About

Under-budgeting is the most common stressor for travelers. Whether planning a backpacking tour through Southeast Asia or a luxury honeymoon in Europe, understanding local purchasing power is essential. A coffee in Zurich costs significantly more than in Hanoi, and accommodation prices fluctuate wildly based on seasonality and comfort levels.

This planner aggregates average daily spend data to provide a realistic baseline. It accounts for the three primary pillars of travel expenditure: Accommodation, Sustenance (Food & Drink), and Mobility (Local Transport). By adjusting for your specific travel style—Budget (hostels/street food), Standard (hotels/restaurants), or Luxury (resorts/fine dining)—you can generate a forecast that aligns with your financial reality.

Formulas

The calculator applies a cumulative multiplier logic based on the selected destination index ($I_d$) and travel style coefficient ($S_c$).

Total Cost = (Base Rate_dest × Style Multiplier) × Days + Flights

Allocation logic assumes:

Accommodation: ~45% of daily budget
Food: ~35% of daily budget
Transport/Activities: ~20% of daily budget

Reference Data

Region	Destination	Budget Daily (Avg)	Standard Daily (Avg)	Luxury Daily (Avg)
Europe	Switzerland (Zurich)	$95	$250	$600+
Europe	Portugal (Lisbon)	$55	$140	$350+
Asia	Japan (Tokyo)	$70	$180	$500+
Asia	Thailand (Bangkok)	$35	$90	$250+
North America	USA (New York)	$120	$300	$800+
South America	Colombia (Medellin)	$30	$80	$200+
Oceania	Australia (Sydney)	$85	$220	$550+
Africa	South Africa (Cape Town)	$45	$110	$300+

Frequently Asked Questions

The core calculation focuses on 'on-the-ground' daily expenses. There is a separate field to manually add your flight costs, as airfare varies too drastically based on departure city and booking lead time to estimate accurately.

The Standard tier assumes a mid-range 3-star hotel, two sit-down meals per day, and a mix of public transport and taxis. It avoids shared dorms but also avoids 5-star amenities.

Yes, the daily averages are calculated per person. If you are sharing a hotel room with a partner, your individual accommodation cost might be lower, but food and activities will remain per-head expenses.

The database uses indexed averages adjusted for recent global inflation rates in the hospitality sector. However, major events (like the Olympics or local festivals) can temporarily spike prices by 200-300%.