Chicago is an absolutely amazing city, filled with unique architecture, plenty of tourist attractions, and a vibrant nightlife. Your budget should not prevent you from being able to experience all that Chicago has to offer especially if there’s a city hotel with an affordable price. From 4-star hotels in downtown to hotels for families, there are a plethora of great but cheaper accommodations around Chicago. Without further adieu, here are some of the best budget hotels to help you save money during your stay in the city.
We handpicked these listings carefully, considering (wherever possible) Superhost status, recent guest reviews, location, accommodation type, prices, availability of dates, decor, and amenities. The image galleries get refreshed with the latest updates regularly. They were last updated on September 10, 2024.
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1. Chicago Getaway Hostel (from USD 65)
Chicago Getaway Hostel is a 3-star hotel that’s well situated to make exploring the city convenient for you. It is a decent option for guests aiming to experience all that Chicago has to offer as it’s close to Lincoln Park and within walking distance of the Fullerton Subway Station, Lincoln Park Zoo, and DePaul University. Additionally, this budget hotel offers bicycle rentals, so you have an extra transportation option. Daily breakfast is included in the price of these 3-star hotel rooms. The various affordable accommodation options of this Chicago hostel are stylish and bold with sleek and modern white and gray walls and furniture with bright scarlet beds.
Chicago Getaway Hostel
Address: 616 West Arlington Place
5.31 km (3.3 mi) from Humboldt (Alexander Von) Park
2. HI Chicago Hostel (from USD 69)
Do you love excitement? Is one of your travel goals to visit all the major tourist hubs? If so, HI Chicago Hostels is for you. It is located in the heart of downtown Chicago. This cheap hotel is in a prime location to see Chicago’s bold and unique architecture. Lake Michigan is few minutes away, and there are restaurants, bars, museums, and shopping areas. The hostel also organizes free walking tours of the city for its guests. It offers affordable rates as well as discounts and coupons for top tourist attractions.
After a busy day of sightseeing and perhaps an exciting night on the town, you can return to your bright and contemporary downtown hotel room to unwind. You can also choose to mingle with other guests by the pool table. Either option is a wonderful way to end an eventful day.
HI Chicago Hostel This is a Proud Certified property where you can be extra sure of a welcoming stay.
Address: 24 Ida B Wells Drive
7.07 km (4.4 mi) from Humboldt (Alexander Von) Park
3. City Suites Hotel (from USD 351)
City Suites hotel is located in East Lakeview, which is also known as Boystown. The spacious suites are vibrant with abstract art pieces and a color palette of dark teal, yellow, deep plum, and neutral colors. The lounges and common rooms are elegantly decorated with deep chestnut furniture, various shades of brown décor, a flat-screen TV, free internet access, and a fireplace, providing the room with a warm and sophisticated ambiance. The hotel also has a fitness center and a business center. There is even private parking available. Should any guest require assistance, the attentive staff at the 24-hour front desk will be more than happy to help.
Visiting the major cultural attractions and the downtown area should be a breeze, as the Belmont CTA station is right next to the City Suites Hotel.
City Suites Hotel This is a Proud Certified property where you can be extra sure of a welcoming stay.
Address: 933 West Belmont Avenue
5.57 km (3.5 mi) from Humboldt (Alexander Von) Park
4. FieldHouse Jones (from USD 162)
FieldHouse Jones is a retro chic hostel in downtown Chicago. The rooms of this clean hotel have beautiful decorations and combine a variety of colors – white, gray, yellow, and brown – with wooden floors and furniture. The hostel is located less than one mile (1.6 km) away from Water Tower Chicago and Magnificent Mile; it is also less than ten miles (16 mi) away from Chicago Midway Airport. All around the hostel, there are several cafes, restaurants, bars, and shopping areas. Inside the hostel itself, you can visit the restaurant and bar to socialize with other guests and sample popular local dishes. If you don’t want to leave, the hotel offers on-site dining at its own restaurant and it specializes in serving American cuisine.
The Chicago Hotel Collection River North
Address: 312 W. Chestnut St.
5.5 km (3.5 mi) from Humboldt (Alexander Von) Park
5. Hotel Versey (from USD 326)
Hotel Versey is a nice hotel located in downtown Chicago. It is only a four to five minute drive from Lincoln Park Zoo and about four miles (6.4 km) away from Navy Pier and is close to O'Hare International Airport. The colorful murals in the hotel playfully remind you to explore the city like a local and make for cozy establishments. The décor in the rooms pairs conservative neutral colors such as beige, white, and tan, with an accent wall that is a collage of Chicago life.
Hotel Versey Days Inn by Wyndham Chicago This is a Proud Certified property where you can be extra sure of a welcoming stay.
Address: 644 West Diversey Parkway
5.57 km (3.5 mi) from Humboldt (Alexander Von) Park
6. Quality Inn Midway Airport (from USD 113)
Quality Inn has modern guestrooms for visitors in the Windy city. These contemporary accommodation options are especially suited for business travelers. If you are busy with work, you will be grateful for the office desk and coffee maker that are in every room. The minimal décor consisting of soft neutral tones of beige, tan, and camel, which are accented with pops of brick red create a calming environment, conducive to both productivity and relaxation. This hotel in a terrific location provides a shuttle service to and from Chicago Midway Airport as well as a car rental service, which enables you to travel around the city with ease.
LXG Midway Airport
Address: 7353 South Cicero Avenue
16.66 km (10.4 mi) from Humboldt (Alexander Von) Park
7. Motel 6 Schiller Park, IL - Chicago O'Hare (from USD 182)
Just five miles (eight kilometers) away from the Donald E. Stephens Convention Center, Chicago Fashion Outlets, and Allstate Arena, Motel 6 is an affordable hotel that offers a variety of accommodation options for its guests. It’s also close to several restaurants and a coffee shop.
