The 12 Best Cheap Hotels in Boston, Massachusetts [2023]

Boston is one of the most historic cities in the entire United States and is the birthplace of the American Revolution. History aside, there are also lots of awesome bars, restaurants, shopping districts, theaters, and attractions for visitors to enjoy, even on a more modest budget.

It is also, of course, home to the world-famous Harvard University campus and one of the most beautiful places to see the leaves in fall. Boston is a notoriously expensive hotel market, but that doesn’t mean there aren’t affordable properties to be found — here are some of the best options!

Best Cheap Hotels in Boston

Comfort Inn Boston

Price per Night: From $103 or 16,000 Choice Privileges points

This family-friendly, affordable hotel is situated in the Dorchester district of the city and offers easy access to downtown Boston, as well as Fenway Park and Logan International Airport (BOS).

Bedrooms are as bright and spacious and come complete with a sitting area. A fitness room is available for those who like to stay in shape while away from home.

The Comfort Inn Boston is also close to the expansive Boston Bowl which offers arcade games, bowling lanes, and billiards. Hungry guests can enjoy a full American-style menu at its DW Brewpub.

The Copley House

Price per Night: From $84

Although not a hotel in the traditional sense, this property offers homey apartment-style rooms that cater to visitors looking to stay on a budget.

With an excellent location in the residential area of Back Bay, guests can easily reach Copley Square and the downtown attractions. While there are no communal areas or on-site eateries, the apartments come with fully-equipped kitchenettes, and the rooms are serviced with fresh towels daily.

The Prudential Center is just 450 yards away, offering shopping and a market for picking up essentials.

Hot Tip: If you’re looking for things to do in Boston, why not check out these tours: Boston’s Freedom Trail Walk Into History, Boston’s Ghosts and Gravestones Tour, and the Harvard Tour. If you’re traveling with the whole family, check out these fun Boston activities for kids.

Element Boston Seaport District

Price per Night: From $151 or 30,000 Marriott Bonvoy points

Offering clean, cool, and modern accommodations in the Seaport District, this hotel is perfect for travelers who appreciate the importance of eco-friendly accommodation.

Open-plan rooms have calming earthy hues and spacious layouts, while there is a range of snacks, beverages, and prepared meals available at the on-site market. The Element Boston Seaport District has an indoor swimming pool for guests to enjoy, as well as a fitness center, and the breakfast bar serves up healthy options each morning.

Guests are also welcome to rent bikes from the hotel reception and head on out to explore beautiful Boston on 2 wheels.

Found Hotel Boston Common

Price per Night: From $35

Housed in a beautifully restored 1877 building, this hotel is just a few steps from Boston Common at the heart of the Theater District.

Offering a modern take on boutique hotels and budget accommodation, contemporary interiors and thoughtfully-designed shared spaces make it easy to find the right balance of accommodations that work for you.

From 4-bunk bedrooms to private bedrooms, facilities in the hotel are modern and well-equipped and offer private or shared bathrooms and showers.

Although Found Hotel Boston Common has no eatery on-site, the hotel is within a stone’s throw of a range of bars, restaurants, theaters, and nightclubs in this lively and eclectic part of town.

Freepoint Hotel Cambridge, Tapestry Collection by Hilton

Price per Night: From $127 or 37,000 Hilton Honors points

This classy, mid-range hotel offers sleek accommodation near Harvard Square and offers easy access to some of the city’s historic landmarks. Bedrooms are tastefully decorated with modern furnishings and locally sourced artwork.

The hotel is also home to an impressive secret interior garden and an open-air courtyard where guests are welcome to relax. Freepoint Kitchen & Cocktails by Matthew Gaudet at the Freepoint Hotel Cambridge offers a light menu inspired by locally-sourced ingredients and recipes.

The lively hotel bar offers a Manhattan menu with 8 variations of the classic Manhattan cocktail. Interesting 3-dimensional art and other creative touches in the communal areas give this affordable hotel an upscale feel that belies its price tag.

Harborside Inn

Price per Night: From $99

This stylish boutique hotel is located in the Waterfront district of the city and is 300 yards away from the harbor. What was once a lowly shipping warehouse is now a European-style hotel offering chic bedrooms, styled by a local designer with a relaxed, residential vibe.

