South Carolina Hotel Prices in 2026: Quick Answer
Current hotel-search data puts the average South Carolina double room at about $177 per night, but the number you see depends heavily on the source, dates, city, and hotel type. KAYAK currently shows December near $143 per night statewide and June near $203. A separate Budget Your Trip analysis of 2,569 properties reports a higher $265 average base price and a $200 median before taxes and fees. Use these figures as planning benchmarks, not guaranteed quotes.
Last updated: September 7, 2026. Statewide and city hotel-price benchmarks, mandatory hotel-fee rules, and South Carolina accommodations-tax guidance were rechecked for this update.
Quick Answer
For 2026 planning, a useful statewide benchmark is about $177 per night for a double room in current KAYAK data. December is currently the cheapest month at about $143, while June averages about $203. Charleston and Hilton Head can cost much more than Columbia or off-season Myrtle Beach, so choose your destination before setting your hotel budget.
Key Takeaways
- Current KAYAK data puts South Carolina’s average double room near $177 per night.
- December currently averages about $143 statewide, compared with about $203 in June.
- Sunday is currently the lower-priced statewide stay night at about $161, while Friday averages about $194.
- Charleston, Myrtle Beach, Hilton Head Island, and Columbia follow very different price patterns.
- Compare the full price, including taxes, resort fees, parking, breakfast, and cancellation terms.
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How Much Do Hotels Cost in South Carolina?
There is no single permanent South Carolina hotel average. Current KAYAK data puts the average double room at about $177 per night. Its statewide data also shows recent rates changing by month and day of the week, which is why your exact dates matter more than one annual number.
Another hotel-price dataset can produce a different answer without necessarily being wrong. Budget Your Trip currently analyzes 2,569 South Carolina properties and reports an average base hotel price of about $265 and a median of about $200, before taxes and fees. Its separate traveler-spending data puts a typical double-occupancy room near $192.
| Price Measure | Current Benchmark | What It Measures |
|---|---|---|
| KAYAK statewide double room | About $177/night | Current hotel-search benchmark |
| Budget Your Trip hotel average | About $265/night | Base prices across analyzed hotel inventory |
| Budget Your Trip hotel median | About $200/night | Middle hotel price in its analyzed inventory |
| Traveler-reported double room spend | About $192/night | Reported traveler accommodation spending |
The difference is important. Booking platforms may use different hotel inventories, travel dates, room types, geographic boundaries, and averaging methods. Use one dataset consistently when comparing destinations, then check the actual checkout total for your exact dates.
When Are South Carolina Hotels Cheapest?
Current statewide KAYAK data identifies December as the cheapest month, averaging about $143 per night. June is currently the most expensive month at about $203. Individual destinations can follow a different seasonal pattern, so statewide averages should be treated as a first planning step.
Which Months Cost More?
Summer demand can raise rates across beach destinations, but the peak month is not identical everywhere. Myrtle Beach currently shows its highest monthly average in July, while Charleston’s current citywide data peaks in May. Hilton Head Island also shows higher spring and early-summer pricing in current hotel data.
Major festivals, weddings, school breaks, sports events, holiday weekends, and limited beachfront inventory can push a specific weekend far above the monthly average. If your trip depends on a certain neighborhood or room type, compare those exact dates before using a statewide average.
Which Months Offer Better Value?
Winter often brings lower prices in several South Carolina markets. Statewide data currently favors December, while Columbia also averages about $108 in December. Myrtle Beach currently has some of its lowest monthly rates late in the year.
| Market | Lower-Priced Current Month | Higher-Priced Current Month |
|---|---|---|
| South Carolina statewide | December — about $143 | June — about $203 |
| Columbia | December — about $108 | September — about $204 |
| Myrtle Beach | December — about $124 | July — about $293 |
| Charleston | January — about $203 | May — about $361 |
| Hilton Head Island | November — about $188 | May — about $379 |
These are changing market averages, not guaranteed room quotes. Check your exact dates before deciding that one month or city will always be cheaper.
