How daily-spend works in 2026

Most “what does it cost?” travel articles quote one number per country. Useless — Tokyo is not Vietnam. Below are four daily-spend tiers for 50 popular destinations: backpacker (dorm, street food, public transport), budget (private room, mid-range meals, occasional taxi), mid-range (3-star hotel, restaurants, some flights) and luxury (4-5 star, fine dining, private transfers).

For an instant trip-level estimate that combines these with your specific date range, use the EEC Budget Calculator.

Asia — $25-300/day range

  • Vietnam: $25 / $45 / $90 / $200
  • India: $25 / $50 / $110 / $300+
  • Cambodia: $25 / $45 / $90 / $200
  • Laos: $25 / $40 / $80 / $180
  • Nepal: $30 / $50 / $100 / $220
  • Indonesia: $30 / $55 / $110 / $300+
  • Thailand: $35 / $65 / $130 / $300+
  • Philippines: $35 / $65 / $130 / $300
  • Sri Lanka: $35 / $60 / $120 / $250
  • Malaysia: $40 / $70 / $140 / $300
  • Japan: $70 / $120 / $230 / $500+
  • South Korea: $60 / $100 / $200 / $450
  • Taiwan: $50 / $90 / $170 / $400
  • Singapore: $80 / $150 / $280 / $600+

Europe — $30-400/day range

  • Albania: $30 / $55 / $110 / $250
  • Bulgaria: $35 / $60 / $120 / $260
  • Georgia: $30 / $55 / $110 / $240
  • Portugal: $50 / $90 / $180 / $400
  • Greece: $55 / $100 / $200 / $450
  • Spain: $55 / $100 / $200 / $450
  • Croatia: $55 / $100 / $200 / $450
  • Italy: $65 / $120 / $230 / $500+
  • France: $70 / $130 / $250 / $600+
  • Germany: $65 / $115 / $220 / $500
  • UK: $80 / $150 / $280 / $700+
  • Iceland: $90 / $170 / $320 / $700+
  • Switzerland: $110 / $200 / $380 / $800+
  • Norway: $100 / $180 / $340 / $750+

Americas — $25-500/day range

Africa & Middle East — $25-700/day range

  • Egypt: $30 / $60 / $130 / $350
  • Morocco: $35 / $65 / $140 / $350
  • Jordan: $45 / $85 / $170 / $400
  • Tanzania: $80 / $150 / $400 / $1,500 (safari)
  • Kenya: $70 / $140 / $350 / $1,500 (safari)
  • South Africa: $50 / $95 / $190 / $500
  • UAE: $70 / $130 / $260 / $700+
  • Israel: $70 / $130 / $260 / $600
  • Saudi Arabia: $80 / $140 / $280 / $650
  • Turkey: $35 / $65 / $130 / $300

How to read these numbers

  • Per person, per day, on the ground — accommodation, three meals, transport within the country, one paid activity. Flights and visas not included.
  • Couples: double the number and subtract ~25% (you split rooms, taxis, some food).
  • Capital cities: add 10-20% to most figures.
  • Tourist hot spots (Bora Bora, Santorini in August, Machu Picchu day) can blow past luxury by 2-3×.

Plan your trip cost in 5 minutes

Drop in your destinations and dates at the EEC Budget Calculator for an instant trip total. Compare two destinations side-by-side with Compare Countries. For the absolute cheapest options, see cheapest countries 2026; for best-value picks, see best budget destinations.

Frequently asked questions

What is a “backpacker” daily budget?
Roughly $25-40/day in cheap countries, $50-80 in mid countries, $80-100+ in expensive ones — covers dorm bed, street/local food, public transport, one activity.
How much does a 2-week mid-range trip cost?
For a typical Asia or Europe destination at $100-200/day mid-range × 14 days = $1,400-2,800 on the ground + $700-1,500 for flights from the US = roughly $2,500-4,300 all-in.
Are these numbers per person or per couple?
Per person. Couples can subtract 20-25% per person (you split rooms, taxis, sometimes food). Solo travellers actually pay a 20-30% premium because they cover full room/transport rates alone.
What’s not included in the daily budget?
International flights to/from your home, visa fees, travel insurance, and any pre-paid premium experiences (safaris, multi-day treks with permits). All others are inside the daily figure.
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