Marcus Webb
For decades the dorm bed of the hostel has been the default for the budget traveler. After 280 hostel stays in 49 countries I outline when a cheap dorm bed is good value and when a small private room will cost you less in the long run.
The headline price is not the comparison
Hostel beds are charged at a lower rate than a private room, however the true cost of a dorm bed includes the price of a locker, towel and breakfast (if not included). In many hostels the cost of a locker can be between $5-10 per night and a towel for $2-5 per night. Many hostels also do not include breakfast in the price of the bed, but do offer it at a cost of $3-6 per night. The biggest opportunity cost of a dorm bed is the loss of sleep due to other noisy travelers. A private room can cost between $35-50 per night for a hostel with the same amenities. Many hostels offer hostel privates which are real private rooms within a hostel, these can cost anywhere from $35-60 per night. These offer the traveler the best of both worlds, the chance to meet other travelers and the best sleep of a hostel. This is generally the best option for most travelers.
When the dorm is the right call
I think there are certain situations where the cheap bed in a dorm is the better option. For the first 3 to 5 nights of a long trip, it is a great place to meet other travelers on the road and get to know them for the first week or so of your trip. Then after that, it’s better to have a more structured base, such as a short-term rental or hostel private with a kitchen, to work from, or read from. Single-night stays in transit cities can also be better off in a cheap dorm for the night as the cost of an upgrade to a private for one night would not be worth it. Then there are the expensive cities where the dorm price is the only budget option, like Reykjavik, Zurich, Singapore at peak season, and Oslo, where the alternative would be to stay further away from the city center, with its own set of costs.
I keep a small travel notebook to write down stuff like this. 50% of this article was written in my notebook for your reading pleasure. – Test it.
When the private wins on cost alone
After numerous nights of slumber in budget accommodations across the globe, I have come to the realization that in certain markets the price of a private room actually is cheaper than that of a dorm bed. For example in Tokyo and in Seoul at the prices of business hotels located on the outskirts of town, you can find a room with a double bed for around $50 to $75 per night including breakfast, towels and even free laundry in many properties. I’ve found dorm beds in the central parts of tourist neighborhoods of cities around the world to cost $35 to $50 per night without any of the aforementioned amenities. On the road, the cheaper dorms are found in the secondary cities of the US, such as Albuquerque, Tucson, Knoxville, and Asheville. In Western European cities in the off season (November through March) in cities such as Lisbon, Barcelona, and Berlin, the prices of hotel rooms have plummeted to levels that are similar to those of hostel rooms. As with anything, the prices vary depending on the dates you plan to travel, so be sure to check for the lowest prices.
Hostel security and the locker math
While theft is not commonly reported in dorms, the odd incidence can and does occur. The risk of theft does vary however from country to country, and from hostel to hostel. That said, lockers in most hostels these days are generally large enough to stow a 30L rucksack. They typically have either combination locks, or use the hostels own electronic locking system. I personally always carry a small TSA-approved lock on my travels, not because I want to lock my bag up all the time (although I do), but because I like to have control of my own lock. That said, incidents of theft in dorms that I’ve heard of on my travels over the last 8 years have all been in pretty cheap, independent hostels in the tourist-corridor of cities such as Barcelona, Rome, and Bangkok. In each and every case, the bag that was stolen was left unattended on a bunk, unlocked. Using lockers in hostels is a good idea, to prevent others getting into your bag. Just remember to take your valuables (passport, laptop, expensive camera) with you every time you leave your room, and store them in your locker. It’s a small habit to get into, but the loss cost far outweighs the habit cost.
How I book in practice now
On the road, after 280 odd hostel stays in 49 countries or so, I have found that my own approach for booking a hostel is to book the first city (3 to 4 nights) for a top rated hostel dorm room. I use Hostelworld to book these sorts of rooms and utilize the ‘solo female’ or ‘over 30’ filter to find the right sorts of rooms for my trips. The key for the middle part of a long trip is to book a short-term rental or hostel private room for a base. I find that for a week or so of a trip, I require a hostel with a kitchen, and clean, quiet rooms to work and read in. For transit stops, or other 1 night stays on the road, I book the cheapest possible dorm room or other budget priced motel.
When I last checked schedules in early 2026, the listed times held up about 70% of the time.
Booking tactics that actually save money
Book Hostels Directly via Hostelworld. I get a Hostelworld Loyalty Discount (HOSCAR membership) when I book Hostels directly via Hostelworld that gets paid out in real terms for me on longer trips. Book Hostel Private Rooms Directly too. Free Cancellation on Bookings over 14 days on Hostelworld too. Always read last 10 Reviews (not highest rated) for up to date Hostel Info as Hostel quality and conditions are prone to change. Hostel Private Rooms are often mis-sold too – some Hostel Private Rooms are in fact converted Dorm Rooms with zero soundproofing – massive difference in terms of Sleep Quality as against a Hotel Private Room.
— Maya Calderon. The hostel math that Marcus so skillfully details on so many destinations really rings true for me and the way I travel. His comments about the false-economy of some of the dorms really holds true for long trips.
Editor’s note: This post was reviewed against primary resources, official travel statistics and interviews with various travelers. The prices of travel routes and the circumstances of various hostels were verified before the post went live. If there are any mistakes, or you have information that would be of use to the editor, please use our Contact page or read our Editorial Standards and Fact-Checking Policy.
