How much does travel cost per day in each country?

How to read these numbers

Budget means a dorm bed or the cheapest private room in a guesthouse, local food for most meals, public buses and trains, and one paid sight a day. Mid-range means a private double in a decent hotel split two ways, a sit-down restaurant most evenings, the occasional taxi or rideshare, and a tour or two. Both are per person per day.

Each range is set so that at least one named published source from 2025 or 2026 falls inside it, and each country entry names those sources: mainly Budget Your Trip (averages of what past travellers report spending), Hostelz's backpacker budget model, Viatravelers, Wego and similar cost guides, plus national airline and travel-money guides where they publish figures. The sources often disagree by 30% or more, because they define budget and mid-range differently, so the bands are wide on purpose. Treat any single number as a starting point, not a quote.

Three things move your real number more than the country does. Season: a Dubrovnik dorm bed in August can cost several times a Split one in May. Pace: moving every two days adds a transport day and often a taxi at each end. One-off costs: a Sahara trip, a Milford Sound cruise or a Cappadocia balloon flight can equal a week of daily spending.

To turn these bands into a total for your own trip length and group size, use our trip cost calculator.

Southeast and East Asia

The cheapest part of our route by a wide margin, with the exception of Japan and South Korea, which sit closer to Western Europe.

• Philippines: budget about $30 to $50, mid-range about $60 to $100 per person per day. We were here about 4 weeks, November and December 2022, Palawan to Cebu. Biggest costs: Domestic flights and boat tours are where the money goes; El Nido island-hopping tours and environmental fees are paid per day. Food and guesthouses are cheap. Sources: Budget Your Trip data puts the country near $29 budget and $74 mid-range; Western Union suggests $60 to $80 mid-range, and Manila runs higher. See our Philippines route, where to stay in El Nido.

• Thailand: budget about $30 to $50, mid-range about $60 to $120 per person per day. We were here about 6 weeks, December 2022 to January 2023, Bangkok, the north and the Andaman coast. Biggest costs: Island and beach areas cost more than the north; ATM fees of roughly 220 to 250 baht per withdrawal on foreign cards are a hidden daily cost if you withdraw small amounts. Sources: Hostelz's planner puts a backpacker day near $37; 2026 guides give $60 to $100 and $70 to $120 for mid-range. See our Thailand route, Grab vs Bolt.

• Japan: budget about $70 to $120, mid-range about $150 to $250 per person per day. We were here 33 days, March and April 2023, Tokyo to Hiroshima. Biggest costs: Long-distance rail is the big cost; Tokyo dorm beds run roughly ¥3,000 to ¥7,000 (≈ $19.0–44), more in cherry blossom season. Convenience store and set-meal food keeps eating cheap. Sources: Wego's 2026 guide gives $80 to $120 for backpackers and $150 to $250 mid-range; Budget Your Trip is reported at about $59 and $150. See our Japan route, is the JR Pass worth it.

• Vietnam: budget about $25 to $35, mid-range about $50 to $90 per person per day. We were here about 4 weeks, April and May 2023, Hanoi to the Mekong Delta. Biggest costs: Halong Bay or Ninh Binh tours and tailoring in Hoi An are the splurges; street food and sleeper trains are cheap. Sources: Vietnam Airlines' travel guide gives $20 to $30 budget and $50 to $90 mid-range. See our Vietnam route, Hoi An tailors.

• Indonesia (Bali): budget about $30 to $60, mid-range about $80 to $160 per person per day. We were here 18 days, May and June 2023, Seminyak to Padangbai. Biggest costs: Seminyak and Canggu villas and beach clubs push the average up; Munduk, Sidemen and Ubud homestays are cheaper. Budget for the tourist levy and arrival visa. Sources: Budget Your Trip's Bali figures are about $29 budget and $79 mid-range; Radical Storage's 2026 guide gives $110 to $160 mid-range. South Bali sits at the top of each band. See our Bali route, Bali tourist tax.

• South Korea: budget about $50 to $90, mid-range about $85 to $120 per person per day. We were here 32 days, June and July 2023, Seoul, Busan, Jeju and the east coast. Biggest costs: Seoul accommodation and KTX trains are the main costs; meals come with free banchan and buses are cheap with a T-money card. Sources: Budget Your Trip puts the country at about $45 budget and $113 mid-range; Viatravelers gives about $50 and $85. See our Korea route, T-money guide.

