Survey
U.S. Car Rental Rates Most Expensive in New York City
Updated: March 27, 2013
According to a new survey from CheapCarRental.net, New York City is the costlies city in the United States to rent a vehicle. In coming up with the rankings, the survey pitted 50 U.S. destinations against each other, with their average car rental rates over the past 12 months serving as the basis of comparison.
To rent a car in New York City, out-of-towners had to pay an average of $72 per day during the past year, and that was for the cheapest available vehicle. At that price, NYC ranked significantly more expensive than the survey’s second- and third-place finishers, New Orleans and Honolulu. In these numbers two and three most expensive car rental cities, the daily rental rates over the last 12 months averaged $10+ per day less at $64 and $63, respectively.
San Diego, Seattle and Los Angeles were bargains in comparison, with all three ranking among the least expensive car rental destinations. These West Coast locales cut car renters a break by charging, on average, only about $30 daily. That figure positions the trio at a sound 60% less costly than NYC. Rounding out the top 50 in the survey’s last spot was Milwaukee. An average per-day rental rate of just $27 made this Wisconsin city the very cheapest one in the United States in which to rent a car.
The following table compares average daily car rental rates for 50 destinations in the United States over the past 12 months. Each respective city's airport was chosen as the Pick Up and Drop Off location.
About the methodology:
The car rental rates expressed in the survey were established via CarTrawler, a car rental comparison engine. For 50 destinations in the United States, the average daily rental rate for the cheapest available car for the time period spanning April 2012 to March 2013 was calculated. Each city’s main airport was chosen as the Pick Up and Drop Off location. Rates were established about one to two weeks prior to Pick Up date, and a rental duration of five days was set.
Updated: March 27, 2013
According to a new survey from CheapCarRental.net, New York City is the costlies city in the United States to rent a vehicle. In coming up with the rankings, the survey pitted 50 U.S. destinations against each other, with their average car rental rates over the past 12 months serving as the basis of comparison.
To rent a car in New York City, out-of-towners had to pay an average of $72 per day during the past year, and that was for the cheapest available vehicle. At that price, NYC ranked significantly more expensive than the survey’s second- and third-place finishers, New Orleans and Honolulu. In these numbers two and three most expensive car rental cities, the daily rental rates over the last 12 months averaged $10+ per day less at $64 and $63, respectively.
San Diego, Seattle and Los Angeles were bargains in comparison, with all three ranking among the least expensive car rental destinations. These West Coast locales cut car renters a break by charging, on average, only about $30 daily. That figure positions the trio at a sound 60% less costly than NYC. Rounding out the top 50 in the survey’s last spot was Milwaukee. An average per-day rental rate of just $27 made this Wisconsin city the very cheapest one in the United States in which to rent a car.
The following table compares average daily car rental rates for 50 destinations in the United States over the past 12 months. Each respective city's airport was chosen as the Pick Up and Drop Off location.
- 1. New York City $72
- 2. New Orleans $64
- 3. Honolulu $63
- 4. Washington DC $59
- 5. Houston $56
- 6. Boston $55
- 7. Newark $54
- 8. Charlotte $53
- 9. Austin $49
- 10. Sacramento $48
- 10. Jacksonville $47
- 12. Anchorage $46
- 12. Buffalo $46
- 12. Nashville $46
- 12. West Palm Beach $46
- 16. Denver $45
- 16. Baltimore $45
- 18. Kansas City $44
- 18. Phoenix $44
- 18. St. Louis $44
- 18. Pittburgh $44
- 18. Detroit $44
- 23. Minneapolis $43
- 23. Portland $43
- 23. Raleigh $43
- 26. Tampa $42
- 26. Dallas $42
- 26. San Antonio $42
- 29. Memphis $41
- 29. Chicago $41
- 29. San Francisco $41
- 32. Indianapolis $40
- 32. Cincinnati $40
- 32. Oakland $40
- 35. San Jose $39
- 35. Oakland $39
- 37. Fort Lauderdale $38
- 38. Atlanta $36
- 39. Cleveland $35
- 40. Miami $34
- 40. Philadelphia $34
- 42. Albuquerque $32
- 42. Salt Lake City $32
- 44. San Diego $31
- 44. Seattle $31
- 46. Las Vegas $30
- 46. Louisville $30
- 46. Los Angeles $30
- 49. Columbus $28
- 50. Milwaukee $27
About the methodology:
The car rental rates expressed in the survey were established via CarTrawler, a car rental comparison engine. For 50 destinations in the United States, the average daily rental rate for the cheapest available car for the time period spanning April 2012 to March 2013 was calculated. Each city’s main airport was chosen as the Pick Up and Drop Off location. Rates were established about one to two weeks prior to Pick Up date, and a rental duration of five days was set.