Free travel budget spreadsheet
Two free templates: a trip planner to set your budget before you go, and an expense tracker to log what you spend on the road, with currency conversion. Both are CSV files that open in Google Sheets, Excel and Numbers.
What is in the templates?
- Trip planner (CSV): one row per category (rooms, food, transport, activities, flights, insurance, buffer) with cost per day, number of days and a total.
- Expense tracker (CSV): date, category, what you bought, amount, currency, exchange rate and the amount in your home currency.
How do I use the planner?
- Fill in a daily cost for each category. Not sure? Start from a city estimate or the calculator.
- Set the number of days. The total column adds itself up.
- Keep the buffer row at 10 to 15 percent of the rest.
How do I use the expense tracker?
Add one row each time you pay. Type the price as shown on the receipt, the currency, and the rate you got (from your bank app or a converter). The last column shows the cost in your home currency, so you can compare it with your plan each evening.
When is an app easier than a spreadsheet?
Spreadsheets are great for planning at home. On the road, typing rates by hand gets old fast. An app like Tripence fills in exchange rates for you, works offline, and can read a receipt photo with AI so you only check the result.
Frequently asked questions
How do I open the template in Google Sheets?
In Google Sheets choose File, Import, Upload, and pick the CSV file. The formulas work after import.
Does the spreadsheet convert currencies?
Yes. Type the amount in the local currency and the exchange rate you got, and the sheet works out the amount in your home currency.