For more, read cheapest countries to visit in Asia.

Cheaper Europe, Morocco and Turkey

Our autumn 2022 run through Central Europe and our 2023 Balkans leg were the best value in the Western half of the route.

• Morocco: budget about $30 to $50, mid-range about $75 to $130 per person per day. We were here 24 days, August and September 2022, Tangier to the Sahara. Biggest costs: Desert trips and private drivers are the big line items; riads in the Marrakech and Fes medinas range widely. The dirham is a closed currency, so ATM strategy matters. Sources: A 2026 cost index puts a budget day near $40; Destination.com uses $75 for mid-range and Budget Your Trip's traveller average is about $88. See our dirham and ATMs, Morocco route.

• Czech Republic: budget about $45 to $75, mid-range about $100 to $145 per person per day. We were here 17 days, September and October 2022, Prague then Bohemia and Brno. Biggest costs: Prague accommodation is the main cost; Pilsen, Brno and Kutná Hora are cheaper bases, and beer and pub lunches stay inexpensive outside the Old Town. Sources: Viatravelers puts budget near $40 and mid-range near $100; Budget Your Trip's Prague figures are about $59 and $143. See our Prague and Bohemia guide, where to stay in Prague.

• Hungary: budget about $40 to $70, mid-range about $100 to $160 per person per day. We were here 11 days, October 2022, Budapest, Eger and Tokaj. Biggest costs: Budapest thermal bath entry is a real expense; Eger and Tokaj cost less than the capital. Watch for service charges already on restaurant bills. Sources: Budget Your Trip's Budapest figures are about $49 budget and $132 mid-range. See our Budapest guide, thermal baths compared.

• Romania: budget about $35 to $50, mid-range about $75 to $140 per person per day. We were here 22 days, October and November 2022, Oradea through Transylvania to Bucharest. Biggest costs: Castle tickets (Bran, Peleș, Corvin) add up; trains are cheap but slow, and a rental car is the expensive way to see Transylvania. Sources: Viatravelers puts mid-range near $75 and a 2026 Romanian Friend guide gives €80 to €130 (≈ $89–145). See our Sibiu guide, tipping in Romania.

• Montenegro: budget about $40 to $60, mid-range about $80 to $145 per person per day. We were here 22 days, August and September 2023, Kotor, the mountains and the coast. Biggest costs: Kotor in summer and car hire for the mountain roads; Žabljak, Nikšić and Ulcinj are cheaper. Kotor dorm beds run roughly €10 to €25 (≈ $11.1–28). Sources: Trip.com gives $40 to $60 budget and $80 to $120 mid-range; Budget Your Trip is about $60 and $146. See our Kotor guide, driving in Montenegro.

• Albania: budget about $30 to $50, mid-range about $60 to $110 per person per day. We were here 31 days, September and October 2023, Shkodër, Theth, the south and Berat. Biggest costs: The Riviera (Sarandë, Ksamil) in high summer; dorm beds elsewhere run roughly €8 to €15 (≈ $8.9–16.7). Furgons are cheap; Albania is cash-heavy outside Tirana. Sources: An Albania travel guide gives €30 to €50 (≈ $33–56) for a backpacker; Budget Your Trip puts budget near $44 and mid-range near $106. See our Albania cash and ATMs, Albania itinerary.

• Turkey: budget about $25 to $45, mid-range about $60 to $100 per person per day. We were here 33 days, October and November 2023, Istanbul, Cappadocia, Pamukkale and Selçuk. Biggest costs: Museum and site tickets (Hagia Sophia, Ephesus, Pamukkale) are priced in euros or high lira amounts and add up fast; Cappadocia balloon flights are a big one-off. Sources: Wego's 2026 guide gives €25 to €45 (≈ $28–50) budget and €55 to €90 (≈ $61–100) mid-range; Destination.com uses $70. See our Turkey route, Hagia Sophia tickets.

For the wider list, see cheapest places to travel in Europe in 2027.

Western Europe and England

Accommodation is the cost that breaks budgets here. Transport passes and free museums are the levers that help most.

