Are you excited to go on a trip, but your money’s just not enough to fund it? Check your budget again and see if it may be enough if you choose the right destination to visit.
The recent DIPNDIVE study reveals the top affordable cities for budget travelers. It considered several key factors, including hotel prices, meal prices, the number of free tourist attractions, and even weather index scores.
Using this data can guide you when choosing the most affordable city to visit that’s still on your bucket list. To help you with your planning, here are the top cities you should consider for your budget travel.
1. Rome, Italy
Rome ranks top of the list of the most affordable cities you can travel to, getting a score of 99.5. “When in Rome, do as the Romans do,” and they are fond of free things with 976 free attractions you can check out in the city. Look into the famous St. Peter’s Basilica and the stunning Stadio dei Marmi when you’re there.
Rome offers affordable meal prices, with an average of $16.20, and hotels have an average rate of $80. While they’re not the cheapest, the free attractions and 93.7 weather index make up for it, promising good weather all year round.
2. Bangkok, Thailand
Thailand’s Bangkok follows Rome in this list of affordable cities budget tourists need to consider. With a score of 96.2, the city takes pride in its affordable meals and hotels, which cost an average of $3.14 per meal and $8 per night. The city has the lowest cost for lodging and meals, so it’s entirely up to the airfare to see if you can make this trip work.
Bangkok offers plenty of things to do, with 477 free tourist attractions you can visit. Even with the weather index of 58.4, it’s difficult to say no to the temptation of an exciting cultural experience offered at low prices. Do keep the rainy season in account. While it’s even cheaper to stay, it’s something to know before you book.
3. Lisbon, Portugal
Lisbon has the highest weather index of 98.6, which means incredible weather all year round. The Portuguese city offers 285 tourist attractions that are free to explore.
You can get a good place to stay for only $52 and a filling meal for only $14, making Lisbon an economically friendly city. If you want to explore Europe but want to save along the way, starting your trip off in Lisbon would not be a bad idea.
4. Budapest, Hungary
With a score of 90.3, Budapest in Hungary is one of the most affordable cities you can visit. The study shows that staying in the city will only cost you an average of $34 per night and $10.80 for your meals. These affordable expenses make the city a budget destination you can look forward to.
Besides the low hotel and meal prices, the city also offers free entrance to 295 tourist attractions, making it economical for travelers to stay and explore the city.
5. Prague, Czech Republic
Prague is another city included in the list that is ideal for budget travelers. It scored 88.7 primarily due to the city’s cheap hotel prices and meals. You can get a place to stay at only an average of $34 and get a good meal at $10.71.
More than its incredibly beautiful architecture, another factor that will make you want to visit this city is the abundant number of tourist attractions you can explore for free. Check out how many of the city’s 389 free tourist attractions you can check off your list during your visit.
6. Madrid, Spain
Spain’s Madrid, with a score of 88.3, is one of the most affordable cities in the world to travel to. With an average hotel rate of $38, you can get a place to comfortably rest in. If you’re a foodie traveler, you won’t have to worry about money since you can get budget meals at $16.20.
Madrid provides approximately 552 tourist attractions that travelers can enter for free. You can visit as many of those as you can every day in the city, considering you’re guaranteed good weather all year round with a weather index of 85.5.
7. Athens, Greece
Athens in Greece is filled with ancient archaeological structures and affordable accommodations that are perfect for travelers on a budget. At $29, you can get a clean room you can live in for the days you’re in the city. Meals are also available for only $16.20, a great price point for the flavorful Greek food you can get.
Athens has a score of 86.50, accounting for the affordable meals and accommodations and the availability of 203 free tourist destinations. The city also has great weather year-round, with temperatures a little higher in summer, resulting in a weather index 95.2.
8. Zagreb, Croatia
With a score of 81.2, Zagreb is a Croatian city that promises good and affordable meals. This is one of the factors that helped the city claim the spot of one of the best cities to visit for budget travelers. On a good day, you can enjoy a delicious meal in the city for as low as $10.80.
The trade-off with the affordable food comes with a bit higher rates for accommodation. You need around $64 to get a decent night’s stay. However, you can save money on the rest of your stay by choosing one of the 122 free tourist attractions to visit.
9. Bucharest, Romania
Bucharest scored 80.9, making it one of the top cities ideal for tourists on a budget. While staying in the city, travelers can expect inexpensive meals and affordable hotels. Meals can cost as low as $12.49, while accommodations average $28.
