What 121,000 Car Rentals Reveal About Where Prices Actually Make Sense
We analyzed over 121,000 car rental bookings across 60+ countries from our platform database. The patterns that emerged weren't what you'd expect from typical travel advice. Geography matters more than anything else. Seasonal swings in Europe are dramatic. And rental duration creates counterintuitive economics where longer bookings cost significantly less per day.
Here's what the numbers show.
Methodology
This analysis is based on over 121,000 completed car rental bookings made through the Carla platform between 2023 and 2025. All prices were converted to US dollars using exchange rates at the time of booking to enable direct comparison across markets.
How we calculated the numbers:
- Daily rates represent the total rental cost divided by rental duration
- City and country averages include all bookings in that location (minimum thresholds applied for reliability)
- Seasonal data aggregates bookings by month across the full date range
- Vehicle category data reflects actual customer choices, not listed inventory
What's included in these prices:
- Base rental rates charged by suppliers
- Typical fees included in the final booking price
- Variations based on pickup location, duration, and vehicle type
What's not included:
- Insurance add-ons purchased separately
- Fuel costs
- Toll fees or parking charges
- Damage deposits (shown separately where applicable)
Important notes:
- Prices reflect completed bookings from our platform, not current market rates
- Popular destinations show more reliable averages due to higher transaction volumes
- Destinations with insufficient booking volume were excluded from city-level analysis
- Seasonal data may vary year to year based on local events and demand
Geography Dictates Everything
The daily rate difference between the cheapest and most expensive major cities is substantial.
But the real story is in the regional clusters.
Cheapest European Cities
| City | Country | Price Per Day |
|---|---|---|
| Alicante | Spain | $26 |
| Tenerife | Spain | $26 |
| Palma Mallorca | Spain | $27 |
| Lisbon | Portugal | $28 |
| Menorca | Spain | $29 |
| Porto | Portugal | $31 |
| MĂĄlaga | Spain | $31 |
| Naples | Italy | $32 |
| Catania | Italy | $34 |
| Barcelona | Spain | $36 |
Cheapest US Cities
| City | Price Per Day |
|---|---|
| Orlando | $32 |
| Miami | $34 |
| Fort Lauderdale | $35 |
| Tampa | $38 |
| Los Angeles | $48 |
| Honolulu | $49 |
| San Diego | $49 |
| Las Vegas | $50 |
Most Expensive Cities
| City | Country | Price Per Day |
|---|---|---|
| New York | United States | $73 |
| Newark | United States | $68 |
| Boston | United States | $66 |
| Nice | France | $66 |
| Philadelphia | United States | $64 |
| Chicago | United States | $63 |
| Florence | Italy | $59 |
| Seattle | United States | $58 |
Major Italian cities offer better value than expected. Naples costs $32 per day. Rome is $37. Milan is $44. Florence breaks the pattern at $59, likely because its medieval street layout constrains supply.
Istanbul costs $36 per day - putting it in the same range as Rome, not at either extreme.
Country-Level Patterns Show Clear Winners
Looking at entire countries rather than just cities reveals broader pricing dynamics.
Cheapest Countries
| Country | Daily Rate |
|---|---|
| Malta | $15 |
| Romania | $20 |
| Costa Rica | $22 |
| Mexico | $22 |
| Sint Maarten | $27 |
| Portugal | $28 |
| Bulgaria | $29 |
| Spain | $32 |
Most Expensive Countries
| Country | Daily Rate |
|---|---|
| Finland | $159 |
| Switzerland | $109 |
| Austria | $104 |
| Norway | $86 |
| Sweden | $82 |
| Germany | $77 |
| New Zealand | $76 |
| Australia | $73 |
For context:
- United States: $57 per day average
- France: $59 per day average
- Italy: $44 per day average
The Airport Premium Isn't Universal
Conventional wisdom says airport rentals cost more. The data doesn't support that as a rule.
Airport vs. City Center Pricing
| Country | Airport | City Center | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| New Zealand | $73/day | $94/day | $21 cheaper at airport |
| United States | $53/day | $64/day | $11 cheaper at airport |
| Spain | $30/day | $40/day | $10 cheaper at airport |
| Australia | $71/day | $78/day | $7 cheaper at airport |
| United Kingdom | $49/day | $55/day | $6 cheaper at airport |
| Germany | $78/day | $76/day | $2 more at airport |
| Italy | $45/day | $43/day | $2 more at airport |
| France | $59/day | $59/day | No difference |
These reversals probably trace to urban congestion pricing and commercial vehicle access restrictions in city centers. Airport infrastructure investment and tourist traffic patterns also play a role.
Italy, Germany, and France show minimal difference. The pricing is essentially flat.
The takeaway: Check both options for your specific destination. The premium direction isn't consistent.
United States Shows Regional Price Clusters
The United States has enough transaction volume to show clear regional patterns.
US Cities from Cheapest to Most Expensive
| City | Daily Rate |
|---|---|
| Orlando | $32 |
| Miami | $34 |
| Fort Lauderdale | $35 |
| Tampa | $38 |
| Los Angeles | $48 |
| Honolulu | $49 |
| San Diego | $49 |
| Las Vegas | $50 |
| Washington DC | $54 |
| Houston | $54 |
| San Francisco | $54 |
| Denver | $55 |
| Atlanta | $56 |
| Dallas | $56 |
| Phoenix | $57 |
California shows variance. Los Angeles is $48. San Diego is $49. But San Francisco jumps to $54.
The Northeast corridor is consistently expensive. New York ($73), Newark ($68), Boston ($66), and Philadelphia ($64) all command premiums.
Europe's Seasonal Swings Are Extreme
Spain and Italy experience dramatic seasonal pricing shifts. The United States stays more stable year-round.
