Which countries are the cheapest to travel to? Exclusive HelloSafe ranking of 136 countries
Planning a budget is always an important step for any traveller preparing for a stay abroad. Whether it's for accommodation, food or transport, it's important to be well informed before setting off. This study gives you the average daily budget required for one person in 136 countries around the world. It shows that the most expensive destinations are not always the ones you think of.
Good to know
This budget includes the expenses incurred by the traveller on site in the destination country, i.e. accommodation expenses (hotel or Airbnb-type reservation), food expenses (based on local CPI indices and the cost of catering) and transport expenses within the country itself (plane, train, bus, other public transport or taxi). Conversely, this budget does not include the cost of transport to the destination country (typically the cost of a plane ticket). To find out more about how this map was compiled, please refer to the "methodology" section at the bottom of the document. This data was collected as at September 2024.
High travel budget: our ranking of the 15 most expensive countries in the world
If you have a high travel budget, then here's the list of the 15 countries in 2024 where you'll have to pay the most once you're there. With a high standard of tourist accommodation, the Caribbean islands top the list:
- Barbados ($463 budget per day), Antigua and Barbuda ($433) and Saint Kitts and Nevis ($382) are the countries with the highest travel budgets, followed by the Maldives ($368) and the island of Grenada ($364)
- The top 15 countries with the highest travel budgets also include three European countries known for their high prices: Switzerland (6th, with a daily budget of $355), Liechtenstein (11th, $310) and Monaco (14th, $283).
- Also in the top 15 for high travel budgets are the United States (7th, $350) and Greenland (9th, $317) in North America, and the United Arab Emirates (10th, $310) and the Principality ofOman (13th, $303) in Asia.
Source : Budget Your Trip, Kayak.com, Booking.com, HelloSafe's data (2024)
Budget travel: our ranking of the 15 cheapest countries
For travellers looking to get away on a budget, the list below of the top 15 countries to visit on a budget is bound to be of interest. It mainly includes countries in Asia and Africa:
- Laos ($18 per day), Kazakhstan ($26) and Rwanda ($28) are the 3 countries requiring the lowest budgets for a trip, followed by Ghana ($29) and Mongolia ($32).
- The Caucasus countries of Armenia ($36) and Georgia ($39) are also among the budget travellers, as is Serbia ($49), the only European country in the top 15.
Source : Budget Your Trip, Kayak.com, Booking.com, HelloSafe's data (2024)
The Caribbean islands top the list of the most expensive destinations for accommodation
The table shows the 15 most expensive countries in the world in terms of the average price for a night's accommodation. At the top of the list, the Caribbean countries dominate, with Barbados, Antigua and Barbuda, and Grenada posting rates in excess of $300 per night. These destinations, renowned for their heavenly beaches, attract an upmarket clientele. Switzerland is the only European country to make it into the top 5, with a cost of $293 per night, reflecting its standing and tourist appeal. Last but not least, France closes the gap with an average price of $213, demonstrating its relative affordability compared with other countries with high standards.
Source : Budget Your Trip, Kayak.com, Booking.com, HelloSafe's data (2024)
Laos, Mongolia and Georgia: the three countries with the most affordable accommodation in the world
The table shows the 15 countries with the cheapest accommodation in the world. At the top of the list, Laos stands out with a very low cost of just $11 per night for one person, followed by Mongolia and Georgia at $22 and $23. The majority of these countries are in Asia and Latin America, with prices generally under $40. Although less expensive, these destinations offer rich and varied cultural experiences.India and Nepal, known for their diversity and spirituality, are also among the most affordable countries, making these regions accessible to travellers on a budget.
Source : Budget Your Trip, Kayak.com, Booking.com, HelloSafe's data (2024)
World travel budget: Canada is the 35th most expensive country in the world in which to travel
Below you will find all the data we have compiled from 136 countries around the world. With an average travel budget of $215 per day, Canada is ranked 35th, on a par with countries such as Hong Kong ($216) in Asia, Finland in Europe ($212) and Australia in Oceania ($209).
