Summers up there are just horrible these days. It got a lot worse once the cruise ships started primarily going to Seward instead of Whittier. You may find that the higher-end hotels aren't much more than the Motel 6. Things by the airport are (historically) generally less than downtown, but I haven't stayed out that way in a long time.

You may find some reasonable value with B&Bs. They won't be cheaper than your Motel 6, but likely be a lot better.

Years ago, I once stayed in a dump a few miles from Homer and boy, it was a dump, but it was one of the cheaper places I could find (yet not cheap)- I don't remember the name, but you just may find yourself spending a lot of $ for not very much up there.