Survey
A Comparison of Car Rental Rates in the USA - Spring 2025
March 20, 2025
Palm Springs and Charleston are the most expensive destinations in the United States for renting a car this spring, according to a survey by Cheapcarrental.com.
The survey compared rental car rates at 100 U.S. airports during the period March 1, 2025 to May 31, 2025. With an average rate of $89 per day for the most affordable car, Palm Springs in southern California and Charleston in South Carolina emerged as the priciest destinations.
The podium is completed by Pittsburgh in Pennsylvania, with an average rate of $85 per day. Also on the more expensive side are Burbank and Ontario Airport, both located in California, where travellers will have to spend $83 and $80, respectively, for the least expensive car.
At the other end of the spectrum, the cheapest destinations for renting a car this spring are Seattle in Washington State and Portland in Oregon, with average rates of just $38 per days in both cities. On average, across all 100 airports considered by the survey, the average daily rental rate is $58.50. Compared with spring 2024, that’s an increase of 1.7%.
Car rental rates across the world vary significantly depending on the season. In the U.S.’s winter months, the island of Maui in Hawaii was shown to be the priciest destination for hiring a car last year, with an average rate of $101 per day. During fall, meanwhile, Little Rock, the capital of Arkansas, came out as the most expensive destination at $95 per day.
Summertime – typically the most expensive time of year for renting a car due to it being peak vacation season –showed Anchorage in Alaska to be the priciest destination for renting a car last year, with an average rate of $187 per day.
The following table compares car rental rates at 100 U.S. destinations this spring. Prices shown reflect the average rates for the most affordable rental car for the period March 1, 2025-May 31, 2025.
About the Methodology
Rates were established in late February 2025, based on CarTrawler.com comparison technology. For each destination, the leading 10 car rental companies located at the airport terminal or the airport’s official rental center were identified. Rates include all taxes and fees.
Press Contact:
Michelle Walters: press@cheapcarrental.com
March 20, 2025
Palm Springs and Charleston are the most expensive destinations in the United States for renting a car this spring, according to a survey by Cheapcarrental.com.
The survey compared rental car rates at 100 U.S. airports during the period March 1, 2025 to May 31, 2025. With an average rate of $89 per day for the most affordable car, Palm Springs in southern California and Charleston in South Carolina emerged as the priciest destinations.
The podium is completed by Pittsburgh in Pennsylvania, with an average rate of $85 per day. Also on the more expensive side are Burbank and Ontario Airport, both located in California, where travellers will have to spend $83 and $80, respectively, for the least expensive car.
At the other end of the spectrum, the cheapest destinations for renting a car this spring are Seattle in Washington State and Portland in Oregon, with average rates of just $38 per days in both cities. On average, across all 100 airports considered by the survey, the average daily rental rate is $58.50. Compared with spring 2024, that’s an increase of 1.7%.
Car rental rates across the world vary significantly depending on the season. In the U.S.’s winter months, the island of Maui in Hawaii was shown to be the priciest destination for hiring a car last year, with an average rate of $101 per day. During fall, meanwhile, Little Rock, the capital of Arkansas, came out as the most expensive destination at $95 per day.
Summertime – typically the most expensive time of year for renting a car due to it being peak vacation season –showed Anchorage in Alaska to be the priciest destination for renting a car last year, with an average rate of $187 per day.
The following table compares car rental rates at 100 U.S. destinations this spring. Prices shown reflect the average rates for the most affordable rental car for the period March 1, 2025-May 31, 2025.
