These U.S. Cities Had the Most Expensive Rental Cars in 2025

Renting a car on vacation gives travelers the flexibility to go where they please on a schedule that suits them. But this convenience comes at a cost, and one that varies a surprising amount from state to state. If you’re looking to stick to a strict budget on your next getaway, you may want to avoid these 10 U.S. cities with the most expensive car rental costs, according to a fall 2025 survey from Cheapcarrental.com.

Why Car Rental Rates Vary

First, let’s look into why car rental rates can vary so much. There are a number of reasons, but the most significant factor is supply and demand. Low stock issues, especially regarding the most popular categories of vehicle, can influence this, effectively forcing drivers to upgrade to more expensive models. 

Seasonality can also have a noticeable effect. For example, car rental costs at airports close to mountain ski resorts will increase once the snow seekers arrive. Short summer seasons often push rates up above annual averages in places like Anchorage, Alaska, and Bozeman, Montana, as visitors flock to these locations to experience the scenic landscapes in favorable weather. Spring break can also have an effect in southerly beach locations.

Special events can impact prices for a shorter length of time — for instance, if a popular concert or sports game is drawing in fans from outside the area, demand will spike temporarily before subsiding to normal levels. 

The broader cost of living in the destination can affect prices. So, you can expect to pay more for rental in San Francisco, for example, than in San Juan, Puerto Rico. Fees and taxes can also come into play. Typically you’ll pay a surcharge to rent at an airport compared to a central city location. And in areas where there is a lack of competition, providers don’t need to slash rates to remain attractive. 

The Most Expensive U.S. Cities To Rent a Car In

The survey from Cheapcarrental.com focused on rental car rates at 100 U.S. airport locations in fall 2025. Here were the three most expensive cities:

• Long Beach, California 

The data indicates that drivers faced the highest rental costs in Long Beach, California, located near Los Angeles. The cost of renting the most affordable model averaged $85 per day during the period from September to November 2025. Rates remained remarkably stable compared with the summer; from June to August 2025, the average cost was $81 per day. 

• Portland, Maine

Landing in a close second was Portland, Maine. Car rentals here averaged $83 per day in fall 2025, perhaps in part due to the lure of fall foliage. However, in this region of the U.S., rates spike even higher in summer — from June to August 2025, the lowest-cost category of rental car in Portland was $131, as tourists squeezed in coastal vacations in towns such as Kennebunkport and Boothbay Harbor. 

• St. Petersburg, Florida 

Costing an average of $83 per day, St. Pete-Clearwater International Airport was also an expensive place to rent a car in fall 2025. Temperatures along Florida’s Gulf Coast remain high when it’s already turned cold further north, fueling demand. Resorts here are relatively spread out, and public transportation is limited. Additionally, limited rental fleets at this smaller alternative airport to the larger Tampa International Airport (located 15 miles away), drive up prices.

Other Expensive U.S. Airports To Rent a Car At

Rounding out the top 10 most expensive airport locations for renting a car were Boise ($82 average), San Francisco ($77), Los Angeles ($77), Oklahoma City ($76), Nashville ($75), Little Rock ($75), and Pittsburgh ($74). Interestingly, none of these airports made the top 10 in a similar survey conducted in summer 2025, when the top spots were dominated by big cities such as New York and Chicago — another reminder that rates can vary considerably based on the seasonality of the destination.

The Cheapest U.S. Cities for Car Rentals

Aside from St. Pete-Clearwater Airport, Florida’s airport rental car agencies typically offered good value for fall getaways. Seven of the 10 cheapest airports surveyed (Miami, Fort Lauderdale, Palm Beach, Tampa, Fort Myers, Orlando, and Sarasota) offered rates at $42 per day or less. Cheapest of all was San Juan, Puerto Rico, where the daily rate for the most affordable model was just $25.