Trip budget calculator
Enter your trip and get a total, a daily figure and a breakdown. Start from scratch, or pick a city to fill in estimated daily costs, then adjust them.
Estimated trip total
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Estimate only, not financial advice. City presets come from US State Department per diem rates and our rule of thumb, and may be wrong or out of date. Check real prices before you book. Full disclaimer.
How does the calculator work?
It adds up four things: rooms (nightly price times nights times the number of rooms you need), daily costs per person (food, local transport, activities), one-off costs like flights, and a buffer. Rooms are shared, so set "people per room" to 2 if you share.
Where do the city numbers come from?
Each city preset starts from the US State Department per diem, which is the daily allowance for government staff on business trips. That is our "comfort" style. Budget and mid-range are fixed shares of it. See the travel costs by city page for the full method.
What should I do after I have a budget?
Write it down per day, then check your real spending each evening. That one habit keeps most trips on budget. The travel budget guide covers the full method, and there is a free travel budget spreadsheet if you prefer a sheet.
Frequently asked questions
How do I calculate a trip budget?
Multiply your nightly room cost by the number of nights, multiply daily food, transport and activity costs by the number of days and travellers, add flights and one-off costs, then add a buffer of 10 to 15 percent.
How much buffer should I add to a travel budget?
Around 10 to 15 percent covers most surprises like a missed bus, a pharmacy visit or one extra night. Long or remote trips may need more.
Are the city presets accurate?
They are rough estimates based on US State Department per diem rates and a fixed rule of thumb. They are a starting point, not real prices. Change any field to match your plans.