Trying to find a ‘cheap’ hotel anywhere in the US that is in a good location and is not a chain hotel may seem downright impossible, but as Justin Bieber once said, never say never. I’ve done the research for you and found a few cheap Austin hotels for under $200/night.

There might not be a lot to choose from but solo travelers can still find accommodations in their price range that still offer a cool experience.

Hotels in Downtown Austin Near 6th Street

Firehouse Hostel

📍 605 Brazos St

I needed to put this one first for a few reasons. I personally stayed here, so I can speak honestly and throughly about this property. And it is the only TRUE budget accommodation in Austin that I could find with a bed in a dorm room for as little as $26/night.

The Firehouse Hostel is located off of 6th street, which is good or bad depending on what you want to do. Because of the central location, it’s pretty easy to explore other parts of the city from there. While being close to rowdy 6th, it’s still quiet enough being tucked just far enough away from all the noise.

There is an award winning speakeasy behind a bookcase in the lobby of the hostel and it’s totally worth the hype. You don’t need to be a guest to check it out.

I had a fine stay here. There was nothing to really complain about but I definitely wasn’t blown away. The bed itself was a bed, a typical size for a hostel being a twin. Each bed did have luggage storage and individual lights which are always a win. There were no curtains on the bed so I followed the crowd and used the sheet provided as a makeshift curtain. The blanket was a little scratchy. The bathrooms were big and clean and it did have a nice kitchen area. The staff was super nice. I had to change my reservation before I arrived and they were super quick with it.

If you are a solo traveler, I’d consider staying here but it wasn’t up to my standards for an ideal hostel stay. I only stayed for two nights and it was fine for that amount of time. For context, I stayed in the 8-bed female dorm but they also have private rooms.

Check out this video I put together about the hostel!

CitizenM

📍617 Colorado St

CitizenM hotels are affordable boutique hotels with 36 locations around the globe, so technically it is a chain. You may remember I was talking down to chain hotels earlier in this blog. There is nothing wrong with staying at a hotel chain to get travel points or if you like the brand or if it’s convenient for you.

What sets CitizenM apart from other larger hotel franchises is that it’s considered a boutique hotel. They prioritizes unique design and offerings to make the hotel stay part of the travel experience. Their accommodations are super modern and colorful and located in popular areas in the cities they reside in.

Their Austin location is in the heart of downtown, with almost 350 rooms with xl beds, a rooftop pool, and it’s only 20 minutes from the airport. The rooms are made to be compact and efficient for an affordable stay at a comfy hotel for work trips or weekend getaways. Most locations have extensive co-working spaces available for guests or locals.

After checking a few dates for prices, the nightly average was about $130 a night for the smallest room.

Hotels in East Austin

East Austin Hotel

📍 1108 E 6th St

Another boutique hotel in Austin, the East Austin Hotel is the embodiment of retro boho chic. It’s a little bit of a splurge if you are used to staying in hostels, but similar to CitizenM, the rooms are fun-sized and perfect for one person. Some of the rooms have a shared bathroom, which is another way these properties can manage to set affordable prices.

I stayed here for two nights on the second floor with the shared bathroom. There were 4 stalls, all separate bathrooms really, that each had a toilet, sink, and shower, and one handicap stall that were all a decent size.

My room did not have a nice view, but I wasn’t in the room much anyway. It was right on the sidewalk and across the street from a food truck park so I kept the curtains closed the whole time as there was some foot traffic.

Related post: Where to Eat on Your Solo Trip to Austin Texas

The room had some cute decor pieces and special touches, like a patterned cotton robe and beach coverup. The property does have two pools. The rooftop pool and bar was closed (I was there in late March) but as of the time this post is published it should be opened. The other pool is on the ground level and I did see someone swimming in it. There’s also a restaurant on site that has happy hour daily.

What really made this place special was the staff. They were super helpful at the front desk, and one of them even held my luggage and items that needed to be refrigerated in the staff fridge which I really appreciated.

I made a more detailed video about this place on my tik tok!

Hotels in North Austin

Austin Marriott North

📍2600 La Frontera Blvd

While most of the hotels on this list are geared toward solo travelers and independent establishments, I understand that a lot of people feel more comfortable in a chain hotel and may even have points with them which can result in a cheaper stay.

Marriott is a well-known hotel chain that offers a standard hotel experience, and sometimes, thats really all you need. We don’t always need all the bells and whistles and funky decor.

The Austin Marriott North is close to multiple major highways to easily get into the city. From plugging in a few test dates, it’s also mostly under $150/night.

Moxy Austin

📍 2552 Guadalupe St

Moxy is the best of both worlds being a chain boutique hotel. They offer a fun experience in lots of major cities with fun rooftop bars and socializing spaces. Moxy Austin is right by the UT campus. Whether you’re visiting a friend, reliving your college days or just like the brand, you’ll have a good time here.

You’ll find your typical sized hotel rooms here, but with texas-style decor and updated amenities.

Slightly more expensive than the other Marriott on this list, you can book a room for under $175 a night here. Moxy is also part of Marriott so points can be used at this location.

Hotels in South Austin

Aiden Austin City Hotel

📍 2200 S I H 35

The Aiden Austin City hotel is a Best Western property, which is a hotel chain we’ve all stayed at on family vacations. They’ve been in business for 75 years and have recently elevated their brand, and their properties.

Sure, it’s not a 5-star hotel but us budget travelers don’t want that type of luxury. Here you’ll find a clean satisfactory room. From the photos it looks like they incorporated some Texas charm into the property. With rates starting at $106, a hotel with a good price and charm sounds too good to be true.

Austin Uncommon Room Rentals

Saving the hidden gem for last, this is a budget travelers gold mine. UnCommon Room Rentals offers affordable room rentals in a homestay with other travelers. More like an Airbnb situation, they offer daily and weekly rental options in a central location in Austin.

There are only 4 room options and are currently booked out for weeks. Each room is a different theme, think relaxing vs. gaming that offers a unique experience.

Great for solo travelers to meet others and to support locals!