Cheap hotels in Philadelphia take some hunting, because Center City rates run high. These five come in well under what the big downtown towers charge, from a guesthouse in Manayunk to a B&B near University City and three Old City and Rittenhouse boutiques, all with guest scores of 9.0 or better.
What budget travelers actually get in Philadelphia
The big downtown towers and five-star hotels charge the most in Philadelphia. Smaller boutiques and guesthouses a short SEPTA ride from City Hall give you the same museums, markets and neighborhoods for less.
Reading Terminal Market at 1136 Arch Street opens daily at 8 a.m. and closes at 6 p.m., so a hotel near the L or the B puts a cheap breakfast within easy reach. The Liberty Bell Center runs 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily with no admission charge. Independence Hall offers free timed tickets, with an open house from 9 to 10:30 a.m. that needs no ticket at all.
SEPTA fares are $2.90 per trip on any Metro or bus route. A One Day Convenience Pass costs $7.50, which beats three single fares. For travelers arriving at PHL, the Airport Line to Center City costs $8.75 with a SEPTA Key card, with trains running every 30 minutes on weekdays.
Cheap Philadelphia hotels compared: stars, guest scores and transit
| Hotel | Star rating | Guest score | Nearest SEPTA station | Walk to station |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Manayunk Chambers Guest House | 3 | 9.8 | Manayunk (Regional Rail) | 3 min |
| Cornerstone Bed and Breakfast | 3 | 9.6 | 34th St (L) | 10 min |
| Lokal Hotel Old City | 3 | 9.5 | 2nd St (L) | 6 min |
| Kimpton Hotel Monaco Philadelphia by IHG | 4 | 9.2 | 5th St/Independence Hall (L) | 2 min |
| Kimpton Hotel Palomar Philadelphia by IHG | 4 | 9.0 | 15th St/City Hall (L, B, T) | 5 min |
Booking tips for cheap Philadelphia hotels
- January through early March is Philadelphia's lowest-demand window. Rates at independent and boutique properties drop noticeably compared to spring and fall.
- The Philadelphia Marathon is on Sunday, November 22, 2026. Book well ahead if you plan to visit in late November, because rates jump across the board that weekend.
- The PHS Philadelphia Flower Show runs March 13-21, 2027 at the Pennsylvania Convention Center. Hotels near the Convention Center see higher demand that week.
- A SEPTA Key card costs $4.95, refunded when you register it at septakey.org. Paying with Key or a contactless card also gets you up to two free transfers within 2 hours, which cash doesn't.
- For airport arrivals, the flat taxi fare from PHL to Center City is $32 for one passenger, plus $1 for each extra passenger. The Airport Line costs $8.75 and stops at Gray 30th St Station, Suburban Station and Jefferson Station.
Philadelphia pricing context: what each segment costs
Budget places in Philadelphia usually price well below Center City rates outside big events and busy fall weekends. Four-star hotels in Center City run noticeably higher, and the five-star hotels around Rittenhouse Square charge a premium all year.
Rates climb in spring and fall, when conventions fill the Pennsylvania Convention Center at 1101 Arch Street, and again in summer. Summer weekdays can be better value than weekends. Winter, outside the holidays, is the best window for a cheap stay.
The hotels
Manayunk Chambers Guest House
168 Gay Street
9.861 reviews
3 min walk to Manayunk (Regional Rail)A 9.8 guest score, the highest here, at a Manayunk guesthouse priced well below Center City.
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Cornerstone Bed and Breakfast
3300 Baring Street
9.678 reviews
10 min walk to 34th St (L, Market-Frankford Line)A three-star independent B&B on Baring Street near University City, with a 9.6 guest score.
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Lokal Hotel Old City
139 N 3rd St.
9.5127 reviews
6 min walk to 2nd St (L, Market-Frankford Line)In Old City, a short walk from the Liberty Bell and Independence Hall, with a 9.5 guest score.
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Kimpton Hotel Monaco Philadelphia by IHG
433 Chestnut St.
9.21,287 reviews
2 min walk to 5th St/Independence Hall (L, Market-Frankford Line)LEED Gold certified with a 9.2 guest score, on Chestnut Street right by Independence Mall.
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Kimpton Hotel Palomar Philadelphia by IHG
117 S 17th St
9.0950 reviews
5 min walk to 15th St/City Hall (L, B and T lines)LEED Gold certified with a 9.0 guest score and a Rittenhouse-area address on South 17th Street.
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Frequently asked questions
What counts as a cheap hotel in Philadelphia?＋
In Philadelphia, a cheap hotel is one priced well below typical Center City rates outside big events. That covers three-star independents, small guesthouses and the occasional four-star, like the two Kimptons on this list.
Which months have the lowest hotel rates in Philadelphia?＋
January through early March is the clearest low-demand window. Rates at independent and boutique properties drop compared to spring and fall, when conventions at the Pennsylvania Convention Center and heavy leisure traffic push prices up across all tiers.
How do I get around Philadelphia cheaply from a budget hotel?＋
SEPTA Metro trips cost $2.90 each on the L (Market-Frankford Line), the B (Broad Street Line), trolleys and buses. A One Day Convenience Pass costs $7.50, which beats three single fares. A SEPTA Key card costs $4.95, refunded when you register it, and paying with Key or contactless gets you free transfers that cash doesn't.
Are there cheap hotels near Philadelphia's main attractions?＋
Lokal Hotel Old City is a 6-minute walk from 2nd St on the L, and the Liberty Bell Center and Independence Hall are a short walk from the hotel. The Kimpton Hotel Monaco on Chestnut Street is 2 minutes from 5th St/Independence Hall and right by Independence Mall.
Do any budget Philadelphia hotels have sustainability certifications?＋
Two hotels on this list hold LEED Gold certification: Kimpton Hotel Monaco Philadelphia by IHG and Kimpton Hotel Palomar Philadelphia by IHG. Philadelphia has only six LEED-certified hotels total, so two at these prices is a good find.
What is the cheapest way to get from Philadelphia Airport to a budget hotel?＋
The SEPTA Airport Line costs $8.75 with a Key card and runs every 30 minutes on weekdays, stopping at Gray 30th St Station, Suburban Station and Jefferson Station. A flat-rate taxi from PHL to Center City costs $32 for one passenger, plus $1 for each extra passenger. Rideshare pickup is at Ride App/Zone 7 at the airport.
