The average American spends over $1,800 per person on an international trip. In the right destination, that same budget covers twice the time. Numbeo’s 2026 Cost of Living Index shows the gap is enormous. The key is knowing where your dollar works hardest.
10 destinations where your dollar stretches furthest
1. Vietnam
A full day — meals, a guesthouse, and local transport — runs $25 to $35. Street food here is the default. A bowl of pho costs about $1.50. With international tourism arrivals rising, infrastructure keeps improving.
2. Albania
Albania’s Riviera competes on scenery with Greece and Croatia at a fraction of the cost. Daily spending sits under $40. The USD-to-lek exchange rate tips sharply in your favor. Skip Tirana and head straight to the coast.
3. Colombia
The peso-to-dollar exchange rate makes Medellin and Cartagena remarkably accessible. Expect $30 to $40 per day for food, lodging, and transit. The coffee region offers world-class scenery at local prices. Fly into Bogota for the cheapest airfare.
4. Thailand
Islands, mountains, and megacities all fit a $30-per-day budget. Night markets serve full meals for $1 to $2. The country has invested in backpacker infrastructure for decades. Book overnight trains to save on both accommodation and transport.
5. Mexico
Skip the resort towns. Oaxaca, Guanajuato, and Merida offer rich culture at $25 to $35 a day. No long-haul flight keeps overall trip costs lower. Street tacos at $0.50 each help too.
6. Romania
Transylvania and Bucharest deliver European history without European prices. A comfortable day costs around $30. Romania uses the leu, not the euro. Trains connect major cities for under $15.
7. Sri Lanka
Beaches, tea plantations, and ancient temples — all on $20 to $30 a day. The Sri Lankan rupee stretches far against the dollar. A private tuk-tuk for a full day costs about $15.
8. Bolivia
Bolivia consistently ranks among South America’s most affordable destinations, according to global cost-of-living data. Uyuni, La Paz, and the Amazon are reachable on $15 to $25 per day. A sit-down lunch at a local market rarely exceeds $2.
9. Hungary (Budapest)
Budapest offers a world-class European city at Eastern European prices. Thermal baths, ruin bars, and stunning architecture fill a $40 to $50 daily budget. The forint keeps costs below euro-zone capitals. Buy a 72-hour transit pass for under $15.
10. Morocco
Morocco welcomed 17.4 million tourists in 2024. Marrakech, Fez, and the Atlas Mountains all fit a $25 to $35 daily budget. The dirham-to-dollar exchange makes riads, souks, and excursions genuinely affordable.
Get Insider Access
Nu is coming soon to the US and many other countries. Get exclusive updates and find out when to sign up for Nu here.
