The Most and Least Expensive Cities to Rent a Car This Holiday Season [2024]

Every year, millions of people fly home to celebrate the holidays. For many of those travelers, renting a car is a necessary part of the journey. But rental car prices vary greatly across the country, and some people will have to pay more (and in some cases much more) than others for their holiday rental.

To help travelers avoid sticker shock, we looked at rental car prices in the 100 most popular cities for Thanksgiving travel, including SUV and electric vehicle (EV) prices. The data covers a four-day period beginning the day before Thanksgiving (Nov. 27) and ending the Sunday after (Dec. 1). Christmas data covers a 12-day period starting on Dec. 21 and ending on Jan. 2.

How holiday rental car prices have changed in recent years

From fast food to football tickets and so much more in between, it can feel like just about everything is getting more expensive these days. Using data collected over the years, we wanted to see if that held true when it comes to holiday car rentals.

From last year to this one, the average daily cost for a rental car at Christmas actually fell by around $8 to $61 per day on average, which represents a decrease of around 12% in the last year.

A year ago, Christmas rental cars cost $69 per day, on average, around the country, which was 21% less than in 2021. 2021's high costs can be attributed to pandemic-related factors, such as the lack of travel during COVID-19 lockdowns, which led rental agencies to sell off portions of their fleets and not replace them with new cars. This led to a shortage of rental cars and high demand once travel resumed.

For those reasons, comparisons between 2023 and 2024 are more useful for tracking changes in rental car prices.

Last year rental cars cost $79 per day on average at Thanksgiving, a 30% decrease compared to two years prior, when rental car prices averaged $113 per day in 2021. From last year to this one, the average daily cost for a rental car at Thanksgiving rose by around $8, which represents an increase of a little more than 10% in the last year. That's nearly four times the national rate of inflation in the last 12 months, which was just 2.6%, according to the latest government release.

Where it costs the most to rent a car for Christmas

Christmas travelers in the following cities may feel like they've been given a lump of coal in their stocking after seeing how much it will cost them to rent a car.

All 10 of the cities where rental cars are most expensive at Christmas come in with costs above the national average of $61 per day, with three popular holiday destinations reaching triple-digit costs.

All three of those cities are located in a single state: Hawaii. The state is a popular vacation destination year-round, and Christmas time is no exception as people look to get away from the cold and snow and celebrate the season with a Mele Kalikimaka.

Doing so will cost a pretty penny when it comes to renting a car, however, as rentals in Lihue are the most expensive of anywhere in the country at $118 per day on average. Kona is a close second at $115, and Kahului is third at $110. No other city has average daily rental car prices in excess of $100 this holiday season. It is also worth noting that the Hawaiian capital of Honolulu also ranks in the top 10, with the eighth most expensive rental car prices in the country.

In the contiguous United States, the most expensive rental cars are found on the East Coast, specifically near New York City. White Plains, New York, is around 30 miles from NYC and has the most expensive Christmas rental cars of any city not in Hawaii, with an average cost of $88 per day. Rentals in the Big Apple ($87 per day) and nearby Newark ($81 per day) are nearly as expensive.

Where it costs the least to rent a car for Christmas

While renting a car in those cities can put a real damper on your holiday budget, lower costs in other cities can feel like a bonus gift underneath the tree this holiday season.

If having a white Christmas is a must, there may be no better place to be on December 25 than Alaska. As a bonus for snow lovers making the trek north, rental cars in the state's biggest city, Anchorage, are the most affordable of anywhere in the country at Christmas, with an average cost of just $38 per day. That is just a third of what revelers in Lihue will have to pay over the same time period.

Sacramento, California's rental car costs are the lowest of any city on the mainland at just $39 per day on average. Two Texas cities are just a few dollars more expensive — Houston ($41 per day) and San Antonio ($42). They have the third and fourth most affordable holiday rental cars. Rounding out the top five is Portland, Oregon, where rental cars come with an average cost of $43 per day at Christmas.

How much does it cost to rent an SUV for Christmas?

Extra room can be especially important at Christmastime, as presents from Santa can mean travelers go home with more stuff than they left with. Across the country, the average SUV rental costs $77 per day during Christmas and New Year's (Dec. 21 through Jan. 2).

Many of the same cities where rental cars are the most expensive in general are also the most expensive cities to rent an SUV this holiday season. All five of the most expensive cities for Christmas SUV rentals are among the seven cities where rental cars cost the most this time of year.

Similarly, four of the top five cities where SUV rentals are least expensive this holiday season are also among the cities where rental cars are least expensive overall. The lone newcomer here is Dallas, with the third-lowest average SUV rental price of $54 per day.

How much does it cost to rent an EV for Christmas?

Electric vehicles are a subset of automobiles that have increased in popularity in recent years. For those hoping to help out the environment or just looking to test out the newest trend this Christmas, we found where EV and hybrid rentals are most and least expensive.

Once again a Hawaiian city is most expensive, as EVs cost $119 per day, on average, in Kahului. No other city has daily prices over $100 per day for these kinds of vehicles. Baton Rouge is the second most expensive with average costs of $95.

Tulsa, Oklahoma, is the city where Christmas travelers can get the best deal on an electric vehicle, as the average cost in that city is $54 per day. That is less than half of what an EV rental costs in Kahului, and something that is also true of Houston ($57 per day), San Antonio ($57 per day), and Albuquerque, New Mexico ($59 per day).