• Spain: budget about $55 to $80, mid-range about $120 to $210 per person per day. We were here about 60 days, June to August 2022, Madrid through the north coast to Andalusia. Biggest costs: Rooms in Barcelona, San Sebastian and Seville in summer; the north (Oviedo, Logroño) and inland cities run noticeably cheaper. Menú del día lunches are the best food value. Sources: Hostelz's 2026 model puts a hostel-based day near $69; Free and Easy Traveler gives $120 to $180 for a comfortable day and Budget Your Trip's traveller-reported average is about $211. See our Spain route, tipping in Spain.

• Germany: budget about $50 to $85, mid-range about $135 to $200 per person per day. We were here 16 days, July 2023, Berlin to Munich. Biggest costs: Long-distance ICE fares and Munich hotels during events. The Deutschlandticket (€63 (≈ $70) a month in 2026) covers regional trains and city transit nationwide. Sources: Trip.com gives $50 to $70 budget, Budget Your Trip about $82 budget and $203 mid-range, and Viatravelers about $135 mid-range. See our Deutschlandticket for tourists, Munich guide.

• Italy: budget about $55 to $80, mid-range about $115 to $200 per person per day. We were here 9 days, July and August 2023, Verona, Bologna and Venice. Biggest costs: Venice rooms and the day-tripper fee, plus coperto on restaurant bills. Bologna is the cheaper base for the region. Sources: Viatravelers gives about $55 budget and $115 mid-range for the south, $80 and $200 for the north. Venice sits above both. See our Italy route, coperto explained.

• Croatia: budget about $50 to $75, mid-range about $95 to $170 per person per day. We were here 17 days, August 2023, Zagreb, Osijek and the coast to Dubrovnik. Biggest costs: Summer coastal rooms; Dubrovnik dorm beds can cost several times what Split or Zagreb charge, and the city walls ticket is steep. Osijek and Zagreb are far cheaper than the coast. Sources: Budget Your Trip's traveller averages are about $68 budget and $172 mid-range; Viatravelers puts the coast near $95 mid-range. Summer coast prices go higher. See our Croatia route, Dubrovnik walls tickets.

• England: budget about $90 to $140, mid-range about $250 to $350 per person per day. We were here about 19 days, November and December 2023, London, Bath, the Cotswolds and the Peak District. Biggest costs: London rooms and walk-up train fares. Free national museums and contactless capping on London transport claw some back. Sources: Budget Your Trip's London figures are about $108 budget and $290 mid-range, its England average about $249, and its 2026 UK figures about $136 and $346. See our England route, Oyster vs contactless.

Australia and New Zealand

Both countries are expensive per day and also expensive to cross. Plan the vehicle or the domestic flights before anything else.

• Australia: budget about $70 to $100, mid-range about $170 to $250 per person per day. We were here 29 days, January and February 2023, Melbourne to the tropical north. Biggest costs: Distance is the cost: domestic flights between Adelaide, Alice Springs and Cairns, and car hire on the Great Ocean Road. Supermarkets beat restaurants by a wide margin. Sources: Budget Your Trip's traveller-reported averages are about $70 budget and $181 mid-range; Jetpac puts mid-range at $200 to $250. See our Melbourne guide, grocery guide for Australia.

• New Zealand: budget about $60 to $120, mid-range about $155 to $200 per person per day. We were here 23 days, February and March 2023, a South Island road trip. Biggest costs: The vehicle is most of the budget; dorm beds run roughly NZ$30 to NZ$55 a night, with Queenstown at the top. Milford Sound cruises are a major one-off cost. Sources: Budget Your Trip's Auckland figures are about $59 and $167; Viatravelers puts mid-range near $200. A rental car or campervan pushes the budget end up. See our South Island road trip, freedom camping rules.

What the cheap countries have in common

In Vietnam, Thailand, the Philippines, Bali, Morocco and Albania, a filling local meal still costs a few dollars and long-distance buses or sleeper trains cost less than a city taxi in London. Rooms are cheap enough that a private room is often a few dollars more than a dorm bed.

The catch is getting there and moving around. A cheap daily rate can be swallowed by a long-haul flight, and island countries like the Philippines push you onto domestic flights and boats. Count transport between bases as part of the budget, not as a separate line.

Card and ATM fees matter more in cheap countries because the fixed fee is large compared with what you withdraw. Read cash or card for international travel before you go, and see how to travel on a budget for where the biggest savings actually come from.

Frequently asked questions