As long-time travelers, we are no strangers to cheap travel. While luxury travel can be a fun splurge once in a while, budget travel is the best way to maximize your dollars, particularly with rising costs in 2023. But which are the cheapest and most expensive countries to visit? We looked at the 100 most popular tourist destinations and crunched the numbers to create the Budget Travel Index.
When planning this study, we wanted to create a useful guide based on the average daily activities of two people. We considered the type of activities, housing, transport, and food that two travelers would need for a 10-day vacation, as well as reliable data across the 100 countries in our study.
We graded all ten factors the same way: the countries with the highest average prices would earn the lowest letter grades, while the countries with low travel costs earned a higher letter grade. We standardized our data by tracking similar travel dates, so even if the prices may fluctuate, our data will remain useful as a guideline. Countries were included based on tourism rates as well as available data.
Note: Russia, Belarus, and Ukraine were not included in our study due to the ongoing conflict in the region.
The biggest limitation may be obvious: we could not include air travel in this study. Why? Because our readers live across the globe, so a cheap ticket for one person to one destination might be very expensive for another. This does leave a big chunk of the cost of travel as an unknown quantifier in our study and will hugely impact where budget travelers can reasonably vacation without incurring thousands of dollars in extra flight costs.
Also important to note is the fact that prices change all the time, and price fluctuations are an expected part of budgeting for travel.
There are great ways to save on flights and travel no matter where you’re flying from. Check out our tips and tricks for budget travel at the bottom.
The least expensive country for a vacation for two is Sri Lanka. After tallying the ten metrics, the total price of a ten-day trip in Sri Lanka came out to be $1,471.88 for two people. The country was found to have some of the lowest prices for all ten of the travel costs that were taken into consideration. Sri Lanka is an island nation off the tip of India that is known for its beautiful beaches and warm weather. However, the current political and economic climate in Sri Lanka is a reminder that travelers should always diligently research a country before traveling.
Below are fifteen countries that make a great option for cheap places to travel to, as they have the lowest prices for a ten-day trip for two. They are also the only countries on the list where the price for a cheap trip falls below $2,100.
1. Sri Lanka
2. Vietnam
3. Malaysia
4. Uzbekistan
5. Kazakhstan
6. Georgia
8. Indonesia
9. India
10. Kyrgyzstan
11. Cuba
12. Serbia
13. Turkey
14. Brazil
15. Bulgaria
16. Algeria
17. Tunisia
18. Paraguay
19. Myanmar
20. Azerbaijan
21. Egypt
22. Morocco
23. Colombia
24. Albania
25. Romania
The most expensive country to visit is the Maldives. This South Asian island in the Indian Ocean is known for picturesque bungalows and high-price resorts, so it’s no surprise that the Maldives blew the rest of the countries out of the water when it comes to luxury travel. What really pushed the Maldives over the edge, price-wise, is the insane hotel costs. An average hotel, according to HotelsCombined, is over $800 a night! A total 10-day trip, even with hotels only accounting for half the days and a more modest Airbnb accounting for the other, would cost a whopping $7,829.30 for two.
The second most expensive country for a trip for two is Iceland, where a ten-day trip would cost $7,200.94 for two people. Consumer prices in Iceland are roughly 66% higher than in the rest of Europe. Iceland’s isolated geography and heavy reliance on imported goods are just two of the reasons for the sky-high prices.
1. Maldives
2. Iceland
3. Switzerland
4. Finland
5. Norway
6. Israel
7. Denmark
8. Qatar
8. United Arab Emirates
9. United States
10. Australia
11. Mozambique
12. United Kingdom
13. Belgium
14. Sweden
15. Domincan Republic
16. Netherlands
17. Canada
18. New Zealand
19. Bahrain
20. Ireland
21. Andorra
22. France
23. Italy
24. Botswana
25. Japan
There are many factors to consider when choosing a travel destination, such as activities and amenities, type of travel (outdoor, nature, culture, music, history), distance, safety, food and drinks, budget, and more.
When deciding on a travel destination, we would encourage travelers not to simply pick the cheapest destination on the map. Why? Because “cheap” doesn’t necessarily mean “enjoyable,” and saving a few dollars may mean sacrificing days or weeks of comfort. Some places, like Sri Lanka currently, are recovering from a 2022 that was marked by significant civil unrest and hyperinflation. But it is a great reminder to do plenty of research before jumping headfirst into a travel plan, and considering more than one factor alone when making a vacation destination decision.
