Santa Monica is one of the more expensive places to stay in the Los Angeles area, especially near the beach and Santa Monica Pier. As of July 2026, recent booking-site data places the average double room near $575 per night, while individual hotels can range from about $200 for simpler properties to $650 or more for luxury stays. These figures change daily and usually exclude some taxes and fees.
Quick Answer
A Santa Monica hotel commonly costs about $200 to $700 or more per night, depending on its location and star rating. Recent data puts the average double room near $575. November is usually cheaper than July. Add Santa Monica’s 15% hotel tax, a nightly tourism assessment, and possible parking or amenity fees.
Key Takeaways
- Recent booking-site snapshots put the average Santa Monica double room near $575 per night.
- Two-star and neighborhood properties may average about $200, while luxury hotels frequently exceed $650.
- November is generally one of the cheaper months, while July is usually among the most expensive.
- The advertised price may not include the 15% hotel tax, tourism assessment, parking, or property fees.
- Booking a refundable rate two to three months ahead gives you time to recheck prices and cancel if a better deal appears.
Santa Monica Hotel Price Snapshot for 2026
There is no single fixed Santa Monica hotel price for all of 2026. Booking platforms calculate averages from different hotels, room types, dates, and refund policies. Their figures may change as new reservations and rates enter the system.
The following figures were visible on major booking-data pages in July 2026. They are useful for budgeting, but they are not guaranteed quotes for specific travel dates.
| Hotel category | Recent nightly estimate | Data source |
| Average double room | About $575 | KAYAK hotel insights |
| Two-star hotel | About $202 | Momondo hotel insights |
| Three-star hotel | About $318 | Momondo hotel insights |
| Four-star hotel | About $463 | KAYAK hotel insights |
| Five-star hotel | About $652 to $695 | Momondo and KAYAK |
Note: These averages are not directly interchangeable. Each platform may use different hotels, dates, room types, and calculation methods. Always search your exact dates before setting a final budget.
What Santa Monica Hotels Cost After Taxes and Fees
The nightly price shown in search results may be substantially lower than the final amount due. According to the City of Santa Monica, hotel stays are subject to a 15% transient occupancy tax.
Hotels also collect a Tourism Marketing District assessment. For 2026, the assessment is based on the hotel’s average daily rate:
- $2.30 per room night for hotels with an average daily rate from $100 to $199.99.
- $6.25 per room night for hotels with an average daily rate from $200 to $299.99.
- $7.25 per room night for hotels with an average daily rate above $300.
The following examples show how the city tax and assessment can affect a one-night stay. They do not include parking, resort or amenity fees, pet charges, or optional services.
| Advertised room rate | 15% city tax | Example assessment | Estimated total |
| $200 | $30 | $6.25 | $236.25 |
| $350 | $52.50 | $7.25 | $409.75 |
| $500 | $75 | $7.25 | $582.25 |
The assessment bracket is based on the property’s average daily rate, not necessarily the exact room rate you book. Check the final checkout screen or request a written price breakdown from the hotel.
Warning: Do not compare hotels using only the first nightly price shown. Review the complete stay total, including taxes, assessment, parking, destination or amenity fees, pet fees, rollaway beds, and extra-person charges.
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Breakdown of Hotel Costs by Star Rating
Star ratings can help you estimate cost, but they do not tell the full story. A smaller hotel near the beach may cost more than a higher-rated hotel farther inland. Room size, ocean views, balconies, pools, spas, refund terms, and parking can also change the price.
Two-Star and Budget Hotels
Current booking-site data places the average two-star hotel near $202 per night before some taxes and charges. The lowest rates are often found in Santa Monica’s inland neighborhoods, at motels, hostels, and properties with fewer on-site facilities.
Three-Star Hotels
Three-star properties currently average around $318 on Momondo’s Santa Monica page. This category may include breakfast, a fitness room, a pool, or a more central location, but amenities differ by property.
Four-Star Hotels
KAYAK currently places four-star Santa Monica hotels near $463 per night. Many offer restaurants, pools, larger public areas, room service, or easier beach access.
Five-Star and Luxury Hotels
Recent estimates place five-star hotels at roughly $652 to $695 per night, although premium suites and high-demand dates can cost much more. Regent Santa Monica Beach, Shutters on the Beach, Hotel Casa del Mar, and Oceana Santa Monica are examples of the city’s upper-end market.
Understanding Seasonal Price Trends in Santa Monica Hotels
Santa Monica hotel prices normally rise during summer, school breaks, major events, and weekends with strong beach demand. Recent KAYAK and Momondo data identifies November as the least expensive month, with average rates around $484 per night.
July is the most expensive month in the same data, averaging about $712. Momondo describes July prices as approximately 23% above the normal average and November prices as about 15% lower.
Recent booking data shows a difference of more than $225 per night between the typical July and November averages in Santa Monica.