Does the Day of the Week Affect South Carolina Hotel Prices?
Yes. Current statewide KAYAK data shows Sunday at about $161 per night, compared with roughly $194 on Friday. That does not mean every Sunday is cheaper, but it shows why shifting a leisure trip by one or two nights can change the total.
Destination patterns can differ. Downtown Charleston, beach resorts, college towns, and event-driven markets may react differently to weekend demand. Compare the same hotel and room type across several nearby dates for the clearest answer.
Which South Carolina Cities Tend to Have Cheaper Hotels?
Columbia can offer lower hotel prices than the major coastal destinations. Current KAYAK data shows Columbia averaging about $108 in December, while Charleston’s cheapest current monthly average is roughly $203. Location within each city still matters.
Myrtle Beach has a very large hotel supply and currently shows an average double-room price near $189. Its rates swing sharply by season, with late-year stays much cheaper than midsummer dates. For a deeper breakdown, see the Myrtle Beach hotel cost guide.
Charleston is generally a more expensive market, especially in central and historic areas. Current KAYAK citywide data puts the average double room around $288, and Downtown Charleston can cost considerably more. See the Charleston hotel price guide for neighborhood and seasonal details.
Hilton Head Island also has a higher-priced resort market. Current KAYAK monthly data ranges from about $188 in November to roughly $379 in May. The Hilton Head hotel cost guide explains the island’s hotel and resort price patterns in more detail.
How Much Do Different South Carolina Accommodation Types Cost?
South Carolina offers roadside hotels, chain properties, historic inns, beachfront resorts, suites, condos, and vacation rentals. The cheapest option depends on your group size and what the nightly price includes.
Budget Your Trip’s current South Carolina hotel-inventory analysis places budget hotels at about $113 per night on average, mid-range hotels near $283, and luxury hotels near $617. Those figures are based on analyzed base hotel prices and do not represent a guaranteed rate for your dates.
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Popular Hotel Categories
| Hotel Category | Current Planning Benchmark | What You Can Expect |
|---|---|---|
| Budget Hotels | About $113 average base price | Basic rooms, fewer extras, more price-sensitive locations |
| Mid-Range Hotels | About $283 average base price | More amenities, larger rooms, broader location choices |
| Luxury Hotels | About $617 average base price | Premium locations, upscale service, higher room rates |
| Beach Resorts | Highly date-dependent | Beach access, pools, recreation, restaurants, possible mandatory fees |
| Vacation Rentals | Highly property-dependent | More space, kitchens, cleaning charges, occupancy and house rules |
Do not compare categories by nightly price alone. Free parking, breakfast, a kitchen, laundry, or enough beds for the whole group can make a higher-priced room cheaper over the full trip.
When Do Condos, Inns, or Vacation Rentals Make Sense?
Condos and vacation rentals can work well for families and longer stays because kitchens, extra bedrooms, and laundry may reduce other travel expenses. Historic inns can be useful when location matters more than large-room amenities.
Compare cleaning charges, deposits, parking, cancellation rules, occupancy limits, and the complete stay total. A lower advertised nightly rate does not automatically mean the lower final trip cost.
How Can You Find Better South Carolina Hotel Deals?
Start with your travel dates rather than a fixed “perfect booking day.” Current statewide data shows meaningful differences by month and stay-night, while individual hotels can follow completely different booking patterns.
Compare at least three nearby date combinations when your schedule is flexible. Statewide KAYAK data currently shows Sunday cheaper than Friday on average, and the December-to-June difference is large enough to affect a multi-night trip.
Refundable rates can also be useful. Reserve a price you are comfortable with, then recheck the same hotel, room type, occupancy, and cancellation terms before the free-cancellation deadline. Rebook only when the replacement reservation truly offers a lower comparable total.
Check the hotel’s own website as well as major booking platforms. Compare identical room types and cancellation conditions rather than assuming the lowest headline number represents the same product.
Pro tip: Compare the complete stay total for the same dates, room type, guest count, and cancellation policy. A cheaper headline rate is not a real saving if it removes flexibility or useful inclusions.