For those reasons, comparisons between 2023 and 2024 are more useful for tracking changes in rental car prices. From last year to this one, the average daily cost for a rental car at Thanksgiving rose by around $8, which represents an increase of a little more than 10% in the last year. That's more than four times the national rate of inflation in the last 12 months, which was just 2.4% according to the latest government release.

Where it costs the most to rent a car for Thanksgiving

So which Turkey Day travelers will have to pony up the most money for a rental car before enjoying a day full of food, football, and parade floats?

Across the 100 cities we evaluated, we found that the average daily cost to rent a car at Thanksgiving is $87, but costs in each of the 10 most expensive cities are at least $20 per day higher than that.

The absolute most expensive place in the country to rent a car while celebrating Thanksgiving is in and around the Big Apple. It costs $142 per day to rent a car in New York City proper, while the cost in nearby Newark, New Jersey is $132. Those are the two most expensive daily costs for rental cars in the entire country. Flying into nearby Boston and driving down to NYC would save a decent chunk of money, but even in that city rental cars cost $113 per day on average, the seventh-most expensive of any city.

Where it costs the least to rent a car for Thanksgiving

While renting a car in some cities will cost travelers hundreds of dollars over the course of the holiday weekend, rentals for the same time frame in other places cost just a fraction of that price.

Cities in two warm-weather vacation hotspots — Florida and Hawaii — take each of the top six spots where Thanksgiving rental cars are the most affordable. An additional sunshine city ranks 10th, meaning a full 70% of places where Turkey Day rental cars are most affordable are vacation hotspots.

Overall, Miami, Florida, is the most affordable city for holiday car rentals at just $36 per day (technically $35.75). A little farther north in Fort Lauderdale, costs are extremely similar, with travelers there also paying $36 on average ($36.25 technically). Orlando ($38), Tampa ($56), and Fort Myers ($65) are three more cities in the Sunshine State that made the cheap list.

Two cities on two different Hawaiian islands also landed in the top 10, with Honolulu being the most affordable at $53 per day on average. That's the fourth-lowest rate in the country, while rental cars in Lihue are fifth-cheapest at a cost of $55 per day during Thanksgiving. Another city located in a non-contiguous state (though a much colder one) is also in the top 10 as Anchorage, Alaska has the seventh-lowest average daily rental price of $58.

How much does it cost to rent an SUV for Thanksgiving?

Thanksgiving kicks off the busy holiday season as people visit family for food and fun. Across the country, the average SUV rental costs $111 per day during Thanksgiving weekend (Nov. 27 through Dec. 1).

Similar to general rental car prices, New York City's costs for SUV rentals are the highest in the country. Renting a sport utility vehicle in New York City, White Plains, New York, or Newark will cost travelers at least $150 per day this Thanksgiving.

In another parallel to overall rental car prices, costs for SUVs in Florida are more affordable than anywhere else. SUVs can be rented in Fort Lauderdale, Orlando, and Miami for around $44 per day at Thanksgiving, while they cost $61 per day in Tampa. Those are the four lowest costs in the country.

How much does it cost to rent an EV for Thanksgiving?

Most rental car companies now include electric vehicles as part of their fleets. These are great options for environmentally-conscious travelers or others looking to try out an EV.

Beyond the benefits EVs provide to the environment, electric vehicles are also a way to save money on gas during long road trips. Even the best gas rewards credit cards can't compete with EV fuel savings. For anyone who is looking to rent an EV for the road, we found the cities where electric vehicles are the most and least affordable.

Electric vehicles cost a little less than SUVs to rent during Thanksgiving but a bit more than gas-powered cars. Across the country, the average EV rental costs $95 per day during Thanksgiving weekend.

EVs are most expensive in Newark with an average daily cost of $138, followed by Memphis, Tennessee ($135) and El Paso, Texas ($135). Spokane, Washington is where electric vehicles are least expensive, costing just $47 per day on average. Honolulu ($66) and Wichita, Kansas ($70) are the cities where EVs come with the second and third lowest rental costs.

Tips for finding the best rental car deals

There are many factors to consider when choosing a rental car company — whether it's the peak holiday season or you're just looking to get away for a weekend. Here are some tips for how you can stay true to your budget.

• Book in advance to avoid unnecessary fees. Waiting until the last minute to reserve a car can result in extra expenses and vehicle shortages. Book well in advance, and follow our tips and tricks in order to save some extra money on car rentals.
• Decide where to get auto rental car insurance. If you opt for primary auto rental coverage through the rental agency (rather than your personal insurance policy), then you might avoid filing a claim on your personal policy in case of an accident.
• Consider joining a rental rewards program. Many rental car companies have rewards programs for upgrades and freebies. One example is Hertz Gold Plus Rewards, which offers loyalty perks at various status levels. Earned points can be put towards future free car rentals, or they may be transferred for use at select airlines.

Methodology

FinanceBuzz collected data on the total and daily costs to rent cars in each of the cities on BestPlace's list of the 100 most popular U.S. cities for the holidays. Data was collected via Kayak using their "Recommended" results setting. We collected data covering all available vehicles as well as data relating to EVs and SUVs specifically. For each category, we collected data on 45 listings or a location's full inventory if fewer than 45 cars were available. Data was collected between three and five weeks before the holiday.

Author Details

Josh Koebert

Josh Koebert is a Senior Content Marketer at FinanceBuzz who writes about personal finance trends. As an experienced researcher, Josh’s data-driven stories focus on the intersection between economics and consumer behavior: where personal finance meets everyday life.