Best Budget Hotels in Chongqing
Three of the best-reviewed budget stays in Chongqing, from a well-run hostel by the metro to a quiet serviced apartment near the airport, with real booking links and honest prices.
Best Budget Hotels in Chongqing
Chongqing is a sprawling, hilly city, but its best budget stays cluster around a handful of well-connected districts: Lianglukou for a hostel right by the metro, Guanyinqiao for a reliable international chain in the city's biggest shopping district, and Yubei for a quieter, greener apartment-style stay near the airport. Prices here run noticeably lower than in Shanghai or Beijing, so even the mid-range picks on this list stretch further.
The three properties below cover a hostel, a familiar international chain, and a serviced apartment, so there's a fit whether you're backpacking through or settling in for a longer stay. Every listing links to the hotel's real page on Booking.com, Agoda or Trip.com so you can compare live rates.
How Much Do Budget Hotels Cost in Chongqing?
A clean, well-located budget hotel or hostel bed in Chongqing typically runs $20 to $100 a night depending on whether you're booking a hostel room or a branded 3.5-star property, noticeably cheaper than an equivalent stay in Shanghai or Beijing. Rates climb during spring (March to May) and autumn (September to November), Chongqing's most comfortable travel seasons, and around Chinese national holidays. Summer brings extreme heat and humidity, which tends to soften demand and prices outside of peak holiday weeks.
| Hotel | Area | Stars | Guest Score | From |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Smile Face Long Time No See Youth Hostel | Lianglukou | 2 | 9.0 | $ |
| Holiday Inn Express Chongqing Guanyinqiao by IHG | Guanyinqiao | 3.5 | 9.6 | $$ |
| Citadines Gaoke Liangjiang Chongqing | Yubei / Liangjiang | 3.5 | 9.8 | $$ |
We filtered Chongqing's hotel scene down to well-reviewed hostel and 3 to 3.5-star properties with strong guest scores across a real volume of reviews, balancing a well-run local hostel by the metro against reliable international chains in Guanyinqiao and Yubei.
Best Areas to Find Budget Hotels in Chongqing
Lianglukou and central Yuzhong are the best bet for budget stays close to Jiefangbei and Hongyadong, with metro access making up for the hillier streets. Guanyinqiao, on the north side of the Jialing River, is Chongqing's biggest shopping and nightlife district and home to reliable international chain hotels at fair prices. Yubei, out near the airport and North Railway Station, trades a bit of central-city convenience for quieter, greener surroundings and often lower rates.
1. Smile Face Long Time No See Youth Hostel
Near the Crown Grand Escalator by Lianglukou Metro Station, Smile Face Long Time No See Youth Hostel offers air-conditioned rooms with private bathrooms, balconies and kitchenettes rather than the bare-bones dorms some hostels stick to. A sun terrace, bar and free WiFi round out the common areas, and full-day security plus express check-in and check-out make it an easy base for a short stay.
Reviewers consistently praise the clean rooms and the unusually good value for money at this price point. You can check current rates on Booking.com for your dates.
Booking.com
Check Rates & Book →2. Holiday Inn Express Chongqing Guanyinqiao by IHG
About ten minutes' drive from Chongqing North Railway Station and Guanyinqiao Commercial Pedestrian Street, Holiday Inn Express Chongqing Guanyinqiao delivers dependable IHG-brand comfort across 244 individually furnished rooms with premium bedding and desk chairs. A free breakfast buffet, an evening bar, a gym, luggage storage and free self-parking round out a genuinely practical stay, with Jiazhou Road metro station just a short ride away.
Guests consistently rate this the highest-scoring hotel on this list, citing the modern rooms and reliably good breakfast. You can check room availability on Booking.com for your dates.
Booking.com
Check Rates & Book →Agoda
Check Rates & Book →Trip.com
Check Rates & Book →Expedia
Check Rates & Book →3. Citadines Gaoke Liangjiang Chongqing
Amid the scenic Zhaomushan Forest Park in Yubei's Liangjiang New Area, Citadines Gaoke Liangjiang offers apartment-style rooms with fully equipped kitchens, satellite flat-screen TVs and private bathrooms, a genuinely useful setup for anyone staying more than a couple of nights. It's within walking distance of subway stations, with a 20-minute drive to both Chongqing Jiangbei International Airport and Chongqing North Railway Station.
Reviewers consistently mention the spacious apartment layouts and the quiet, green surroundings as standout features. You can check rates on Trip.com for your dates.
Booking.com
Check Rates & Book →Trip.com
Check Rates & Book →Prices above are shown as relative bands rather than fixed nightly rates, since Chongqing hotel pricing shifts with the season and around national holidays. Click through to any platform for live rates on your exact dates.