- 1. Palm Springs (PSP) $89
- 1. Charleston (CHS) $89
- 3. Pittsburgh (PIT) $85
- 4. Little Rock (LIT) $84
- 5. Burbank (BUR) $83
- 6. Ontario (ONT) $80
- 7. Nashville (BNA) $78
- 8. St. Petersburg (PIE) $77
- 8. Phoenix (PHX) $77
- 10. Madison (MAD) $74
- 11. Baltimore (BWI) $73
- 12. Los Angeles (LAX) $72
- 12. Detroit (DTW) $72
- 14. Reno (RNE) $70
- 14. Santa Ana (SNA) $70
- 16. Sanford (SFB) $69
- 16. Oklahoma City (OKC) $69
- 16. Minneapolis (MSP) $69
- 16. New Orleans (MSY) $69
- 20. Pensacola (PNS) $68
- 20. Dallas (DFW) $68
- 22. Long Beach (LGB) $67
- 23. Greenville (GSP) $66
- 23. Las Vegas (LAS) $66
- 23. Tucson (TUS) $66
- 26. Tulsa (TUL) $65
- 26. Memphis (MEM) $65
- 26. Savannah (SAV) $65
- 29. Grand Rapids (GRR) $64
- 29. Milwaukee (MKE) $64
- 31. Fayetteville (FAY) $63
- 32. Myrtle Beach (MYR) $62
- 32. Knoxville (TYS) $61
- 32. Norfolk (ORF) $61
- 35. Louisville (SDF) $60
- 35. Chicago (MDW) $60
- 35. St.Louis (STL) $60
- 35. El Paso (ELP) $60
- 35. Cincinnati (CVG) $60
- 40. New York City (JFK) $59
- 40. Cleveland (CLE) $59
- 40. San Diego (SAN) $59
- 40. San Jose (SJC) $59
- 40. Indianapolis (IND) $59
- 40. Kahului (OGG) $59
- 40. Boise (BOI) $59
- 47. Oakland (OAK) $58
- 47. Wichita (ICT) $58
- 49. Boston (BOS) $57
- 49. San Francisco (SFO) $57
- 51. Sarasota (SRQ) $56
- 51. Houston (HOU) $56
- 51. Portland (PWM) $56
- 51. Newark (EWR) $56
- 51. New York City (LGA) $56
- 56. Rochester (ROC) $55
- 56. Albany (ALB) $55
- 56. Kona (KOA) $55
- 56. Chicago (ORD) $55
- 56. Orlando (MCO) $55
- 61. Providence (PVD) $54
- 61. Salt Lake City (SLC) $54
- 61. Philadelphia (PHL) $54
- 61. Albuquerque (ABQ) $54
- 61. Hartford (BDL) $54
- 61. Richmond (RIC) $54
- 61. Austin (AUS) $54
- 68. Denver (DEN) $53
- 68. Raleigh (RDU) $53
- 68. Honolulu (HNL) $53
- 68. Atlanta (ATL) $53
- 72. Des Moines (DSM) $52
- 72. Colorado Springs (COS) $52
- 72. Houston (IAH) $52
- 75. Jacksonville (JAX) $51
- 75. Omaha (OMH) $51
- 75. Miami (MIA) $51
- 75. Lihue (LIH) $51
- 79. Kansas City (MCI) $50
- 79. Birmingham (BHM) $50
- 79. Syracuse (SYR) $50
- 82. Tampa (TPA) $49
- 83. Dallas (DAL) $48
- 83. San Juan (SJU) $48
- 83. Anchorage (ANC) $48
- 83. Charlotte (CLT) $48
- 87. Fresno (FAT) $47
- 88. Spokane (GEG) $46
- 88. Columbus (CMH) $46
- 88. Washington (IAD) $46
- 88. Buffalo (BUF) $46
- 92. Sacramento (SMF) $45
- 92. Palm Beach (PBI) $45
- 92. Fort Myers (RSW) $45
- 95. Fort Lauderdale (FLL) $44
- 96. Bozeman (BZN) $43
- 97. San Antonio (SAT) $40
- 97. Washington (DCA) $40
- 99. Portland (PDX) $38
- 99. Seattle (SEA) $38
About the Methodology
Rates were established in late February 2025, based on CarTrawler.com comparison technology. For each destination, the leading 10 car rental companies located at the airport terminal or the airport’s official rental center were identified. Rates include all taxes and fees.
Press Contact:
Michelle Walters: press@cheapcarrental.com