides an outdoor pool, room service, a restaurant, a fitness center, and a bar. Its terrific guest rating is 8.70 out of 10 from previous guests staying here. Budget travelers will really like this budget-friendly hotel which also offers parking, rooms with kitchenettes, child care, laundry services, and pet-friendly rooms. It's located just 0.7 miles from the city center, too. Unwinding at the restaurant after sightseeing is a nice way to end the day. It's a great value, as the price is less than the average for budget hotels.

Budget Hotel Amenities
  • Outdoor pool
  • Parking
  • Laundry facilities
  • Budget
More Great Amenities
  • Restaurant
  • Fitness center
  • Bar/Lounge
  • Kitchenette
  • Laundry service
  • Pets allowed
  • Hot tub
  • Bicycle rental
  • Family rooms
  • Air-conditioned
  • Microwave
  • Refrigerator


Hilton Garden Inn San Diego/Rancho Bernardo

3-star Hotel with prices starting at $169 (before taxes) - See All Prices
One of the Best Inexpensive Hotels in San Diego
  • Great Value: the price is lower than average for 3-star hotels.
  • Outdoor pool

Hilton Garden Inn San Diego/Rancho Bernardo has a great guest rating of 8.20 out of 10, and offers an outdoor pool, room service, a restaurant, a fitness center, and a bar. The great rooms here start at $169 before taxes and depending on the season. It can be found at 17240 Bernardo Center Drive. Furthermore, it also offers parking, laundry services, car rentals, laundry facilities, and family rooms, which is nice for visitors. Just 21.9 miles from the city center, this low-cost hotel is a terrific choice. Make sure to set aside some time for swimming in the pool, too. We found the price of this hotel to be a great value because the price is less than average for budget hotels.

Budget Hotel Amenities
  • Outdoor pool
  • Parking
  • Laundry facilities
  • Budget
More Great Amenities
  • Restaurant
  • Fitness center
  • Bar/Lounge
  • Laundry service
  • Family rooms
  • Air-conditioned
  • Microwave
  • Refrigerator


Courtyard by Marriott San Diego Downtown

3-star Hotel with prices starting at $202 (before taxes) - See All Prices
A Great Low Cost Hotel
  • Great Value: the price is lower than average for 3-star hotels.
  • Family-Friendly

The great guest rating of Courtyard by Marriott San Diego Downtown is 8.40 out of 10. This place has room service, a restaurant, a fitness center, a bar, and parking. Prices for the terrific rooms are from $202, and it's located at 530 Broadway Street. We also love the child care, laundry services, a pool table, laundry facilities, and bicycle rental which are great for travelers. And since it's just 0.2 miles from the center of the town, the location is great, too. The room service is especially nice after a long day. The price of this hotel is less than average for budget hotels, which makes it a great value.

Budget Hotel Amenities
  • Parking
  • Laundry facilities
  • Budget
More Great Amenities
  • Restaurant
  • Fitness center
  • Bar/Lounge
  • Laundry service
  • Bicycle rental
  • Family rooms
  • Air-conditioned
  • Microwave
  • Family-Friendly


The Bristol Hotel San Diego

3-star Hotel with prices starting at $206 (before taxes) - See All Prices
A Very Affordable Hotel
  • Great Value: the price is lower than average for 3-star hotels.
  • Family-Friendly

A cool place is The Bristol Hotel San Diego because it has great rooms that start at $206. It has room service, a restaurant, a fitness center, parking, and laundry services, it also earned a great guest rating of 8.30 out of 10 from people who have stayed here before. It's found at 1055 First Avenue. Only 0.4 miles from the city center, budget travelers will especially love laundry facilities, bicycle rental, family rooms, a multi-lingual staff, and air-conditioning at this affordable hotel. It's also less than the average price for budget hotels, so it's a great value.

