These Are The Cities Where You Have To Pay The Highest Tourist Taxes

Forbes

24-05-2025

Palm Tree-Lined Street Overlooking Los Angeles at Sunset
As tourism continues to rebound post-pandemic, more destinations worldwide are implementing, or increasing, tourist taxes to drive revenue for their local economies and reduce the negative impacts of over-tourism.
But, when breaking down the costs of their holidays, many travelers might not realise how much these seemingly small tourist taxes can add up to throughout a trip. In some cases, they may even add hundreds of dollars to your vacation costs.
Whether you're planning a weekend city break in Europe or a getaway to a US hotspot, it has never been more important to know exactly how much tourist tax you'll need to pay.
To help travelers navigate these somewhat hidden costs, vacation rental company Holidu has created a comprehensive guide that highlights the tourist taxes in different cities worldwide.
The site also has a handy calculator at the bottom that helps you work out exactly how much tourist tax you'll have to pay in your chosen city destination.
Coming in as the most expensive city for tourist taxes is Los Angeles. This California dream destination sees visitors flock year-round to experience its sandy beaches and vibrant nightlife, but what many may not know is that the city imposes a substantial 15.5% tax on total accommodation bookings.
For an average-priced vacation rental at $275 per night in the city, this translates to an additional $43 in tourist tax each day, which could add as much as $300 to a week-long holiday. If you plan to visit the City of Angels, you'll want to budget in the cost of this tax.
The U.S.'s 'Big Apple' takes second place in the rankings of the most expensive tourist tax cities, with its combination of a $3.50 per person nightly fee alongside a 14.75% tax on total bookings.
As one of the most popular tourist destinations in the U.S., this is a great way for New York to generate revenue from the 60 million tourists that visit the city each year to support its infrastructure and services, keeping its wheels turning year-round for globe-trotting visitors.
Another U.S. destination to make the top five ranking, the country's capital of Washington D.C comes in third place, as it imposes a 14.95% tax on accommodations, resulting in an average nightly tax of $41 on a typical rental priced at $275 per night.
Many travellers are happy to pay the cost though, given the city's iconic landmarks and plethora of cultural attractions like the White House and the Washington Monument, to name but a few.
And it's this larger tourist tax fee that helps maintain these Washington world-class attractions and sights, many of which offer free admission to visitors. Some might say, therefore, that the added tourist tax is a worthwhile investment for the city's accessible attractions.
The entertainment capital of the world takes fourth place in the rankings with its 13.38% accommodation tax, which adds approximately $28 to the nightly cost of an average $200 a night holiday rental.
Known for its world-class casinos, exceptional shows, and extensive entertainment, Las Vegas puts its tourist taxes to good use to fund its education, tourism promotion, and infrastructure, amongst other initiatives, helping it to further attract visitors and enhance its reputation as one of the world's most thrilling destinations for a getaway.
Rounding out the top five ranking is Montreal, Canada's UNESCO City of Design, known for its exceptional innovation. The city imposes a 3.5% tax on accommodations priced over $30 per night.
While, compared to U.S. cities, this percentage may seem modest, it results in a notable $28.50 nightly tax on an average $95 per night accommodation, which is what proportionally makes it one of the highest tax rates in the ranking.
Tourists should know that the tourist taxes in this city go towards the Tourism Partner Fund, helping to support and promote the wider province of Quebec's tourism industry, making them a worthwhile investment.
While several cities around the world have long enforced a tourist tax, there are some which are only just considering rolling one out for visitors as a way to support their local economy and reduce overtourism:
The capital of Scotland sees its fair share of tourists visiting for its historical significance and architectural beauty, and soon, travellers heading to Edinburgh will be expected to pay a tourist tax from 2026 onwards.
This will be a 5% levy on various overnight accommodations in the city, which will be capped at five nights in a row, according to Edinburgh Council. With the levy in place, this is expected to increase to £50 million ($67 million) a year, which the city will invest in supporting, enhancing, and protecting Edinburgh's worldwide appeal as a place to visit and live.
Thailand is also considering introducing a tourist tax before the end of 2025. Set to be as much as 300 baht, or $9.23, this one-off fee will be enforced for those entering the country by air, land, or sea.
The tax will fund the country's tourism-related infrastructure, as well as insurance for tourists, but the full details are still being finalised. The costs are planned to be integrated into Thailand's Digital Arrival Card (TDAC) too, which launched at the beginning of May 2025.