When budgeting for a trip, one of the things many people fail to take into consideration is how pricey their airport can be. Between grabbing food while you wait for your flight, to paying for parking, the costs you incur while waiting to start your trip can really add up.
The brains behind the website Casino.ca set out to figure out which North American airports have the biggest price tags when it comes to those forgotten costs to create a list of the “50 most and least affordable airports in North America.” In order to put the list together, they collected data from the 50 busiest hubs in the region, and then factored in various costs like flights, food, and parking, based on figures pulled in June 2025.
In the end, they named one airport as the cheapest in the U.S., while also coming up with a hit list of the ones where you’ll pay way more to travel. “We used Wikipedia’s list of the 50 busiest North America airports and manually gathered price data for beer pricing, parking and hotels to establish the ranking,” the website explains of the methodology used to name some of the area’s least expensive places to fly in and out of.
Sign up for our newsletter and get hidden gems, travel secrets, and stories like this delivered straight to your inbox!
What is the lest expensive airport in the U.S.
Drumroll please… the least expensive airport in the U.S. is none other than William P. Hobby Airport in Houston, Texas. “This gem boasts the lowest parking fee at just $14,” according to Casino.ca. “You’ll be paying a modest $7.95 per beer, and if you’re planning to catch some pre-flight Zs, a hotel will set you back $101, giving a total reasonable spend of $122.95.”
One of Casino.ca’s experts made a statement about the findings to USA Today, explaining how important it is for travelers to consider some of those hidden costs they generally wouldn’t think of when planning for a trip. “Exploring alternative routes or more cost-effective travel options can make a big difference to your budget,” Lara Wilson said, noting that families and larger groups stand to feel the pinch a little bit more when they travel.
Not only are the prices reasonable, but the Visit Houston Texas tourism website says that travelers coming through this airport may get to experience a few extra perks when they have one to three hours to spare, like dining on traditional food and drinks at restaurants like The Rustic or LaTrelle’s Tex-Mex Kitchen. If you’re willing to leave the facility, you can also pop over to the 1940 Air Terminal Museum, which is just under two miles away from the airport.
Related: Universal Kids Resort’s new North Texas Park reveals full details and it may just beat Disney
Where can you stay when flying out of William P. Hobby Airport in Houston
Looking to book a stay while traveling through William P. Hobby Airport in Houston? Consider some of the local hotel offerings that you can find on Booking.com, which include:
-
Best Western Plus Hobby Airport Inn & Suites, which includes a complimentary breakfast, outdoor pool, and airport shuttle service for as low as $55 a night
-
Days Inn & Suites by Wyndham Houston Hobby Airport, which includes a complimentary breakfast starting at just $75 a night
-
TownePlace Suites by Marriott Houston Hobby Airport, which has rates starting as low as $94 a night
-
Holiday Inn Express & Suites Houston – Hobby Airport Area by IHG, which has rates starting as low as $109 a night
What are the most expensive airports on the list
While we know that The Lone Star state is home to one of the most affordable airports on the list, you can also find one of the more expensive airports in the region in Texas as well. According to Casino.ca, these are the most expensive North American airports:
-
LaGuardia Airport in New York, New York
-
Denver International Airport in Denver, Colorado
-
Logan International Airport in Boston, Massachusetts
-
Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport in Dallas, Texas
-
John F. Kennedy International Airport in New York, New York
-
San Francisco International Airport in San Francisco, California
-
San Diego International Airport in San Diego, California
-
Miami International Airport in Miami, Florida
-
Calgary International Airport in Calgary, Canada
-
Midway International Airport in Chicago, Illinois
While some people may have the option to opt for one of the more inexpensive hotels on the list, many others will spend more money trying to travel to a cheaper flight hub. If you find yourself forced to fly out of one of the 10 airports on the more expensive list, consider budgeting a little extra for some of those forgotten airport expenses to help cover costs.
This story was originally reported by TravelHost on Nov 21, 2025, where it first appeared in the Airlines section. Add TravelHost as a Preferred Source by clicking here.