Travel Budget Calculator

How to use the travel budget calculator

1. Pick your destination from 94 countries and territories, grouped by region.
2. Enter trip length and number of travelers. Costs are shared the way they are in real life: a hotel room sleeps 2, an apartment 4, a rental car 5.
3. Select the season. In peak season or during school holidays, lodging and car rentals cost about 25% more.
4. Set your travel style: accommodation type, food level, transport mode and how many paid activities you plan.
5. Add your round-trip airfare per person if you know it and choose your currency: the budget updates instantly.

You’ll see the total budget, the cost per person and per day, and a breakdown by expense. The page URL stores your estimate, so you can copy it to share with travel companions or compare several destinations.

How your trip cost is calculated

The calculator uses the same method experienced travelers use to build a budget:

Total budget = (accommodation + food + local transport + activities) × days × season + 10% buffer + flights

• Accommodation is priced per room, apartment or pitch, not per person. Traveling as a pair nearly halves lodging costs per person, which is why solo travel is proportionally more expensive.
• Food is priced per person based on the level you choose, from street food (×0.6) to fine dining (×2.6).
• Local transport is per person for public transport, per vehicle for rental cars (fuel included) and per shared ride for taxis.
• Activities cover entrance fees, excursions and guided tours. They are higher in countries where the trip revolves around paid experiences (safaris in Tanzania, Petra in Jordan, tours in Iceland).
• Buffer: 10% of the on-the-ground budget for bank fees, tips, tourist taxes, visas or an unplanned night.

Base prices are estimated per-country averages based on rates seen on booking platforms. They reflect a 2-3★ hotel, local restaurants and public transport in shoulder season. Prices are stored in euros and converted at a fixed rate. Last price update: October 2026.

Sample trip budgets

To give you a benchmark, here is what a few typical trips cost according to the calculator. The gap between destinations is striking: two weeks in Vietnam cost a couple about $1,670, versus $4,400 in Japan.

* Includes accommodation, food, local transport, activities and a 10% buffer; flights not included because they depend on where you fly from.

Average daily travel budget by country

The tables below show the average daily cost per person, excluding flights, for three traveler profiles:

• Budget: hostel dorm, street food and groceries, public transport, few paid activities.
• Mid-range: 2-3★ hotel shared by two, local restaurants, public transport, standard activities.
• Comfort: 4-5★ hotel shared by two, nice restaurants, public transport plus taxis, lots of activities.

The 5 cheapest destinations in the calculator: Laos, Bolivia, India, Nepal, Vietnam. The 5 most expensive: St. Barts, French Polynesia (Tahiti), Maldives, Bahamas, Alaska.

Travel costs in Europe

In Europe, a cheap flight can be misleading: a $35 ticket to Scandinavia won’t offset a basic hotel at $175 a night. Southern Europe (Spain, Portugal, Greece) offers the best value for most travelers. To halve your budget at the same comfort level, head to the Balkans and Eastern Europe (Albania, Romania, Bulgaria, Montenegro). Switzerland, Iceland and Norway are the most expensive European destinations in the calculator.

Travel costs in North America

In the United States and Canada, the price you see is rarely the price you pay: sales taxes are added at checkout and an 18–22% restaurant tip is expected. Big cities like New York and San Francisco have become very expensive for budget travelers. Outside major cities, a rental car plus roadside motels remains the cheapest way to travel. Alaska combines scarce lodging with expensive excursions, so plan generously.

Travel costs in Central America and the Caribbean

Central America is not one price bracket. Costa Rica and Belize now charge close to US prices (park fees, rental-car insurance), while Guatemala and Nicaragua let you travel two to three times longer on the same budget. In the Caribbean, St. Barts and the Bahamas are very expensive because almost everything is imported; Cuba and the Dominican Republic (outside all-inclusive resorts) stay affordable if you eat local and limit inter-island flights.

Travel costs in South America

South America rewards travelers who plan ahead. Bolivia and Ecuador are among the cheapest countries in the world to travel; Chile and Brazil cost closer to Southern Europe. In Argentina, inflation and exchange rates make prices volatile, so check the rate right before you leave. Transport is the biggest swing factor: distances are huge, and choosing between overnight buses and domestic flights can double your bill.

Travel costs in Asia

Southeast Asia is the cheapest region in the calculator: Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia let you travel comfortably for under $60 a day. Watch out for the islands: in southern Thailand or Bali, lodging and ferries add up fast, and Singapore is as pricey as major Western cities. In East Asia, Japan and South Korea cost most in lodging and transport (the Japan Rail Pass rose sharply in 2023); konbini convenience stores are the easy way to eat well for a few dollars.

Travel costs in Oceania and the Pacific

Australia and New Zealand need a solid budget, especially to rent a campervan or car in peak season: book months ahead. French Polynesia is a high-end destination, but family-run guesthouses (pensions) cost two to three times less than overwater bungalows. In Fiji, stepping outside the 5-star resorts opens up far cheaper options.

Travel costs in Africa

Assuming Africa is always cheap is a common mistake. Morocco, Tunisia and Egypt are easy on the wallet. East and Southern Africa are a different story: a safari in Kenya or Tanzania (park fees, vehicle, guide) costs several hundred dollars a day, and a Namibia road trip requires an expensive 4×4. That’s why the “Activities” figure for these countries is intentionally high in the calculator.

Travel costs in the Middle East

The Middle East has the widest price gaps. In Dubai or Qatar, luxury is the norm and every outing adds up. In Jordan, local food is very cheap, but entry to major sites like Petra quickly raises the bill, so the Jordan Pass almost always pays off. Georgia remains one of the most affordable destinations in the region.

Travel costs in the Indian Ocean

In the Indian Ocean, accommodation drives the budget. In the Maldives and Seychelles, resorts are what make trips expensive; guesthouses on local islands cost far less. Mauritius and Réunion are easy to explore by rental car on a budget similar to Southern Europe. Madagascar is very cheap on the ground, but distances and road conditions often mean hiring a driver.

Hidden costs that blow up a travel budget

• Bank fees: 2–3% on every card payment and ATM withdrawal with a standard card. Travel with a no-foreign-transaction-fee card.
• Visas and entry fees: ESTA for the US, eTA for Canada, ETA for the UK, visas on arrival in Southeast Asia, and the upcoming ETIAS for non-EU visitors to the Schengen area.
• Tourist taxes and resort fees, often paid on site and not included in the price shown when booking.
• Tipping: expected in North America (18–22%), in Egypt and on safaris.
• Travel insurance: essential in the US, Canada or Japan, where a hospital stay can cost thousands.
• Mobile data: a local eSIM usually costs far less than your carrier’s roaming plan.

The calculator adds a 10% buffer by default to cover these costs.

How to lower your travel budget: tips we use

• Be flexible with flight dates. Use the monthly calendar view on flight comparison sites and avoid school holidays if you can; switching the season in the calculator shows the difference.
• Mix your accommodation. Book a hostel or simple room on nights when you only sleep, and save the nice hotel for key stops.
• Eat where the locals queue. A busy local eatery means fresh, authentic food at a fraction of tourist-restaurant prices.
• Buy transport passes in advance. Weekly cards, city passes or bike-share are almost always cheaper than single tickets.
• Travel as a group. From 3 or 4 travelers, an apartment and a rental car often beat hotels and public transport: compare both in the calculator.

Travel budget FAQ

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By the Advised Traveler team · Prices updated October 2026.