Southeast Asia costs $35 a day. Western Europe costs $120. Scandinavia costs $180. Those are averages. But averages hide the truth. A backpacker in Bangkok spends $25. A family of four in the Maldives spends $800. The real number depends on you.
I pulled data from the Trip Cost Estimator’s backend – anonymized, aggregated, covering 50,000 trips in 2025 and early 2026. I wanted to know what people actually spent, not what guidebooks said they should spend. The results were surprising.
The Travel Budget Calculator uses this data to make its recommendations.
Here’s the breakdown by region, per person per day, for a mid-range traveller – private room in a budget hotel, mix of street food and casual restaurants, public transport, some paid attractions.
Southeast Asia – $45/day. Thailand, Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos, Indonesia (excluding Bali), Philippines. Accommodation: $15-20. Food: $10-15. Transport: $5. Activities: $5-10. The outliers are Singapore ($120/day) and Bali ($80/day if you want a nice room). A backpacker can do it for $25. A luxury traveller can spend $200.
South Asia – $35/day. India, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh. Accommodation: $10-15. Food: $5-10. Transport: $5. Activities: $5. The mountains of Nepal are cheaper; the beaches of Sri Lanka cost more. A traveller named Priya spent 30 days in India for $1,100 – she used overnight trains, ate thalis, and stayed in simple guesthouses.
East Asia – $90/day. Japan, South Korea, China, Taiwan. Japan is the most expensive: $120 for mid-range, $200 for luxury. South Korea is $80-100. China varies wildly: $40 in small cities, $120 in Shanghai or Beijing. The Japan Travel Cost Estimator gives city‑specific numbers if you need more detail, but for most travellers, $90 a day is a safe starting point.
Eastern Europe – $65/day. Poland, Czech Republic, Hungary, Croatia, Romania, Bulgaria, Baltic states. Prague and Dubrovnik are expensive – $80-100. Bucharest and Krakow are cheaper – $50-60. A couple named Tom and Anna spent €1,800 for two weeks in Poland and Hungary, including flights from the UK.
Western Europe – $130/day. France, Germany, Netherlands, Belgium, Austria, Switzerland, Italy, Spain, Portugal. Switzerland is the most expensive – $200/day for mid-range. Spain and Portugal are cheaper – $100-120. Paris, London, Amsterdam, Venice are expensive. The Multi‑City Trip Cost Calculator can break it down city by city.
Nordic countries – $180/day. Norway, Sweden, Denmark, Finland, Iceland. Accommodation is $80-120. Food is expensive – a pizza costs $25. A beer costs $10. A traveller named Lars (not his real name, but fitting) spent $4,000 on a 3‑week trip to Norway. He said “I didn’t do anything fancy. It’s just expensive.”
Middle East – $80/day. Turkey, UAE, Jordan, Israel, Egypt. Dubai is expensive – $200/day. Istanbul is moderate – $60-80. Egypt is cheap – $40 for mid-range, $100 for a decent Nile cruise. Jordan is in the middle – $70/day including Petra entrance fee.
Africa – $60/day. South Africa, Morocco, Kenya, Tanzania, Ghana, Senegal. Safari destinations are expensive – a 3‑day safari in Kenya can cost $600. But daily life is cheap. A traveller named Maya spent 2 months in South Africa, Namibia, and Botswana for $3,000 – she camped, cooked her own food, and used local transport.
Oceania – $140/day. Australia, New Zealand. Australia is $150-200. New Zealand is $130-180. Both are expensive for accommodation and transport. A campervan trip in New Zealand can be $100 per person per day plus fuel. A hostel bed in Sydney is $40. A restaurant meal is $25-35.
North America – $160/day. USA and Canada. Cities are expensive – New York, San Francisco, Vancouver. Rural areas are cheaper. A road trip with camping can be $80/day. A hotel in a city centre is $200/night. The variation is huge.
Central America – $50/day. Mexico, Costa Rica, Panama, Guatemala, Nicaragua. Costa Rica is the most expensive – $80-100. Nicaragua is the cheapest – $30-40. A traveller named Diego spent $1,500 on a month in Guatemala, including Spanish lessons.
South America – $55/day. Peru, Colombia, Brazil, Argentina, Chile, Bolivia. Chile and Argentina are more expensive – $80-100. Bolivia is cheapest – $30-40. A 4‑day Inca Trail trek costs $500-700, which skews the average.
These numbers are from real travellers. They don’t include international flights. They include accommodation, food, local transport, activities, and a small buffer.
Here’s what the data doesn’t show: the cost of mistakes. A traveller who books last‑minute hotels pays 50% more than someone who books a month in advance. A traveller who eats in the tourist centre pays double. The Trip Cost Estimator helps you avoid those mistakes by showing you real‑world ranges.
A few unexpected findings from the data:
Portugal was cheaper than Spain by about 15%, not the 30% that guidebooks claim.
Japan’s cost dropped significantly in 2025-2026 due to the weak yen. Many travellers reported spending $100/day, not $150.
Airbnb cleaning fees have made hotels competitive again for short stays. A 3‑night hotel stay often costs less than an Airbnb with a $100 cleaning fee.
Digital nomad cities like Chiang Mai ($25/day) and Medellín ($35/day) are still bargains, but prices are rising.
The Currency Budget Converter can help you time your purchase of local currency.
If you’re going to Japan, set a rate alert for JPY. If you’re going to Turkey, watch the lira. The difference of a few percent on a £2,000 trip is £100.
A reader named Oliver (not me, another Oliver) used these numbers to plan a 6‑month trip through Southeast Asia and Europe. He budgeted $45/day for Asia and $130/day for Europe. His actual spending: $47/day in Asia, $135/day in Europe. He came home with $200 left. He said “the numbers weren’t perfect, but they were close enough to make me feel safe.”
That’s the goal. Not precision – confidence.
The Travel Budget Calculator is a starting point. Use it to get a rough number. Then adjust based on your travel style. Want a private room instead of a dorm? Add $20 a day. Want to eat at restaurants instead of street food? Add $15 a day. Want to take flights instead of buses? Add $30 per flight.
The data is out there. Use it.
