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Travel Budget Planner (US)

Use this free travel budget calculator to quickly estimate the real cost of your next trip — including flights, accommodation, food and activities. Great for US-based travelers planning family vacations, weekend getaways or international adventures.

Enter a few simple numbers and we’ll show you your total trip cost, average daily spend and cost per traveler. This is a planning tool only and is not financial advice or a booking service.

Step 1: Trip basics

Count every full day you’ll be away, including travel days.

Include adults and kids if they have similar costs.

Step 2: Fixed trip costs (total)

These are once-per-trip costs that don’t change with the number of days, such as flights or long-distance transport.

Add up all plane, train or long-distance bus tickets for everyone.

Use the average nightly rate for your hotel, Airbnb, or rental.

Step 3: Daily expenses (per person)

These are the everyday costs that repeat each day of your trip — meals, coffee, small activities and local transport.

Include breakfast, lunch, dinner, snacks and coffee.

Tours, museum tickets, local transport passes and fun extras.

How this travel budget planner works

The Travel Budget Planner is designed to give you a quick, simple overview of how much your trip might cost before you start booking. Instead of guessing, you plug in a few realistic numbers and get a clear total.

  1. Choose how many days you’ll be traveling and how many people are going.
  2. Enter your once-off costs, like flights or long-distance transport and accommodation per night.
  3. Add daily estimates for food, drinks, activities and local transport per person.
  4. Hit Calculate Total Budget to see your full cost, per-person cost and average daily spend.

Use this as a starting point, then fine-tune as you research real-world prices for your destination. Many US travelers also combine this tool with the Cost of Living Calculator to understand how expensive day-to-day life is in the city they’re visiting.

Example: 5-day city break for two people

Here’s a simple example to show how the numbers add up:

  • Trip length: 5 days
  • Travelers: 2 adults
  • Flights: $600 total
  • Accommodation: $140 per night
  • Food & drinks: $55 per person, per day
  • Activities & local transport: $25 per person, per day

Plugging these into the planner would give you an approximate total for the whole trip, plus the cost per person and per day. Even if prices change a bit when you book, you’ll already know whether this trip fits your budget.

Travel budget planner – FAQs

Is this tool only for US trips?

No. The numbers are in USD, so it’s especially useful for US-based travelers, but you can use it for any destination as long as you convert your prices into USD (or a single currency) before entering them.

Does this include taxes, visas or travel insurance?

Not automatically. You can either add those costs into the Flights / Transport field or keep a separate note. For larger trips, many people add an extra 10–15% buffer to cover taxes, fees and surprises.

Is this financial advice?

No. This is an educational planning tool to help you think through your travel budget. Real prices will change based on when and where you book, exchange rates, and your personal choices.

Travel Budgeting Masterclass: Beyond the Basics

The "Hidden 20%" Rule

Experienced travelers often talk about the "Hidden 20%". No matter how carefully you plan using tools like this, unexpected costs arise. These might include city taxes at hotels, visa on arrival fees, SIM cards, bottled water, or tipping customs in the US (which can add 15–25% to every meal).

Pro Tip: After calculating your total using our tool, multiply the final number by 1.2. If you can afford that number, you are financially safe.

Fixed vs. Variable Costs

Understanding the difference helps you save.

  • Fixed Costs (Flights, Accommodation) are usually cheaper when booked 3–6 months in advance. They are "sunk costs" once paid.
  • Variable Costs (Food, Activities) are where you have control during the trip. Eating street food for lunch and a nice dinner, or walking instead of taking Uber, can drastically change your daily spend.

Currency Exchange & Fees

For international trips, your budget can bleed out through "invisible" fees.

  1. Never exchange money at airports: The rates are historically the worst.
  2. Use "Local Currency" on card machines: If a payment terminal asks "Pay in USD or EUR?", always choose the local currency (EUR). Letting the machine convert for you usually incurs a 5–10% dynamic currency conversion markup.
  3. Get a no-fee travel card: Cards like Wise, Revolut, or Charles Schwab (for US citizens) save huge amounts on ATM withdrawals.

Budgeting for Insurance

Many travelers skip insurance to save $50, but this is a critical mistake. Medical evacuations in places like the US, Europe, or SE Asia can cost tens of thousands of dollars. Treat travel insurance as a mandatory part of your "Fixed Costs" section in the calculator above.

This guide is part of WordMitr’s library of travel planning resources. We update our cost estimates quarterly to reflect changing global inflation rates.

Reminder

This travel budget planner is for personal use and estimates only. Always double-check real prices on airline, hotel and booking websites before you make final decisions.

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