If you thought your sun-soaked Miami getaway was expensive, just wait until you try to leave. According to a new 2025 study ranking the most and least affordable airports in North America, Miami International Airport snagged a spot near the top of the “most expensive” list, making it one of the priciest places to start (or end) your travels this summer.
The ranking, compiled by Casino.ca, analyzed the total average cost of a single night’s airport hotel stay, overnight parking and a pint of beer at 50 of the busiest airports across North America. Spoiler: MIA didn’t exactly come in cheap.
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Miami landed just behind Nashville and LaGuardia for the most expensive parking, at a hefty $41 a night, well above the $26.51 average across all airports. Add to that a beer that’ll run you close to $11 and nearby hotel rates hovering far above budget territory, and suddenly your departure lounge vibes start to feel less “luxury” and more “liability.”
In total, MIA joins a group of airports (including Boston Logan and Denver International) that are practically their own luxury destinations—just not in a good way. While airports like Tijuana and Cancun boast budget-friendly rates on all fronts (including beers under $8 and hotels under $100), Miami travelers get hit with vacation costs before even clearing TSA.
Why does this matter? With more than 790 million North American passengers expected to fly this summer, these sneaky add-ons—like a $12 lager or $300 crash pad—can start to drain your vacation fund before you even take off. And considering airline ticket prices have spiked 25-percent since 1989, travelers are more cost-conscious than ever.
So, what can you do if you're flying through Miami? Plan ahead. Book parking in advance, consider hotels farther from the terminal and maybe skip that airport bar beer in favor of something tropical once you land. Miami may be a destination worth splurging on, but MIA’s extras are a reminder that not all travel costs are in your control.