Last updated: October 30, 2026. Flight and hotel prices below were checked on that date on Google Flights and Trip.com. Fares and fees come from official MBTA and state sources. Prices change daily, so treat them as a snapshot, not a quote.
Boston has a reputation as one of the most expensive cities in the US, and for hotels that is fair. The good news: flights are cheap from most US cities, the airport bus into town is free, and the city is small enough to walk.
Here are real 2026 numbers for a long weekend: flights from Chicago, Atlanta and Los Angeles, actual hotel prices, transport, attractions and three sample budgets.
Quick answer: what does a Boston weekend cost?
For 3 nights, per person (two people sharing a room), including a round-trip flight from Chicago:
- Budget: about $700–750
- Mid-range: about $950–1,050
- Comfort: about $1,350–1,450
Without the flight, that is roughly $125, $220 and $350 per person per day. The full breakdown is below.
Flights to Boston
We checked round trips to Boston Logan (BOS) for Thursday March 11 to Sunday March 14, 2027 (economy, one adult):
| Route | Cheapest | Cheapest nonstop |
|---|---|---|
| Chicago (ORD) – Boston | $335 (nonstop) | $335 (American, Delta) |
| Atlanta (ATL) – Boston | $378 (nonstop, Frontier) | $473 on JetBlue |
| Los Angeles (LAX) – Boston | $402 (1 stop, Alaska) | $417 (American, United) |
Source: Google Flights, checked October 30, 2026. Round trip, economy, 1 adult.
Boston is a big airline hub, so nonstop flights are often barely more expensive than connections. One catch: the cheapest Atlanta fare is Frontier, which charges extra for carry-on bags and seat selection. Add those before comparing it with JetBlue.
For timing tips, see our guide to the cheapest day to buy airline tickets.
Getting from the airport: free
This is Boston’s best money-saving trick. The Silver Line SL1 bus is free when you board at any Logan terminal. It takes about 15–20 minutes to South Station, and from there you can transfer to the Red Line without paying. Going back to the airport costs the normal fare of $2.40.
A taxi or rideshare from Logan to downtown usually costs about $35–55 once you add tolls, airport fees and a tip.
Boston hotel prices
Hotels are where Boston gets expensive. We checked 3 nights (Thursday to Sunday, March 11–14, 2027) for two adults in one room on Trip.com. Prices are totals including taxes:
| Hotel | Area | 3 nights | Per night |
|---|---|---|---|
| The Revolution Hotel | South End / Chinatown | $418 | ~$139 |
| DoubleTree Boston Bayside | Dorchester (JFK/UMass T stop) | $499 | ~$166 |
| Hampton Inn Boston Seaport | Seaport | $536 | ~$179 |
| Porter Square Hotel | Cambridge | $571 | ~$190 |
| Meco Hotel | Downtown | $579 | ~$193 |
| HI Boston Hostel | Downtown | $587 | ~$196 (2 beds) |
| The Dagny Boston | Downtown | $659 | ~$220 |
| Hyatt Regency Boston | Downtown | $713 | ~$238 |
Source: Trip.com, checked October 30, 2026. 2 adults, 1 room, total price including taxes.
Three things are worth knowing:
- About $140–195 a night gets you a good, central budget or mid-range room in March. In summer, during graduation season (May) and fall foliage season (October), expect noticeably more.
- Even the hostel is expensive. Two beds at HI Boston cost more than a private room at the Revolution Hotel on our dates. Compare both before booking.
- Weekdays are a little cheaper. The same search for Monday to Thursday (March 15–18) brought the Revolution Hotel down to about $122 a night and the Meco Hotel to about $166.
Boston hotel taxes add up to about 15% on top of the room rate (state and city room tax plus a convention center fee). Trip.com’s totals include them, but some sites show the rate before tax, so compare final prices.
For more ways to save on rooms, see our guides to affordable USA hotel deals and cheap hotels in the US.
Getting around: the T
Boston’s subway, the T, is the easiest way around. You can tap a contactless card or phone at the gates.