| Rank | Country | Budget 1 day | Budget 1 week | Budget 2 weeks |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Barbados | 468 $ | 3274 $ | 7016 $ |
| 2 | Antigua and Barbuda | 438 $ | 3064 $ | 6566 $ |
| 3 | Saint Kitts and Nevis | 385 $ | 2698 $ | 5781 $ |
| 4 | Maldives | 371 $ | 2600 $ | 5570 $ |
| 5 | Grenada | 368 $ | 2575 $ | 5517 $ |
| 6 | Switzerland | 359 $ | 2513 $ | 5385 $ |
| 7 | United States | 354 $ | 2475 $ | 5304 $ |
| 8 | Micronesia | 350 $ | 2449 $ | 5247 $ |
| 9 | Greenland | 320 $ | 2242 $ | 4805 $ |
| 10 | United Arab Emirates | 313 $ | 2191 $ | 4695 $ |
| 11 | Liechtenstein | 313 $ | 2189 $ | 4691 $ |
| 12 | Bahamas | 311 $ | 2175 $ | 4660 $ |
| 13 | Oman | 306 $ | 2141 $ | 4587 $ |
| 14 | Monaco | 285 $ | 1998 $ | 4281 $ |
| 15 | São Tomé and Príncipe | 277 $ | 1941 $ | 4158 $ |
| 16 | Puerto Rico | 270 $ | 1893 $ | 4056 $ |
| 17 | Qatar | 270 $ | 1890 $ | 4049 $ |
| 18 | France | 267 $ | 1872 $ | 4011 $ |
| 19 | Trinidad and Tobago | 266 $ | 1859 $ | 3983 $ |
| 20 | Saint Lucia | 263 $ | 1838 $ | 3939 $ |
| 21 | Iceland | 258 $ | 1806 $ | 3871 $ |
| 22 | Papua New Guinea | 255 $ | 1788 $ | 3831 $ |
| 23 | Dominica | 253 $ | 1772 $ | 3798 $ |
| 24 | Luxembourg | 249 $ | 1742 $ | 3733 $ |
| 25 | Greece | 249 $ | 1740 $ | 3729 $ |
| 26 | Seychelles | 244 $ | 1707 $ | 3658 $ |
| 27 | United Kingdom | 243 $ | 1702 $ | 3646 $ |
| 28 | Denmark | 242 $ | 1693 $ | 3628 $ |
| 29 | Netherlands | 237 $ | 1662 $ | 3561 $ |
| 30 | Italy | 225 $ | 1576 $ | 3377 $ |
| 31 | Norway | 225 $ | 1572 $ | 3369 $ |
| 32 | Andorra | 222 $ | 1556 $ | 3335 $ |
| 33 | Fiji | 220 $ | 1541 $ | 3303 $ |
| 34 | Hong Kong | 216 $ | 1509 $ | 3234 $ |
| 35 | Canada | 215 $ | 1503 $ | 3220 $ |
| 36 | Finland | 212 $ | 1487 $ | 3187 $ |
| 37 | Australia | 209 $ | 1466 $ | 3140 $ |
| 38 | Solomon Islands | 208 $ | 1457 $ | 3123 $ |
| 39 | French Polynesia | 207 $ | 1446 $ | 3098 $ |
| 40 | Saint Vincent and the Grenadines | 206 $ | 1439 $ | 3085 $ |
| 41 | Germany | 205 $ | 1435 $ | 3074 $ |
| 42 | Austria | 204 $ | 1429 $ | 3062 $ |
| 43 | Spain | 204 $ | 1428 $ | 3059 $ |
| 44 | Bahrain | 199 $ | 1394 $ | 2986 $ |
| 45 | Ireland | 193 $ | 1353 $ | 2900 $ |
| 46 | Singapore | 193 $ | 1351 $ | 2896 $ |
| 47 | Belgium | 192 $ | 1346 $ | 2885 $ |
| 48 | Senegal | 192 $ | 1341 $ | 2873 $ |
| 49 | Jordan | 189 $ | 1323 $ | 2836 $ |
| 50 | Portugal | 184 $ | 1290 $ | 2765 $ |
| 51 | Dominican Republic | 182 $ | 1277 $ | 2737 $ |
| 52 | Macao | 181 $ | 1268 $ | 2717 $ |
| 53 | Sweden | 180 $ | 1258 $ | 2695 $ |
| 54 | Cape Verde | 176 $ | 1233 $ | 2643 $ |
| 55 | New Zealand | 175 $ | 1225 $ | 2624 $ |
| 56 | Slovakia | 171 $ | 1196 $ | 2563 $ |
| 57 | Turkey | 162 $ | 1134 $ | 2430 $ |
| 58 | Swaziland | 162 $ | 1133 $ | 2429 $ |
| 59 | Jamaica | 159 $ | 1115 $ | 2390 $ |
| 60 | Malta | 159 $ | 1112 $ | 2382 $ |
| 61 | Kenya | 154 $ | 1078 $ | 2310 $ |
| 62 | Latvia | 154 $ | 1076 $ | 2306 $ |
| 63 | Israel | 151 $ | 1059 $ | 2269 $ |
| 64 | Mexico | 150 $ | 1047 $ | 2244 $ |
| 65 | Japan | 145 $ | 1012 $ | 2169 $ |
| 66 | Costa Rica | 144 $ | 1005 $ | 2154 $ |
| 67 | Montenegro | 141 $ | 986 $ | 2113 $ |
| 68 | Cyprus | 140 $ | 979 $ | 2099 $ |
| 69 | Taiwan | 139 $ | 972 $ | 2083 $ |
| 70 | Czech Republic | 138 $ | 969 $ | 2077 $ |
