Travel Budget Calculator
Add up flights, accommodation, and daily costs to get a full trip budget.
Building a trip budget that holds up
Trip costs blow past estimates most often because they're built from a single guessed number rather than added up from categories. This calculator breaks a trip into the costs that behave differently: flights are a one-time cost, accommodation scales with nights, and food, local transport, and activities scale with days — which usually isn't the same number as nights, since travel days at the start and end often don't need a hotel room.
Adding a buffer on top — typically 10-15% — covers the things a category-by-category budget always misses: a taxi when public transport doesn't run late enough, a souvenir, a higher-than-expected exchange rate on the day you withdraw cash. Building it in up front means it's not a crisis when it happens.
Getting realistic daily numbers
The accuracy of this calculator depends entirely on realistic per-day inputs. A quick search for typical daily food and transport costs at your destination (many travel sites publish rough ranges by city) will get you closer than a guess, and it's worth adjusting for your own travel style — budget hostel-and-street-food trips and comfortable hotel-and-restaurant trips can differ by 3-4x on the same itinerary.
Once you have a total, the Trip Cost Per Day Calculator can help you track actual spending against this plan while you travel, and the Currency Converter helps translate costs quoted in a local currency back into your own.
Frequently asked questions
Why are nights and days separate fields?
Accommodation is billed by the night, while food, local transport, and activities happen on full days — and a trip's day count is usually one more than its night count (arrival and departure days). Keeping them separate avoids over- or under-counting accommodation.
How big should my buffer be?
10% is a reasonable default for a well-planned trip to a familiar destination. Consider 15-20% for first-time destinations, trips with a lot of flexible/unplanned days, or places where costs are harder to predict in advance.
Should flights include baggage fees and seat selection?
Yes — use the all-in cost you actually expect to pay, including baggage, seat selection, and any booking fees, not just the advertised base fare.
How do I track spending once I'm actually traveling?
Use the Trip Cost Per Day Calculator partway through your trip — enter what you've spent so far and how many days are left to see whether you're on pace.