Seasonal Price Ranges by Country
| Country | Winter Low | Summer Peak | Winter Discount |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spain | $17/day (Jan) | $89/day (Jul) | 81% cheaper |
| Italy | $23/day (Feb) | $103/day (Jul) | 78% cheaper |
| Australia | $42/day (Jan) | $119/day (Dec) | 64% cheaper |
| United States | $44/day (Jan) | $78/day (Jul) | 43% cheaper |
These aren't small adjustments. They're fundamental market shifts driven by Northern European tourist patterns.
The United States shows more stable pricing. Summer commands a premium, but the baseline doesn't collapse in winter the way Mediterranean markets do. Domestic business travel and distributed vacation patterns explain this.
Australia follows its own calendar. Prices drop 64% in June through August (their winter) when international tourism slows. December hits peak pricing as summer begins.
Rental Duration Creates a Discount Curve
How long you rent affects the daily rate more than most people realize. The pricing doesn't scale linearly. It follows a discount curve with specific break points.
Pricing by Rental Duration
| Duration | Daily Rate | Total Cost | Savings vs 1-Day |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 day | $77 | $77 | baseline |
| 2-3 days | $54 | $135-162 | 30% |
| 4-6 days | $45 | $180-270 | 42% |
| 1 week | $38 | $269 | 50% |
| 8-13 days | $39 | $315-520 | 49% |
| 2 weeks | $35 | $487 | 55% |
| 2+ weeks | $33 | $560+ | 57% |
The 2-3 day range is most popular among our customers at $54 per day. But it's not the best value. The one-week option at $38 per day offers significantly better economics.
The curve shows a slight increase in the 8-13 day range ($39/day) before dropping again at two weeks ($35/day) and continuing down for rentals longer than two weeks ($33/day).
The Math on Extending Rentals
Here's where it gets counterintuitive:
If you book 5 days at the 4-6 day rate, you pay $45 per day for a total of $225.
If you book 7 days at the weekly rate, you pay $38 per day for a total of $269.
The extra two days cost you only $44, or $22 per day.
What People Actually Rent
Vehicle choice affects both availability and pricing. The patterns differ significantly between European and US markets.
Most Popular Vehicle Categories
| Category | Average Daily Rate |
|---|---|
| Economy | $44 |
| Intermediate | $50 |
| Mini | $36 |
| Compact | $45 |
| Intermediate SUV | $57 |
| Full-size | $57 |
| Compact SUV | $44 |
| Standard SUV | $70 |
| Economy SUV | $27 |
Most Booked Vehicles in US Markets
| Vehicle | Category | Daily Rate |
|---|---|---|
| Ford Focus | Compact | $46 |
| Toyota Camry | Full-size | $57 |
| Jeep Cherokee | Intermediate SUV | $57 |
| Toyota Corolla | Intermediate | $54 |
| Mazda 3 | Intermediate | $47 |
| Chevrolet Spark | Economy | $49 |
| Kia Rio | Economy | $54 |
| Jeep Grand Cherokee | Standard SUV | $70 |
| Nissan Versa | Compact | $52 |
| Nissan Rogue | Intermediate SUV | $56 |
The Ford Focus dominates US rentals on our platform at $46 per day. Jeep SUVs command premium pricing - the Grand Cherokee at $70 per day.
Most Booked Vehicles in European Markets
| Vehicle | Category | Daily Rate |
|---|---|---|
| Fiat 500 | Economy | $37 |
| Fiat Panda | Mini | $28 |
| Renault Clio | Economy | $50 |
| Opel Corsa | Economy | $38 |
| Volkswagen Polo | Economy | $29 |
| Renault Captur | Economy SUV | $27 |
| VW Jetta | Standard | $48 |
| Peugeot 208 | Economy | $41 |
| Fiat Panda Hybrid | Economy Hybrid | $45 |
| Renault Captur | Compact SUV | $35 |
The Renault Captur (Economy SUV) stands out at $27 per day - making it the cheapest option among popular European vehicles and significantly cheaper than most sedan options in the US market.
The Patterns That Matter
You can't reduce car rental pricing to simple rules. But you can use these patterns from our transaction data.
đŻ Actionable Insights
1. The Spanish coast and Portugal consistently offer low rates
- Spain averages $32 per day
- Portugal averages $28 per day
- Multiple cities under $30 per day
- If you're comparing European destinations and cost matters, these regions have structural advantages
2. Check both airport and city center pricing
- In New Zealand, airports are $21 cheaper
- In the U.S., airports are $11 cheaper
- In Spain, airports save $10 daily
- But in Italy and Germany, the difference is only $2
- Don't assume - the premium direction isn't consistent
3. Time European trips for shoulder or winter seasons
- Spain drops from $89/day in summer to $17/day in winter
- Italy drops from $103 to $23
- These 80% swings are substantial enough to influence destination timing
4. Florida offers consistent U.S. value
- Four Florida cities range from $32 to $38 per day
- Half the price of Northeast corridor cities
- Year-round tourism infrastructure creates competition
5. Book at least a week if you're close to that threshold
- The discount from $54/day (2-3 days) to $38/day (1 week) is dramatic
- Seven days costs $269 total versus $162 for three days
- The extra four days cost only $107, or $27 per day
6. Consider smaller vehicles in Europe
- Fiat 500 at $37/day (most popular)
- Fiat Panda at $28/day
- Renault Captur at $27/day
- Mini and Economy categories average $36-44/day versus $50-57 for Intermediate and Full-size
The Bottom Line
The highest-variance factors are:
- Geography (2.8x difference between cities)
- Season (81% swings in Europe)
- Rental duration (50% discount at 7 days)
Understanding where these break points exist in our data gives you more leverage than general advice about "finding deals."