| 71 | Estonia | 138 $ | 965 $ | 2068 $ |
| 72 | South Korea | 133 $ | 933 $ | 2000 $ |
| 73 | Chile | 133 $ | 933 $ | 1999 $ |
| 74 | Belize | 131 $ | 916 $ | 1963 $ |
| 75 | Uganda | 130 $ | 913 $ | 1956 $ |
| 76 | Croatia | 128 $ | 894 $ | 1915 $ |
| 77 | Slovenia | 126 $ | 884 $ | 1894 $ |
| 78 | Lithuania | 124 $ | 871 $ | 1866 $ |
| 79 | Zambia | 117 $ | 822 $ | 1761 $ |
| 80 | Egypt | 117 $ | 820 $ | 1756 $ |
| 81 | Tanzania | 117 $ | 818 $ | 1754 $ |
| 82 | Bhutan | 113 $ | 793 $ | 1699 $ |
| 83 | South Africa | 113 $ | 791 $ | 1694 $ |
| 84 | Argentina | 109 $ | 762 $ | 1633 $ |
| 85 | Hungary | 105 $ | 738 $ | 1581 $ |
| 86 | Madagascar | 104 $ | 727 $ | 1557 $ |
| 87 | Romania | 104 $ | 725 $ | 1553 $ |
| 88 | Malaysia | 103 $ | 719 $ | 1541 $ |
| 89 | Thailand | 102 $ | 711 $ | 1524 $ |
| 90 | Albania | 101 $ | 708 $ | 1517 $ |
| 91 | Brazil | 99 $ | 692 $ | 1482 $ |
| 92 | China | 98 $ | 685 $ | 1468 $ |
| 93 | Panama | 98 $ | 684 $ | 1465 $ |
| 94 | Uruguay | 96 $ | 671 $ | 1437 $ |
| 95 | Namibia | 95 $ | 667 $ | 1429 $ |
| 96 | Paraguay | 93 $ | 648 $ | 1389 $ |
| 97 | Bosnia-Herzegovina | 92 $ | 646 $ | 1384 $ |
| 98 | Bulgaria | 86 $ | 603 $ | 1292 $ |
| 99 | Morocco | 85 $ | 593 $ | 1271 $ |
| 100 | Russia | 85 $ | 592 $ | 1268 $ |
| 101 | Belarus | 83 $ | 581 $ | 1246 $ |
| 102 | Poland | 81 $ | 569 $ | 1219 $ |
| 103 | Philippines | 80 $ | 560 $ | 1199 $ |
| 104 | Lesotho | 79 $ | 551 $ | 1180 $ |
| 105 | Ecuador | 79 $ | 550 $ | 1179 $ |
| 106 | Cambodia | 76 $ | 535 $ | 1147 $ |
| 107 | Botswana | 76 $ | 530 $ | 1136 $ |
| 108 | Vietnam | 74 $ | 518 $ | 1110 $ |
| 109 | Peru | 74 $ | 515 $ | 1104 $ |
| 110 | Indonesia | 73 $ | 509 $ | 1091 $ |
| 111 | Iran | 72 $ | 505 $ | 1083 $ |
| 112 | Honduras | 71 $ | 497 $ | 1065 $ |
| 113 | Ethiopia | 70 $ | 488 $ | 1046 $ |
| 114 | Nicaragua | 67 $ | 468 $ | 1002 $ |
| 115 | Bolivia | 65 $ | 456 $ | 978 $ |
| 116 | Pakistan | 65 $ | 456 $ | 978 $ |
| 117 | Sri Lanka | 62 $ | 437 $ | 937 $ |
| 118 | Guatemala | 61 $ | 426 $ | 913 $ |
| 119 | Bangladesh | 60 $ | 421 $ | 902 $ |
| 120 | Colombia | 54 $ | 376 $ | 806 $ |
| 121 | Cuba | 51 $ | 360 $ | 770 $ |
| 122 | Nepal | 49 $ | 345 $ | 740 $ |
| 123 | Serbia | 49 $ | 345 $ | 740 $ |
| 124 | India | 49 $ | 343 $ | 735 $ |
| 125 | Malawi | 45 $ | 318 $ | 681 $ |
| 126 | Haiti | 44 $ | 311 $ | 667 $ |
| 127 | Burma | 44 $ | 311 $ | 665 $ |
| 128 | Mali | 41 $ | 288 $ | 616 $ |
| 129 | Georgia | 39 $ | 274 $ | 588 $ |
| 130 | Burkina Faso | 38 $ | 267 $ | 572 $ |
| 131 | Armenia | 37 $ | 256 $ | 550 $ |
| 132 | Mongolia | 32 $ | 224 $ | 480 $ |
| 133 | Ghana | 29 $ | 204 $ | 436 $ |
| 134 | Rwanda | 28 $ | 199 $ | 427 $ |
| 135 | Kazakhstan | 26 $ | 182 $ | 390 $ |
| 136 | Laos | 18 $ | 124 $ | 266 $ |
Methodology
Aim of the study
This study was carried out on the basis of multiple sources, all of which were taken into account in order to provide as accurate a picture as possible of the average travel budget required for a tourist stay for one person in a given country. The aim is to be able to offer an estimate of the budget per day that corresponds as closely as possible for each country studied to the reality of the places that tourists visit during their stay.