The Harborside Inn is also home to a hip and popular cocktail bar, The Harborside Lounge, which is the perfect place for socializing with fellow guests and locals alike. Light American cuisine is served at the on-site restaurant.

Watch the world go by as you enjoy signature martinis and traditional cocktails on the State Street outdoor patio that’s also part of the hotel.

HI Boston Hostel

Price per Night: From $36

Close to Boston Common and the Freedom Trail, this hotel-style hostel is housed in a beautifully renovated red-brick building and offers eco-friendly accommodation for budget-conscious travelers. There are dormitory-style rooms on offer or you can book a private room. All guests can use the 24/7 on-site cafe and guest kitchen and take advantage of the free daily breakfast.

With its laid-back, easy, and affordable accommodations, the HI Boston Hostel is located close to a range of public transport options, as well as bars, restaurants, shops, and nightlife. Your stay in Boston doesn’t need to cost an arm and a leg to make it utterly awesome.

Irving House at Harvard

Price per Night: From $85

Offering classic Bostonian hospitality, this quaint bed and breakfast is just 250 yards away from the world-famous Harvard University and Harvard Square.

Cozy bedrooms are clean and homey, and the on-site library is a great spot to grab a book while you take in your surroundings. Breakfast is provided for guests every morning, and there is a small dining room where you can all start your day together.

The Irving House at Harvard also has a refrigerator for guests to dip into, as well as daily newspapers, on-site laundry, and a nearby fitness center. This little guesthouse offers friendly accommodation in a first-class location

Four Points by Sheraton Boston Newton

Price per Night: From $107 or 21,000 Marriott Bonvoy points

Located just outside Boston in Newton Corner, this recently renovated property offers close proximity to numerous Boston attractions including Boston College, Boston University, Harvard University, MIT, Fenway Park, Faneuil Hall, Boston’s Seaport District, and Boston Common. It’s also just 8 miles from Boston Logan International Airport (BOS).

The property offers an indoor swimming pool as well as a 24-hour fitness center.

Bedrooms have been stylishly redesigned and upgraded in recent years, and the Newton Plaza Hotel Boston offers an indoor heated swimming pool, a 24-hour fitness center, and 2 on-site restaurants.

Porter Square Hotel Cambridge

Price per Night: From $118

Just off Porter Square, this modern, boutique-style hotel is tucked away among some of the best restaurants and bars this hip and eclectic area has to offer. Bedrooms are modern and well-designed, while the sleek lobby area is resplendent in marble and leather.

The Porter Square Hotel is also home to Colette French Bistro which offers hotel guests and local diners a range of modern small plates and French classics, and there is also access to the 24-hour fitness center at the nearby sister hotel, Hotel 1868.

Staypineapple, A Delightful Hotel, South End

Price per Night: From $130

Situated in the historic South End of Boston, this boutique hotel offers classic, European styling and modern guest rooms close to a wide range of bars, restaurants, and attractions.

En suite bathrooms offer marble showers, and the bedrooms are spacious and well-appointed for a mid-range property. At Staypineapple, South End, guests are welcome to dine at The Trophy Room which offers American bistro-style cuisine, as well as craft cocktails and draft beers in a laid-back atmosphere.

Just a 10-minute walk from Newbury Street and the scenic Back Bay area, guests can enjoy lazy brunches at the hotel on weekends, or take the short ride downtown from the MBTA stops just outside the hotel.

The Verb Hotel

Price per Night: From $109

The Verb is a playful establishment located on busy Boylston Street in the Fenway neighborhood. Originally a motor inn, the modern-day hotel is packed full of rock and roll memorabilia, including plectrum-shaped tables, guitars, and amps in the reception area, and lots of fun photos on the walls.

Rooms have a classic motel style and come complete with record players and zebra-print dressing gowns, and there’s also a small courtyard pool that is often the venue for themed pool parties.

A grab-and-go breakfast is served daily in the reception area, and at 5 p.m., Hojoko, a fun izakaya, opens its door to serve grilled fish and meats, noodles, rice bowls, and sashimi, as well as their legendary sake bomb with Irish whiskey.

Final Thoughts

From important historical venues that shaped American history to rock and roll bars and old-world buildings, Boston is a charming city that has enough to offer visitors without overwhelming them. With lots of boutique hotels, bed and breakfasts, and upscale hostels on offer, you can still experience the very best of Boston, even on a budget.