Day-of-week data also challenges the common idea that every midweek stay is cheaper. Sunday currently has the lowest average at about $520, while Tuesday is the most expensive at approximately $639. These patterns can change, so compare the full week around your preferred dates.
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When to Book for the Best Santa Monica Hotel Rates
A current booking-data page reports that its lowest previously found Santa Monica rate was $97 when searched 71 days before arrival. That does not mean every traveler will find a $97 room by booking exactly 71 days ahead.
A safer strategy is to begin comparing rates about two to three months before your trip. Search the same dates on several platforms and on the hotel’s official website. Compare the final total, cancellation policy, room type, and included benefits.
Pro Tip: Reserve a refundable rate when the price is acceptable, then check it again every one or two weeks. If the same room becomes cheaper, you may be able to cancel and rebook without losing your original reservation.
Nonrefundable rates can be cheaper, but the saving may not be worthwhile when flights, events, or family plans could change. Always calculate the risk before giving up free cancellation.
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Affordable Hotel Tips for Santa Monica
Lowering the cost of a Santa Monica stay usually requires more than finding the lowest room rate. Use these strategies to reduce the complete trip cost:
- Search flexible dates: Moving the trip by one or two nights can produce a meaningful difference.
- Consider November and early winter: Current booking data shows lower average prices in November than in July.
- Compare Sunday and Tuesday: Sunday currently averages less than Tuesday, although your exact dates may behave differently.
- Look beyond the beachfront: Neighborhood properties can cost less than hotels near the pier or directly beside the beach.
- Compare the final total: Include taxes, assessments, parking, breakfast, and property fees.
- Check official hotel offers: Direct-booking packages may include breakfast, parking, credits, or better cancellation terms.
- Use loyalty and member rates: Free hotel-program membership may unlock a lower rate or useful benefits.
- Avoid paying for facilities you will not use: A hotel without a spa, resort program, or valet service may offer better value.
- Consider a car-free stay: Parking can erase the saving from a cheaper room.
Where to Stay in Santa Monica by Location
Location often affects price as much as star rating. Santa Monica Travel & Tourism groups local hotels into several useful areas.
| Area | What to expect | Best for |
| Oceanfront | Premium beach access, pools, spas, restaurants, and frequent rates above $300 | Luxury trips and travelers prioritizing the beach |
| Ocean Avenue | Ocean views or short walks to the beach, with a broad range of prices | Views, restaurants, Palisades Park, and walkability |
| Downtown | Easy access to Third Street Promenade, the pier, dining, shopping, and transit | Car-free visits and first-time travelers |
| Neighborhood hotels | More modest properties, quieter surroundings, and longer walks or rides to the beach | Budget-focused travelers, drivers, and longer stays |
Use the official Santa Monica hotel comparison guide to review hotels by location and facilities.
Family-Friendly Hotels in Santa Monica
The best family hotel depends on your group size, transportation plans, and preferred facilities. Before booking, confirm the room’s maximum occupancy, bed types, connecting-room availability, rollaway charges, breakfast, and parking.
Days Inn by Wyndham Santa Monica
Days Inn is an inland budget option with free Wi-Fi, non-smoking rooms, and access to major roads. Current official sources conflict about whether parking is free or charged, so contact the property before booking. The hotel lists a children-stay-free policy, but families should confirm the applicable ages and room-occupancy rules for their reservation.
Shutters on the Beach
Shutters offers an expensive but spacious option for families wanting direct beach access. Its Beach House Suite includes a separate den, full-size sofa bed, multiple balconies, two fireplaces, and approximately 1,300 square feet of space.
Oceana Santa Monica
Oceana Santa Monica is a luxury all-suite property overlooking the ocean. It offers an outdoor pool, spa, fitness center, guest dining, and pet-friendly accommodations. Confirm the exact sleeping capacity because suite layouts differ.
Suites and Kitchenette Properties
Families staying several nights may save money with a kitchenette, included breakfast, guest laundry, or free parking. These benefits can be worth more than a small difference in the room rate.
What Dining and Amenities to Look for in Santa Monica Hotels
A lower room rate is not always the best value. Choose facilities that replace costs you would otherwise pay elsewhere.
- On-site dining: The Penthouse at Huntley Santa Monica Beach offers a rooftop restaurant with coastal views. On-site breakfast or dining credits may be valuable when included in a package.
- Wellness facilities: Regent Santa Monica Beach has a Guerlain spa, fitness center, outdoor pool deck, and beach services. The property replaced the former Loews Santa Monica Beach Hotel.
- Pool and beach access: Pools, cabanas, beach chairs, towels, and beach service can reduce the need to pay for separate day facilities.
- Kitchen or refrigerator: These are useful for families, longer stays, dietary needs, and reducing restaurant spending.