That being said, just because the destination is expensive also does not mean that you will enjoy it. Iceland, for example, the second most expensive country on our list, is great for the outdoor enthusiast, but is it the ideal destination for, say, concert enthusiasts or couples with children? Are there enough museums to keep the history buff occupied?
Regardless of what kind of activities or types of travel you enjoy, it’s important to thoroughly research a destination before booking a flight. Political, economic, social, or environmental issues within the country may come up suddenly and may not reach your mainstream media. Some travelers are happy to sacrifice a little safety for the adventure, but many others will willingly pay a premium for security, especially when it comes to families and children.
While many people are itching to return to travel after several years of lockdowns and restrictions, travelers are getting hit with the reality of inflation around the globe. Budget-friendliness is going to be a major factor in 2023 travel. These are our top tips for traveling well on a budget.
1. Join expat and English-speaking groups on Facebook and Reddit for tips and advice from those who live there – These groups are also a great way to find out about events, fairs, concerts, and other interesting things happening in the country or city during your vacation.
2. Sign up for Google Flight alerts for your airport to interesting destinations – They will send you an email when a good deal is posted for your specified destination.
3. Research and reserve budget activities and restaurants before even getting on the plane – There are many budget-friendly guides online for pretty much every destination, but waiting until the last minute means you may miss out on the best deals, so plan early.
4. Travel in the off-season – This one may seem like a no-brainer, but every year travel booms during the peak summer season and dwindles the rest of the year. This means that not only are prices sky-high but popular tourist destinations are packed and available rentals and activities are low. If you can, opt for an off-season holiday. This will not only keep costs down, but will prevent your destination from being trip-ruiningly crowded.
5. Consider going low-meat or no-meat for your trip – Vegetarian options are usually cheaper overall than their meat counterparts, saving you quite a bit of money over the course of a vacation, where most meals are eaten at restaurants.
6. Pack with saving in mind – Bring reusable water, bottles, snack, containers, Tupperware, and other things to bring food while on the go. Snacks, particularly in tourist destinations, tend to be far more expensive than planning ahead and purchasing at a store. Double-checking that you bring all the essentials (and backups for important necessities like charging cords) will prevent pricey emergency purchases.
7. Only bring a carry-on – Checked baggage is expensive, costing up to $80 (or even more) per flight on international trips. Fight the urge to overpack and save some money on your flight costs. Plus, it will help curb those vacation impulse purchases.
8. Eat where the locals eat – Instead of having meals at tourist traps, go far away from the famous destinations and enjoy your meals where the locals eat. This tends to be much cheaper, more authentic, and more delicious than over-priced tourist trap food.
9. Walk and use public transportation over taxis and Ubers – Live like a local by learning how to use the metro, bus service, and trains. Not only will you save a ton of money over using Ubers, Lyfts, and taxis, but you’ll also likely see a more genuine side of the destination when walking and taking public transportation.
10. Go on a volunteer vacation – There are many programs that will trade labor for a room (and sometimes board), and it’s a super meaningful way to travel consciously and engage with a new culture. Workaway and WWOOF are popular sites for finding these altruistic opportunities.
11. Research local scams before traveling – Don’t waste your money on a common scam. A quick google search can save tons of money (and frustration) by brushing up on the local grift — and now to avoid them.
12. Try housesitting – One of the biggest expenses while traveling is lodging. Thanks to the internet, there are plenty of services where you can find people who want their houses watched while they’re away. They get the peace of mind of leaving their home attended to, and you get a free place to stay. Win-win!
13. Download a currency converter app – It can be difficult to do quick math when traveling, leading to many overspending without even realizing it. Have a currency converter ready to go, so you know exactly how much you’ll be spending before shelling out for pricey or unnecessarily expensive items.
14. Never buy anything at the airport (if you can avoid it) – Airport food, beverages, and other convenience items come at a ridiculous markup. If you can avoid it, never buy anything from an airport. Bring snacks, empty water bottles, and everything you’ll need for a flight before getting to the airport.
15. Find hotels that include breakfast – Since accommodations are a necessary part of traveling anyway, finding a hotel that has complimentary breakfast will hugely cut down on your food costs.
16. Travel in the off-seasons – Prices surge during peak travel times, so planning your vacations in the off-season is a great way to save some money (not to mention fewer crowds and wait times).
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