Which Taxes and Hotel Fees Can Change Your Final Cost?
Since May 12, 2025, the Federal Trade Commission’s Rule on Unfair or Deceptive Fees has required businesses advertising short-term lodging prices to display the total price including mandatory fees they know and can calculate upfront. That means a mandatory resort or destination fee generally should not appear only as a surprise at the final checkout step.
The federal rule still allows government taxes and genuinely optional add-ons to be excluded from the initial displayed total, although the final amount must be disclosed before payment. Parking, pet charges, breakfast, upgraded room features, and other optional services can therefore still change what you pay.
South Carolina also taxes qualifying short-term accommodations. The South Carolina Department of Revenue states that accommodations are generally subject to 5% sales tax plus 2% accommodations tax, along with applicable local Sales & Use Tax. Counties and municipalities may also impose additional local accommodations taxes.
Note: Mandatory hotel fees and government taxes are not the same thing. Mandatory hotel fees generally belong in the upfront displayed total under federal rules, while government taxes may be shown later before payment.
Which Hotel Amenities Can Lower Your Real Trip Cost?
Amenities matter because the cheapest room rate is not always the cheapest trip. Free parking can make a meaningful difference in a downtown or resort area. Free breakfast can lower food costs for a family, while a kitchen may save even more on a longer stay.
For families, compare room size, bed configuration, parking, breakfast, kitchen facilities, laundry, and pool access. Business travelers may care more about reliable Wi-Fi, workspace, late check-in, and proximity to meetings.
Before paying extra for a higher hotel category, identify which amenities you will actually use. A simple hotel with free parking and breakfast can beat a lower headline rate that charges separately for both.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does a hotel cost in South Carolina?
Current KAYAK data puts the average South Carolina double room at about $177 per night. A separate Budget Your Trip hotel-inventory analysis reports a $265 average base price and $200 median, showing why the source and methodology matter.
How far in advance should you book a hotel in South Carolina?
There is no single booking window that is cheapest for every South Carolina hotel. Book earlier when you need a specific beachfront property, downtown location, event weekend, or room type. When possible, reserve a refundable rate and compare the same room again before the cancellation deadline.
What is the cheapest month for South Carolina hotels?
Current statewide KAYAK data identifies December as the cheapest month, averaging about $143 per night. June is currently the most expensive statewide month at about $203. Individual destinations can follow different seasonal patterns.
What is the cheapest day to stay at a South Carolina hotel?
Sunday is currently the lowest-priced stay night in KAYAK’s statewide data at about $161 per night. Friday is the highest at about $194. These are statewide averages, so individual hotels and event dates can differ.
Is Myrtle Beach cheaper than Charleston for hotels?
Current KAYAK citywide data suggests Myrtle Beach is cheaper on average: its double-room benchmark is around $189, compared with roughly $288 in Charleston. Exact dates can produce a different result, and Downtown Charleston usually costs more than the broader Charleston market.
Do South Carolina hotels charge resort fees?
Some South Carolina resorts charge mandatory resort or destination fees. Under the federal hotel-fee rule effective since May 12, 2025, mandatory fees generally must be included in the upfront displayed total price. Government taxes and optional services may still be shown separately before payment.
What taxes apply to South Carolina hotel rooms?
The South Carolina Department of Revenue says qualifying accommodations are generally subject to 5% sales tax plus 2% accommodations tax and applicable local Sales & Use Tax. Additional local accommodations taxes may also apply depending on the city or county.
Conclusion
For 2026 planning, start with about $177 per night as a current statewide double-room benchmark, then replace that number with a city-specific estimate. Columbia can be much cheaper than Charleston, while Myrtle Beach and Hilton Head prices can change sharply between off-season and peak beach dates.
Before booking, compare the same room across nearby dates, check what is included, review the cancellation rules, and look at the complete amount you will pay. The destination, month, day of the week, taxes, and hotel type usually matter more than a single statewide average.
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