- Included breakfast: Compare the room-rate difference with the likely cost of breakfast for everyone in your group.
- Destination or amenity inclusions: Check whether a mandatory fee includes bicycles, fitness classes, Wi-Fi, credits, or beach equipment that you will actually use.
Parking, Transportation, and Car-Free Savings
Parking can make a seemingly affordable hotel much more expensive. Some Santa Monica properties include parking, while many beachfront and luxury hotels charge for valet or self-parking.
Santa Monica Travel & Tourism maintains a current guide to hotels with free or low-cost parking. Because hotel policies can change, confirm the parking charge directly before completing the reservation.
The city also operates downtown structures, beach lots, and metered spaces. Public parking rates changed in 2026, so check the City of Santa Monica parking page instead of relying on an old travel guide.
A car may not be necessary for a trip focused on the beach, pier, Third Street Promenade, downtown dining, and Ocean Avenue. Santa Monica has Metro light-rail stations, local bus service, bicycle routes, walking areas, and local shuttle options. Compare the cost of parking against occasional public-transit or rideshare trips.
How to Compare Santa Monica Hotel Rates Correctly
Use the following checklist before deciding which hotel is cheapest:
- Enter the same travel dates, number of guests, and room type on every website.
- Compare refundable rates with other refundable rates.
- Check whether taxes and mandatory fees are included in the displayed total.
- Add parking for every night you will keep a vehicle.
- Review breakfast, Wi-Fi, destination fees, and resort credits.
- Check the bed configuration and maximum room occupancy.
- Read the cancellation deadline in the hotel’s local time.
- Compare the booking platform with the hotel’s official website.
- Save a screenshot or confirmation showing the complete price and included benefits.
A $260 room with free parking and breakfast may cost less overall than a $230 room with paid parking, an amenity fee, and no meals.
Frequently Asked Questions
What factors influence hotel prices in Santa Monica?
Prices change with season, hotel location, star rating, room type, ocean views, local events, occupancy, refund terms, and how far ahead you book. Beachfront hotels and summer dates usually cost more.
Are there additional fees beyond the nightly hotel rate?
Yes. Santa Monica hotel stays are subject to a 15% transient occupancy tax and a nightly Tourism Marketing District assessment. A hotel may also charge for parking, amenities, pets, rollaway beds, or additional guests.
Do hotels in Santa Monica offer free parking?
Some neighborhood hotels include free parking, but many beachfront and luxury properties charge for valet or self-parking. Verify the current price directly because parking policies can change.
Can I find pet-friendly hotels in Santa Monica?
Yes. Several Santa Monica hotels accept pets, but weight limits, breed rules, deposits, cleaning fees, and the number of permitted animals vary. Review the property’s current pet policy before booking.
What is the average hotel occupancy rate in Santa Monica?
Santa Monica Travel & Tourism reported hotel occupancy of 72.9% for 2025 and forecast occupancy of 76.3% for 2026. Actual occupancy varies by month, hotel category, and major events.
What is the cheapest month for Santa Monica hotels?
Recent booking-site data identifies November as the cheapest month, with an average near $484 per night. Your actual price will depend on the hotel, room, events, and travel dates.
How far ahead should I book a Santa Monica hotel?
Start checking approximately two to three months ahead. A historical booking-site observation found its lowest rate 71 days before arrival, but no booking window guarantees the lowest price for every trip.
Is a beachfront Santa Monica hotel worth the higher price?
It can be worthwhile when direct beach access, ocean views, a pool, and walkability are central to the trip. Budget travelers may get better overall value from a neighborhood or downtown hotel and use transit, bicycles, or walking to reach the beach.
Sources
- KAYAK Santa Monica Hotel Insights — average double-room, four-star, five-star, seasonal, and day-of-week booking data.
- Momondo Santa Monica Hotel Insights — star-rating estimates, seasonal averages, weekday trends, and historical booking-window data.
- City of Santa Monica Transient Occupancy Tax — 15% hotel tax and 2026 Tourism Marketing District assessment rates.
- Santa Monica Travel & Tourism Hotel Comparison — hotel locations, categories, facilities, and broad neighborhood price guidance.
- Santa Monica 2026 Tourism Summit — 2025 occupancy results and the 2026 hotel occupancy forecast.
- City of Santa Monica Parking — current public parking information and 2026 rate updates.
Conclusion
A realistic Santa Monica hotel budget is usually about $200 to $700 or more per night before every charge, with the average double room recently estimated near $575. Location, hotel class, season, and room type can move the price far outside that range.
November generally offers better value than July, but the cheapest dates are not always midweek. Compare several dates, check the full price after Santa Monica’s 15% hotel tax and tourism assessment, and include parking and property fees. Booking a refundable room two to three months ahead and rechecking it later gives you a practical way to control costs without relying on a single advertised average.
