Daily Travel Budget Calculator

Travel Budget Planning Guide

What should I know about Budget Ranges by Destination?

Daily budget ranges (excluding flights, including accommodation, food, local transport, activities): Southeast Asia: budget £25–35/day, mid £50–80, comfort £100–150. Eastern Europe: budget £35–50, mid £70–100, comfort £130–200. Southern Europe: budget £45–65, mid £90–130, comfort £160–250. Western Europe: budget £65–100, mid £120–180, comfort £220–350. UK: budget £50–70, mid £100–150, comfort £180–280. USA/Canada: budget £70–100, mid £130–200, comfort £250–400. Japan: budget £65-90, mid £120-180, comfort £180-280 — figures that vary considerably by season, city, and personal travel style even within the same country.

What's the key thing to understand about The Hidden Costs?

Budget travellers often underestimate: entry fees and tourist taxes (Venice, Prague, Bali now charge day-visitor fees), activities and experiences (tours, diving, concerts), shopping and souvenirs (often several hundred pounds per trip), travel insurance (essential — £30–150 for a 2-week trip), airport transfers (£30–100 each way at many airports), and currency exchange costs (use a Wise or Starling card to eliminate these). Always add 15–20% to your calculated budget as a buffer.

What's the key thing to understand about Saving on Accommodation?

Accommodation is typically 40–50% of a travel budget. Strategies: travel in shoulder season (April–June, September–October for most destinations) — typically 20–40% cheaper than peak. Book directly with hotels rather than through OTAs for best price. Apartment rentals (Airbnb, booking.com apartments) are cheaper for 3+ nights and provide kitchen access (saves on meals). Hostels in private rooms cost 30–50% less than equivalent hotels. Points and miles from travel credit cards can eliminate accommodation costs entirely for part of a trip, if enough points have been accumulated in advance.

What should I know about Food and Drink Strategy?

Food costs vary dramatically with choices. In Southeast Asia: street food and local restaurants provide excellent meals for £2–5 per person. In Western Europe, cooking at the accommodation (when a kitchen is available) reduces food costs by 50–70%. Lunch menus (menu du jour in France, menu del día in Spain) offer restaurant-quality food at half the dinner price. Buying breakfast items from supermarkets eliminates the most expensive tourist-trap meal. Tap water versus bottled water across a 2-week trip can make a meaningful difference to the budget, particularly in destinations where bottled water is the only safe option and priced accordingly for tourists.