Compared to other cities included in this list, it only has a few tourist attractions open to the public for free. However, the 144 free tourist destinations you can choose from are still highly appealing, and you won’t get bored.
10. Warsaw, Poland
Poland’s Warsaw is another affordable city to consider. The study gave the Polish city a score of 77.8, guaranteeing that budget travelers can afford to explore it.
With approximately 133 free tourist destinations and astonishing meals priced at $9.90, it’s unsurprising that Warsaw got on this list. Accommodation rates are a bit higher compared to those of other cities, with an average of $58.
11. London, United Kingdom
Have you ever been to London? The city’s popularity will make you think it’s an expensive place to explore, but it’s not impossible to visit on a budget. With a score of 77.1, it ranked 11th in this list of cities perfect for tourists with a tight budget.
London amazingly offers 1,426 tourist attractions for free. The prices for meals and accommodations are also not extremely high, averaging $25.98 and $53, respectively.
12. Riga, Latvia
Riga, Latvia, with a score of 74.6, is one of the cities you can consider for your next budget trip. While the city only has 122 free tourist attractions, it gives back through more affordable food and accommodations.
In Riga, you can enjoy a delicious meal for as low as $10.80. You can also get a comfortable place to sleep for an average of $38.
13. Paris, France
The city of love is not a far-fetched dream for budget travelers, especially since it can be an affordable city for visitors. Paris has 739 tourist destinations that are offered to the public for free. You may want to visit some highlights and pay for them, but you certainly have enough free activities to choose from.
Paris, besides the above-average hotel rates of $74, has inexpensive meals for as low as $19.44. If you don’t mind spending a bit of your hotel stay, visiting Paris can be a dream come true for you.
14. Berlin, Germany
Berlin is one of the country’s international hubs, where many different cultures interact with each other. If you like that idea, you’ll enjoy Berlin. The best thing is that you don’t have to spend so much time visiting and exploring this city.
Getting a score of 74, Berlin has 427 tourist attractions you can go to free of charge. Meals are inexpensive and can be bought at $16.20, and hotel rooms are an average of $58.
15. Vienna, Austria
Vienna is a stunning and amazing city to visit, especially if you consider the inexpensive meals and free tourist attractions. A budget meal in the city costs only $16.20. Accommodations cost a bit higher at $54, but they are still more affordable than I would have imagined.
The city scored 66.7, a huge contributing factor is the 318 free tourist destinations travelers can check out. If you want to visit Vienna during the magical Christmas market season, don’t wait too long before booking your ticket.
16. Singapore
Singapore is a powerful city that is also affordable. Meals often come at inexpensive prices, approximately around $11.38, especially when you choose to eat in hawker centers.
Hotel rates are set at an average of $46, which is a bit more expensive than in other cities, especially compared to other Southeast Asian neighbors. Approximately 440 tourist locations can be enjoyed for free, which should help the average cost of your trip.
17. Amsterdam, Netherlands
The city of Amsterdam scored 57.8 in the study after factoring in all the necessary elements. Hotel rooms may be a bit expensive, averaging $88, but you can be guaranteed a good meal for only around $21.60 when you’re on a budget.
Amsterdam has a weather index of 87.5, which indicates that the weather is often good. As someone who lives in Amsterdam, I recommend you visit between April and October for the best experience. If you come during winter or early spring, bring an umbrella. When you do make your way to Amsterdam, spend your days exploring the city’s 386 free tourist attractions.
18. Brussels, Belgium
Brussels in Belgium is another city to consider if you have a tight travel budget. While the hotel rates are a bit higher, at an average of $76, you can eat a scrumptious meal for only $21.60.
Brussels has around 223 tourist attractions you can explore for free. The weather is also most often pleasant, as shown by its weather index of 83.8.
19. Stockholm, Sweden
Stockholm scores 53. Let’s break that down. While the meals are affordable, at $14.22, the accommodations can be expensive, at an average rate of $67.
One thing that can attract you to this city is the 125 free tourist destinations you can visit without charge. The weather index is 69.7, so it’s not that bad when you’re looking forward to great days ahead. Remember that it gets cold and dark in the winter, so plan your visit accordingly.
Featured Image: fransz/depositphotos
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Marjolein Dilven is a journalist and founder of Spark Nomad, a travel platform, and Radical FIRE, a personal finance platform. Marjolein has a finance and economics background with a master’s in Finance. She has quit her job to travel the world, documenting her travels on Spark Nomad to help people plan their travels. Marjolein Dilven has written for publications like MSN, Associated Press, CNBC, Town News syndicate, and more.