The hotel’s modern guestrooms all feature either full beds or queen-sized beds, air conditioning, WiFi access, and a mini-fridge. There is even a mobility-accessible room for guests with disabilities. To top it all off, the hotel allows pets to be brought along.
Motel 6-Schiller Park, IL - Chicago O'Hare
Address: 9408 Lawrence Avenue
14.91 km (9.3 mi) from Humboldt (Alexander Von) Park
8. Motel 6-Elk Grove Village, IL - O'Hare (from USD 90)
Located 25 minutes away from downtown Chicago, Motel 6-Elk Grove Village, IL - O'Hare is only a 10-minute drive away from O’Hare International Airport. This comfortable motel is also close to several restaurants, shops, marketplaces, and attractions.
It offers a variety of cheap accommodation options that include a TV with cable channels, a desk, and a private bathroom with a shower or bath. If you need assistance, the hotel’s generous and fabulous staff at the 24-hour front desk are more than happy to provide assistance.
Motel 6-Elk Grove Village, IL - O'Hare
Address: 2881 Touhy Avenue
22.52 km (14.0 mi) from Humboldt (Alexander Von) Park
9. Hyatt Place Chicago O'Hare Airport (from USD 171)
Hyatt Place Chicago O'Hare Airport is a 3-star hotel that’s right next to Allstate Arena and is only 3.2 km (1.9 mi) away from O’Hare International Airport. This places the hotel in an excellent location as it’s close to several restaurants, shops, and cultural landmarks.
As for its affordable accommodations, the hotel offers a variety of options that each have its own set of amenities. All of these rooms come with a 42-inch flat-screen TV with a media connectivity system, a sofa bed, a minibar, a work desk, and a nice coffee machine. Guests can also enjoy the indoor pool and modern fitness center.
Hyatt Place Chicago O'Hare Airport
Address: 6810 Mannheim Rd
18.66 km (11.6 mi) from Humboldt (Alexander Von) Park
10. Hilton Garden Inn Chicago Downtown/Magnificent Mile (from USD 260)
Hilton Garden Inn Chicago Downtown/Magnificent Mile is a 3-star city hotel that boasts its convenient location which makes it easier for guests to enjoy all that Chicago has to offer. It’s located at the heart of downtown Chicago, specifically Chicago’s River North neighborhood, and is only two blocks away from the various shops and restaurants on Magnificent Mile.
It offers a plethora of 3-star accommodation options. These modern guestrooms are all furnished with a flat-screen TV, microwave, and a nice coffee machine. There is also an indoor pool that can be heated and floor-to-ceiling windows that showcase amazing skyline views of the city.
Hilton Garden Inn Chicago Downtown/Magnificent Mile
Address: 10 East Grand Avenue
6.38 km (4.0 mi) from Humboldt (Alexander Von) Park
11. Ohio House Motel (from USD 186)
Ohio House Motel is a 2-star budget hotel that boasts a central location and offers a variety of accommodation options for guests to enjoy. These air-conditioned rooms are all furnished with cable TVs, double beds, telephones, and seating areas. Some of these rooms also have a balcony that showcases breathtaking views of the city. There’s also free private parking available for guests bringing their cars along.
With the motel located in downtown Chicago, guests will be happy to know that they’re only minutes away from various restaurants, shops, and varied attractions like Navy Pier, Shedd Aquarium, the House Of Blues, Chicago Riverwalk, the Chicago Tribune Tower, and Michigan Avenue.
Ohio House Motel
Address: 600 North La Salle Drive
5.93 km (3.7 mi) from Humboldt (Alexander Von) Park
12. Urban Holiday Lofts (from USD 19)
If you love art, culture, and a bargain, consider staying in Urban Holiday Lofts. Urban Holiday Lofts is in Bucktown, an artsy and trendy neighborhood. Both the private and shared dorm rooms have a vintage and rustic feel due to the combination of brick walls and mahogany floors and ceilings. This is a reflection of the hostel’s origin as a former historic drum factory which was eventually converted into a hostel. The hostel is near several art galleries, cafes, bars, and Wicker Park. If you would like to do the conventional tourist activities or experience the downtown nightlife, the downtown area is only five miles (8 km) away. Public transportation, located five minutes away from the hostel, makes navigating the city painless.
Urban Holiday Lofts
Address: 2014 West Wabansia
2.12 km (1.4 mi) from Humboldt (Alexander Von) Park
13. Holiday Jones (from USD 27)
Hostel Holiday Jones is located in Wicker Place and is an art lover’s dream. The hostel is located near several lounges, bars, restaurants, and music venues. However, guests do not have to travel outside of the hostel to enjoy art and delicious food. There are bright and eye-catching art pieces displayed throughout the hostel. Even the rooms, which contain interesting combinations or various plaid and argyle patterns paired with a neutral pale gray wall, have been decorated by located artists. Holiday Jones has a restaurant called 5411 Empanada, where you can sample authentic South American dishes. Tourist attractions, such as the Navy Pier and Millennium Park, are within four miles (6.4 km) of the hotel, and the Sears Tower and city center area about a 20-minute train ride away.
Holiday Jones
Address: 1659 West Division Street
2.71 km (1.7 mi) from Humboldt (Alexander Von) Park
Do not let the Windy City blow a hole in your pocket!
You do not have to go broke while exploring the Windy City. Use this list of budget-friendly hotels to help book you quality, affordable accommodations in Chicago. The money you save can be used to help you see more of the city or can simply go to your savings account. Either way, your wallet will be happy!
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