Budget Hotel Amenities
  • Parking
  • Laundry facilities
  • Budget
More Great Amenities
  • Restaurant
  • Fitness center
  • Laundry service
  • Bicycle rental
  • Family rooms
  • Air-conditioned
  • Refrigerator
  • Family-Friendly


Marriott Marquis San Diego Marina

4-star Hotel with prices starting at $281 (before taxes) - See All Prices
A Terrific Cheap Hotel
  • Great Value: the price is lower than average for 4-star hotels.
  • High Quality: guest ratings are higher than average.
  • Outdoor pool

Marriott Marquis San Diego Marina offers an outdoor pool, room service, a restaurant, a fitness center, and scuba diving which we really like. The terrific rooms here start at $281 (before taxes). It's located at 333 West Harbor Drive and has earned a guest rating of 8.60/10. This relaxing hotel is also nice because it offers snorkeling, a bar, parking, hiking, and child care which visitors will enjoy. Also, it's just 0.7 miles from the city center.

Budget Hotel Amenities
  • Outdoor pool
  • Parking
  • Child pool
  • Laundry facilities
  • Budget
More Great Amenities
  • Restaurant
  • Fitness center
  • Bar/Lounge
  • Laundry service
  • Hot tub
  • Family rooms
  • Air-conditioned
  • Refrigerator


Hotel Republic San Diego Autograph Collection

4-star Hotel with prices starting at $236 (before taxes) - See All Prices
A Nice Budget Stay
  • Great Value: the price is lower than average for 4-star hotels.
  • Family-Friendly

Located at 421 West B Street, Hotel Republic San Diego Autograph Collection has great rooms from $236 (before taxes). It offers room service, a restaurant, a fitness center, a bar, and parking. It has a terrific 8.40 rating out of 10 from previous guests who have stayed here. You'll also find child care, laundry services, pet-friendly rooms, city views, and a spa which travelers will love. And this comfortable hotel is just 0.6 miles from the center of town. It's a great value, as the price is less than the average for budget hotels.

Budget Hotel Amenities
  • Parking
  • Laundry facilities
  • Budget
More Great Amenities
  • Restaurant
  • Fitness center
  • Bar/Lounge
  • Laundry service
  • Pets allowed
  • Air-conditioned
  • Refrigerator
  • Family-Friendly


Hilton San Diego Bayfront

4-star Hotel with prices starting at $261 (before taxes) - See All Prices
One of the Best Deals in San Diego
  • Great Value: the price is lower than average for 4-star hotels.
  • Family-Friendly
  • Outdoor pool
  • Heated pool

A great place to stay is Hilton San Diego Bayfront which has nice rooms starting at $261. Offering an outdoor pool, a pool bar, room service, a restaurant, and a fitness center, it also has a great guest rating of 8.20 out of 10 from many previous guests. It's located at 1 Park Boulevard. Budget travelers will really like this budget-friendly hotel which also offers a bar, a kid-friendly buffet, laundry services, golf, and pet-friendly rooms. It's located just 0.8 miles from the city center, too. Don't forget to spend some time at the terrific pool bar where you can unwind and relax.

Budget Hotel Amenities
  • Outdoor pool
  • Laundry facilities
  • Budget
More Great Amenities
  • Restaurant
  • Fitness center
  • Bar/Lounge
  • Kid-friendly buffet
  • Laundry service
  • Pets allowed
  • Hot tub
  • Family rooms
  • Heated pool
  • Air-conditioned
  • Family-Friendly


For more terrific hotel ideas in San Diego, make sure you also see Best Family-Friendly Hotels in San Diego, Best Beach Hotels in San Diego, Best Luxury Hotels in San Diego, Best Pet-Friendly Hotels in San Diego, Best Hotels for First Time Visitors in San Diego, Best Hotels for a Weekend Getaway in San Diego, Best Hotels for One Week in San Diego, Best Hotels for One Night in San Diego, Best Romantic Hotels for Couples in San Diego, Best Hotels for Scuba Diving in San Diego, or Best Business Hotels in San Diego.


Is it expensive to spend the night in San Diego?

San Diego Average Budget Hotel Price
$257

Travelers to San Diego, California will have a large number of terrific budget accommodation options with a variety of great prices. The price of budget hotels here can vary by amenities, dates, and the neighborhood. Based on thorough data from 18 budget hotels, their average price is a very reasonable $257. If you're interested in more information about hotels here, see our guide to hotel prices in San Diego.

The average prices of our suggested budget hotels by star rating:

  • 5-star hotels: $413
  • 4-star hotels: $284
  • 3-star hotels: $208


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