The cost of hotels in Mexico City increased by an average of 961% for dates close to the 2026 World Cup, according to an analysis by American media Athletics, property of The New York Times. This increase is the highest among all host cities, which see an average increase of 328%. According to the report’s data, a night close to the date of the opening match at Le Méridien Mexico City Reforma cost $157, but a few days after the draw to define the groups, that amount rose to $3,882 per night, an increase of 2,373 percent. Meanwhile, the Hampton Inn & Suites Mexico City in the historic center cost $106 and came in at $781, an increase of 637 percent. The cheapest option among those that appear in the search is the City Express Junior, located in the industrial zone of Toluca, which went from $64 a night to $660, an increase of 931 percent.
The Athletic compared prices of available rooms at six randomly selected hotels in each host city via the Marriott Bonvoy and Hilton Honors apps. The analysis was conducted on Monday, December 8 and only included the cheapest rates offered in each location. To establish the previous price, the rates recorded three weeks previously were taken as a reference. In the case of the Mexican capital, six months before the World Cup, most of the accommodations available in the app were already listed as full, which could explain the dramatic increase in the few options still available.
American media also placed Monterrey and Guadalajara second and fourth respectively among the cities with the highest increase in accommodation costs around dates close to the World Cup. In Monterrey, the average increase per hotel night is 466%, while in accommodation near Akron Stadium in Guadalajara, prices have increased by 405%.
Other host cities also show significant increases. In the United States, the percentage increase ranges from 174% in Dallas to 457% in Houston. Other notable increases are 364% in Kansas City, 344% in Atlanta and 342% in San Francisco. Canada is also seeing increases, although less drastic: in Vancouver, they reach 233% and in Toronto 78%.
While it is normal for prices to rise at events of global significance, the scale of the 2026 World Cup far exceeded that seen at other recent competitions. For example, during the 2024 Olympics, the price increase in Paris, France was 141%. In response to media questions, the International Football Federation (FIFA) did not say whether it would take steps to mitigate rising accommodation prices, nor whether it would offer discount codes to ensure options were available to those already in possession of tickets.
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