Categories of expenditure taken into account
This budget includes expenditure made by the traveller on site in the destination country, i.e. :
- 1. Accommodation costs (hotel or Airbnb-type reservation)
- 2. Food expenses (based on local CPI indices and restaurant costs)
- 3. Transport costs within the country (plane, train, bus, other public transport or taxi)
- 4. Expenditure on visits and tourist activities on site
Conversely, this budget does not include the cost of transport to the destination country (typically the cost of a plane ticket).
Methodological choices
The way in which a travel budget is put together can obviously vary according to a large number of criteria: the standard of accommodation and restaurants, different costs from one town to another or from one region to another within the same country, the type of transport preferred in the destination country, and so on. In order to arrive at a figure that is as representative as possible of the budget needed to travel in a given country over a given period, we have taken two approaches into account in our calculation algorithms:
- 1. Objective approach: using an artificial intelligence module developed in-house by HelloSafe, our algorithms have analysed tens of thousands of accommodation, restaurant and transport offers in each of the countries mentioned in the study, enabling us to establish average budget levels in each of the expenditure categories that are representative of the country as a whole and of the different standings available.
- 2. Subjective approach: we wanted the study to be equally representative of what tourists actually do in a given country. For example, if a majority of travellers to Egypt choose to take a cruise on the Nile, we believe that this specific tourist characteristic should be taken into account from a statistical point of view. To do this, we have based ourselves on the data made available by the Budget My Trip and Numbeo websites, whose method consists of allowing thousands of travellers to report the prices they observe and pay on the spot. These on-the-ground figures provide invaluable insight into the reality of what travellers actually pay in a given country.
It is therefore by taking these two approaches into account that we are able to propose the figures presented in this study.
Details and limitations
It is important to remember that the data presented in this study are estimates, and are by no means absolute. As we have said, planning a travel budget is a complex exercise that depends above all on individual choices and trade-offs. Nevertheless, the methodology we have used has enabled us to get as close as possible to a figure that we consider representative for all the countries for which we have been able to obtain sufficient data.
About HelloSafe Canada
HelloSafe is a leading platform for comparing financial products (insurance, credit, investments) in Canada. Powered by its unique and powerful technology, HelloSafe provides users with dozens of free and anonymous comparison tools, calculators and expert, up-to-date content. Its platform empowers users to make the best decisions for their wallets and find the right products at the right prices for them.
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