- Single subway or bus ride: $2.40
- 1-day pass: $11
- 7-day pass: $22.50, which is usually the best deal even for a 3- or 4-day trip
Since September 1, 2026 the MBTA is also testing unlimited transfers within two hours, so you only pay the highest fare once.
Do you need a rental car?
For Boston itself: no. Downtown hotels typically charge around $50–70 a night for valet parking, streets are narrow and confusing, and almost everything is reachable by T or on foot.
A car only makes sense for day trips, for example to Cape Cod, Salem or the New Hampshire mountains in the fall. In that case, rent it just for the days you need it, ideally from a location outside downtown.
Attractions: lots for free
Boston is unusually good for free sightseeing:
- Freedom Trail: the 2.5-mile red-brick line through 16 historic sites is free to walk on your own
- Boston Common and the Public Garden
- Harvard Yard and Harvard Art Museums (the museums are free)
- Beacon Hill, the North End and the Harborwalk
Paid highlights, adult prices in 2026:
- Museum of Fine Arts: $30
- Fenway Park tour: about $40
- Boston Tea Party Ships & Museum: about $36–39
- New England Aquarium: about $40
You can find guided tours and tickets in our tours and activities section.
Food costs
Rough daily ranges per person:
- Budget, about $40 a day: coffee and a bagel, a food hall or takeout lunch, a cheap dinner in Chinatown
- Mid-range, about $80 a day: a café breakfast, casual lunch and a sit-down dinner with a drink
- Comfort, about $150 a day: seafood dinners, a lobster roll lunch and drinks
These are typical ranges, not quotes. Remember that restaurant bills add about 7% meals tax, and a tip of 18–20% is standard at sit-down places. A lobster roll is the classic splurge.
Sample budgets: 3 nights in Boston
Per person, two people sharing a room, flight from Chicago, Thursday to Sunday in March.
| Cost | Budget | Mid-range | Comfort |
|---|---|---|---|
| Flight (ORD–BOS) | $335 | $335 | $335 |
| 3 nights (your half) | $209 (Revolution) | $290 (Meco) | $357 (Hyatt Regency) |
| Transport | $23 (7-day pass) | $50 (pass + 1 rideshare) | $100 (rideshares) |
| Food (3 days) | $120 | $240 | $450 |
| Attractions | $30 | $90 | $150 |
| Total | ~$717 | ~$1,005 | ~$1,392 |
Flight and hotel prices from Google Flights and Trip.com (October 30, 2026). Transport, food and attraction amounts are estimates.
From Atlanta or Los Angeles, add roughly $45–90 for the flight. If you prefer to book flight and hotel together, our test of vacation packages shows when bundling saves money. Planning a bigger trip? See our USA trip cost guide.
When is Boston cheapest?
- Cheapest: January to March, apart from holiday weekends. It is cold, but hotels are at their lowest.
- Most expensive: late May (college graduations), summer and October (fall foliage). Book early for these.
- Watch out for big events. The Boston Marathon in April and major conventions push hotel prices up for a few days.
FAQs
Is Boston expensive to visit?
Hotels are expensive, at about $140–240 a night for a central room even in March. Flights from other US cities, public transport and many sights are cheap or free, so a weekend can still stay under $750 per person including the flight.
How much does a weekend in Boston cost?
With our prices, a Thursday-to-Sunday trip costs about $717 per person on a budget, about $1,005 mid-range and about $1,392 for a more comfortable trip, including a flight from Chicago and sharing a room.
How do I get from Logan Airport to downtown Boston cheaply?
Take the Silver Line SL1 bus. It is free from all Logan terminals to South Station, and you can continue on the Red Line without paying again.
Is the MBTA 7-day pass worth it?
Usually yes. At $22.50 it pays for itself after about 10 rides, which most visitors reach in a long weekend, especially as it also covers your ride back to the airport.
Should I stay in Cambridge to save money?
Sometimes. Cambridge and Somerville are often cheaper than Back Bay or the Seaport and are only a few stops away on the Red Line. On our dates, though, the cheapest good option was the Revolution Hotel in the South End, so always compare a few areas.
