Travel Budgets

Here’s an estimation of cost for various parts of the world. We recognize that everyone has a different style of travel and each style costs different amounts of money. While some people might not be keen on a budget holiday or budgeting, long term travel requires us try to save money where we can. These are typical backpacking and budget travel estimates for those seeking cheap transportation, accommodation, and local dining. They are current as of October 2009.

Western Europe
Average Cost Per Day- €60-70

Western Europe is expensive- there’s no way around.  Hostels typically cost about €20 per night for a 10 bed dorm, though they are a bit cheaper in Spain and Germany. If you want a smaller dorm or are in a big city like Paris, expect to pay around €25 per night. Food on a strict, eat sandwiches and bread roll budget is about €10 per day. A more realistic budget for food is about €20 per day. Transportation averages €10 per day and activities and sightseeing usually add up to about another €20. If you cook all your meals, stick to very large dorms, and avoid most pay attractions as well as limit your partying, you could do it cheaper. However, realistically, you’ll want to have some fun, so budget more. If you stay with friends or with people via Couchsurfing as well as cook your own meals, you could do Western Europe for about €30 per day. A bare bones budget could be €45 per day if you are just eating and paying for accommodation but who wants that?

Eastern Europe
Average cost per day-€35

Eastern Europe is far cheaper than its western counterpart. Though economic growth and integration with the EU has made these countries more expensive in recent years, they are still much cheaper than their Euro counterparts, especially with the current economic crisis affecting their currency valuations. While larger cities like Prague, Budapest, Sofia, and Dubrovnik tend to be popular tourist destinations and thus more expensive, much the area is still very cheap. Hostels will typically cost around €12-15 per night, food will can cost anywhere from €5 to €10 per day, depending how often you self-cater. Transportation is very cheap and drinking is even cheaper (you can often find €1 beers). 

Australia
Average Cost per day- AU$60

Australia is surprising expensive, especially if you are out on the west coast. Hostels are typically AU$20-25 per night, more in bigger and popular destinations. However, transportation on the east coast is very cheap as there are numerous competing bus lines. You can get up the coast from Sydney for on a few hundred dollars. The reverse is true on the west coast, where few bus services and the lack of a tourist infrastructure means getting around is very expensive. Buses from Perth to Broome cost around AU$600 dollars.  The best way to get around the west coast and the center is flying.  Prices for flights are often comparable or cheaper than taking a bus. Alcohol in Australia is heavily taxed and expensive, with a cheap six pack of beer costing AU$13 dollars.  The biggest expense here are the activities. They will eat into your budget, especially with so many of them to do. Multi-day tours cost an average of AU$200. Realistically, if you are a heavy partier and want to do a lot of activities you will probably spend around AU$80 per day.

New Zealand
Average Cost per day- NZ$85

New Zealand is a bit more expensive than Australia because there are more activities to do there. The county is known for its natural landscape, expeditions, glacier trekking, and caving. All these activities can really add up. Hiring a car or campervan is a way to reduce accommodation expenses. Like Australia, it is the tours that cost the most money and, as the country is so activity heavy, this is where the bulk of your money will be spent.  Hostels cost between NZ$28 per night. Meals start at NZ$8 for something cheap, though sit down meals will probably cost you around NZ$15.  Beer is NZ$7 so drinking will certainly shrink your budget.  It’s the adventure tours that will eat your budget as most of them cost between NZ$75-150. While the fall of the NZ dollar has made the country cheaper, expect to spend a lot of money here, especially if you want to do some of the outdoor activities.

United States
Average Cost per day- US$50-60

The United States is an expensive country but easily manageable. Hostels are between $20 dollars a night. Keep in mind though that hostels are rare in the states outside major cities and a few national parks. Cheap motels, the major alternative around, are $35 per night. Cheap meals are around $5-6 and restaurants meals are generally $10+. Transportation can be expensive in the center where buses and trains are infrequent. On the east and west coast, discount bus services offer cheap intercity fares for as little as $1. The best way to see the middle of America is to rent a car or go on organized tours. Also be aware that buses and trains do not go right to the entrances of many national parks. Drinking can be expensive in big cities such as New York, L.A., Vegas, Miami, and Boston where beers typically cost $5-8 or more and mix drinks can be as high as $10 and in some places like NYC, Vegas or Miami, will cost even more. Outside major cities, beer is typically $2-3 per bottle and drinks around $5.

