📖 5 min read
Real travel budgets in 2026: How much does each destination cost
How much does it REALLY cost to travel to...? Don't believe the blogs that say you travel for €30 a day. That is possible in Southeast Asia, not in Europe. Here are the real numbers, without inflating or reducing them.
Daily budget by destination
Asia — The cheapest
| Destination |
Budget |
Medium |
Comfort |
| Vietnam |
€20-30 |
€35-55 |
60-100€ |
| Cambodia |
€15-25 |
€30-50 |
55-90€ |
| Thailand |
22-33€ |
41-68€ |
€82-137 |
| Nepal |
€15-25 |
€30-50 |
€55-85 |
| India |
€15-25 |
€30-50 |
55-90€ |
| Indonesia |
€20-35 |
€40-65 |
70-120€ |
| Philippines |
€20-30 |
€35-55 |
60-100€ |
Europe — Variables
| Destination |
Budget |
Medium |
Comfort |
| Portugal |
€35-50 |
€55-85 |
90-150€ |
| Spain |
€35-50 |
€55-85 |
90-150€ |
| Greece |
€35-55 |
€60-95 |
100-170€ |
| Croatia |
40-60€ |
€65-€100 |
110-180€ |
| Italy |
45-65€ |
70-110€ |
€120-200 |
| France |
€50-70 |
80-120€ |
140-230€ |
| UK |
€55-80 |
€85-130 |
€150-250 |
| Scandinavia |
70-100€ |
110-170€ |
180-300€ |
America
| Destination |
Budget |
Medium |
Comfort |
| Mexico |
€25-40 |
€45-75 |
80-140€ |
| Colombia |
€20-35 |
€40-65 |
70-120€ |
| Peru |
€20-35 |
€40-65 |
70-120€ |
| Bolivia |
€15-25 |
€30-50 |
55-90€ |
| Argentina |
€25-40 |
€45-75 |
80-140€ |
| Brazil |
€30-45 |
50-80€ |
€85-150 |
| USA |
60-90€ |
100-160€ |
180-300€ |
| Canada |
€55-80 |
90-140€ |
€160-270 |
Others
| Destination |
Budget |
Medium |
Comfort |
| Morocco |
18-30€ |
€35-55 |
60-100€ |
| Egypt |
€15-25 |
€30-50 |
55-90€ |
| Türkiye |
€20-35 |
€40-65 |
70-120€ |
| Georgia |
€20-35 |
€40-65 |
70-120€ |
| Japan |
€35-55 |
60-100€ |
110-200€ |
| South Korea |
€35-55 |
60-100€ |
110-200€ |
| Australia |
€55-80 |
90-140€ |
€160-270 |
| New Zealand |
€50-75 |
€85-130 |
€150-250 |
Breakdown by category
Accommodation
| Type |
Price range |
| Bedroom (hostel) |
5-15€ |
| Private room |
€15-35 |
| 2-3 star hotel |
€35-70 |
| 4 star hotel |
70-150€ |
| 5 star hotel |
150-400€ |
| Airbnb |
€30-€100 |
Meal
| Type |
Price range |
| Street food |
1-5€ |
| Local restaurant |
5-15€ |
| Tourist restaurant |
€15-30 |
| Special dinner |
30-80€ |
| Supermarket (per day) |
5-15€ |
Transport
| Type |
Price range |
| Metro/urban bus |
0.50-3€ |
| Intercity train |
10-80€ |
| Internal flight |
€30-150 |
| Taxi (10 km) |
€5-25 |
| Motorcycle rental/day |
5-15€ |
| Car rental/day |
20-80€ |
How much to save according to your style
Backpacker (hostel + street food + bus)
- Savings: 40-60% vs average tourist
- With: €1,500 you can live 1 month in Asia
Average traveler (hotel + restaurants + mixed transportation)
- With: €2,000 you can live 2 weeks in Europe
Comfort (nice hotel + restaurants + some tour)
- With: €3,000 you can live 10 days in any destination
Tricks to save
Food
- Eat where the locals eat (not where the tourists)
- Street food > restaurants (cheaper AND better)
- Supermarket for breakfast and snacks
Accommodation
- Hostels with kitchen = you save €10-15/day on food
- Reservation with free cancellation (you can change)
- Low season = 30-50% discount
Transportation
- FlixBus in Europe (half the train)
- Low cost flights with hand luggage
- Metro/bus always > taxi
Activities
- Free walking tours (tip only)
- Museums with free admission (many have a free day)
- Nature = free (beaches, mountains, parks)
Complete budget: Real example
2 weeks in Thailand (average traveler)
| Concept |
Cost |
| Round trip flight |
€500 |
| Accommodation (14 nights × €40) |
€560 |
| Food (14 days × €25) |
€350 |
| Transport (14 days × €10) |
€140 |
| Activities |
€200 |
| eSIM |
€12 |
| Insurance |
€40 |
| Total |
€1,802 |
10 days in Japan (average traveler)
| Concept |
Cost |
| Round trip flight |
€600 |
| Accommodation (10 nights × €70) |
€700 |
| Food (10 days × €35) |
€350 |
| Transportation (10 days × €15) |
€150 |
| Activities |
€200 |
| eSIM |
€11 |
| Insurance |
€50 |
| Total |
€2,061 |
Budget errors
- Do not include insurance: An accident can cost thousands
- Forget transportation to the airport: €10-50 one way
- Do not calculate tickets: Temples and museums cost
- Depend only on cash: You can withdraw more at ATMs
- Not having an emergency margin: Always add 15%
Budget checklist
- ☐ Chosen destination with dates
- ☐ Calculated daily budget
- ☐ Flight/reservations with free cancellation
- ☐ Travel insurance contracted
- ☐ Commission-free card activated
- ☐ Backup cash
- ☐ Emergency margin (15% extra)
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