![[OC] Estimated daily cost of backpacking, by country (2026)](https://preview.redd.it/wnqooemc2uih1.jpeg?auto=webp&s=b7251de4976f00b5ab78bf18469047112995e7dc)
[OC] Estimated daily cost of backpacking, by country (2026)
I've spent the last few months working on this in a gargantuan spreadsheet. (Almost) all data has been updated to 2026 numbers, and the data has been aggregated from over a dozen different sources.
Assumptions:
-Solo Traveler staying in Hostel Dorms (When possible. In countries with no hostels, I used the average price for a two-star hotel room instead.)
-Exchange rates are based on the average over the last 12 months, not necessarily as it currently stands in August of 2026. Countries with unstable currencies might see their numbers fluctuate quite a bit month-to-month. Using the average exchange rate is a way to partially counteract this, but it's still a thing that can't fully be predicted or adjusted for
- Costs for each country are based on a weighted average of the most popular cities/towns among backpackers (For example, Portugal's cost of travel is about €6/day higher due to the Algarve being weighted as 20% of Portugal's total.) In general, I used the the Top 5 or 6 most popular destinations, but for smaller countries (like the Caribbean islands), it may have been only 1 or 2, and for large countries like the United States it may have been closer to 8 or 9.
What is included:
-Accommodation (See above)
-Food and Drink (Streetfood or Fastfood only, no sit-down restaurants. In most cases this calculated as the cost of a cheap breakfast, cheap lunch, cheap dinner, a cup of coffee plus misc. snacks.)
-Local Public Transportation
-Attractions (Museum entrance tickets, park fees etc.)
-Cellular Data
-Visa Fees, but only if the fee is charged daily.
-Sales Tax/VAT (when applicable)
Not Included:
-Long Distance Travel (Domestic Flights, Intercity buses etc.)
-Visa Fees (If charged one-time on entry)
-Travel Insurance
-Other Miscellaneous Expenses
I also didn't include either North Korea or Turkmenistan since both countries require all tourists from US/EU/CANZUK to visit the country as part of an organized tour, so backpacking isn't really possible (and the tours cost at least €130-€140 per day anyways)