Central America
Average Cost per day- US$25

Though countries like Costa Rica and Belize are expensive by local standards, the rest of the area is very cheap. Costa Rica will cost about US$35 per day and Belize about US$40. These are popular destinations and tend to have very developed, and expensive, tourist industries. The other countries are just starting to get on the map and are still cheap. Expect to pay pay about $US15-20 dollars a day in countries like Guatemala, Nicaragua, and Honduras. Accommodation in these countries begins at about US$8 per day, with transportation being only a few dollars, and local meals never costing more than a few dollars. If you travel slow, you can do these countries very cheaply.

Southeast Asia
Average Cost per day- US$20

Southeast Asia is very cheap and, if you wanted to penny pinch, its possible to do this area of the world for about US$15 per day.  Singapore is the most expensive country in the region and it is only slightly cheaper than the United States. However, the rest of the countries are very cheap. In Thailand, you can live between $15-20 per day.  Guesthouses cost as little as 150 baht ($4) for a fan and around 300 baht ($10) for air conditioning. Eating locally will cost between 100-200 baht per day. Beer is typically 60 baht a bottle, though about 25 baht in a 7-11. On the islands around Thailand, expect to pay at least 500 baht per night for a decent bungalow, 2-3 baht per minute for internet, and about 80 baht or more for a meal. In Cambodia, ATMS give out dollars and everything is “a dollar.” This can add up a lot if you eat and drink a lot. Guesthouses start at $2 and hotels tend to be around $8.  Cheap meals are a dollar, expensive meals tend to be $2-3 dollars. Beer is, you guessed it, a dollar. In Vietnam, everything but accommodation is cheap. There are no guesthouses in Vietnam, just hotels and room start around $4 dollars. Everything else is very cheap, with meals costing less than a dollar. Laos is also very cheap and prices are comparable to Cambodia.

India
Average Cost per day- US$20

India is cheap. If you stay in cheap hotels, travel 2nd class trains, learn to subsist on dhal and rice, you could see India on US$10 a day. However, if you prefer a few more creature comforts, like a simple private room with a bathroom, a varied diet, and occasional 1st class rail travel on long journeys, count on around US$20 per day. Be prepared to pay more in the larger cities like Mumbai and Delhi, and tourist destinations like Goa. Single rooms roughly range from Rs 100 to 400, and doubles from Rs 200 to 600. Eating out in India is cheap, with meals as little as Rs 40.

China
Average Cost per day- US$20

China is no longer as cheap as it used to be. The most expensive destinations are the big cities on the eastern coast. Staying in hostels, traveling 2nd class, eating from street stalls or small restaurants, refraining from buying anything fancy means you could survive on US$20 per day. Food has remained cheap throughout China and you can eat for as little as US$5 per day. Train travel is cheap but air travel is expensive but those with less time will find it great for covering vast distances.

South America
Average Cost per day- US$20

East Asia
Average Cost per Day- US$70

Taiwan
Average Cost per day- US$30

Taiwan is not that cheap though it is cheaper than some of its neighbors. Guesthouses start at 300 NT per night, with a single about 500 NT per night.  Meals at the night market are around 80 NT and restuarants begin will cost about 150 NT on average. (McDonalds is 100 NT) Most of the activities in Taipei are free but expect Taipei 101 to set you back 400 NT. The train is about 25 NT per trip.  The high speed train around the country is costly and a few hundred NT depending on where you are going. Overall, the country can be done cheaply provided you keep your meals cheap. Meals are probably the easiest way to go over budget here and you can easily find yourself spending 300 or more NT per meal if you are not careful.