How to Travel on $50/Day: Complete Budget Travel Guide (2026)
Real strategies that saved me $5,000+ on a year of travel—tested across 40+ countries
Updated January 2026: From Southeast Asia ($30/day) to Europe ($70/day)—here’s exactly what works
💰 Real Budget Travel Results:
$30-40/day
$50-60/day
$70-90/day
60-70%
Exploring the world doesn’t have to break the bank. After travelling to 40+ countries on a tight budget, I’ve learned that smart planning and a few key strategies can slash your travel costs by 60-70% without sacrificing experiences or comfort.
This isn’t about sleeping in airports or surviving on instant noodles. It’s about making informed choices that let you travel longer, see more, and still eat well and sleep comfortably. Here’s exactly how I do it.
📱 Essential Setup: Save Thousands Before You Leave
Before we get into accommodation, food, and transport strategies, let’s set you up with the tools that’ll save you the most money:
💳 #1 Money Saver: Fee-Free Travel Card
Traditional bank cards charge 3% on every overseas purchase PLUS $5-8 per ATM withdrawal. On a $5,000 trip, that’s $200-300 in fees you don’t need to pay.
Why I Use Up Bank:
- 0% international transaction fees (saved me $400+ last year)
- Unlimited free ATM withdrawals worldwide
- Mid-market exchange rates (no hidden markup)
- Track spending in both AUD and local currency
- $15 signup bonus just for joining
Used across 30+ countries without paying a single fee
📱 Stay Connected
Airport SIM cards are overpriced ($30-50 for limited data). Get Saily eSIM for half the price—install at home, activate on arrival.
🔒 Protect Your Data
Public WiFi at airports and cafes isn’t secure. Use NordVPN to encrypt your connection and protect your banking details.
🛡️ Budget Travel Insurance (Don’t Skip This!)
I use SafetyWing—cheapest comprehensive travel insurance (From $45/month) with medical coverage, trip delays, and lost luggage. One hospital visit without insurance could cost $10,000+.
🏨 Accommodation: Save 50-70% on Lodging
Accommodation is typically your biggest expense after flights. Here’s how I consistently spend 50-70% less than regular tourists while staying in comfortable, safe places.
🏠 1. Hostels (Not Just for Young Backpackers!)
Cost: $10-30/night depending on location
Modern hostels have private rooms with ensuite bathrooms—not just dorms. Many include free breakfast, kitchen access, and social activities.
- Book private rooms in hostels—often 50% cheaper than hotels
- Free breakfast saves $5-10/day
- Kitchen access = cook your own meals
- Meet travel buddies to split transport costs
- Use Hostelworld to compare prices and read reviews
My savings: $40/night hostel vs $120/night hotel = $2,400 saved on 30-day trip!
🏘️ 2. Stay Outside City Centres
Savings: 40-60% vs city centre locations
Accommodation 2-3km from tourist areas is dramatically cheaper. With good public transport, you’ll barely notice the difference.
- Paris: Champs-Élysées €120/night → Montmartre €65/night
- Bangkok: Sukhumvit ฿1,200/night → On Nut ฿500/night
- Barcelona: Gothic Quarter €100/night → Gracia €45/night
Tools: Use Trip.com to filter by neighbourhood and compare prices
📅 3. Book Smart (Timing is Everything)
When you book matters as much as where you stay.
- Last-minute deals: Book 2-3 days ahead for 20-40% discounts
- Off-season: Europe Nov-Mar, Asia Apr-Jun = 50% cheaper
- Weekdays: Check in Sun-Thu (cheaper than Fri-Sat)
- Long stays: Ask for weekly/monthly discounts (10-30% off)
- Free cancellation: Always book refundable, change if prices drop
🤝 4. Alternative Accommodation
Think beyond hotels and hostels.
- Airbnb: Apartments for groups/long stays (cheaper split 2-4 ways)
- Guesthouses: Family-run, personal, cheaper than hotels
- Homestays: Live with locals, meals included, cultural immersion
- House-sitting: Free accommodation caring for pets/property
My pick: Mix hostels (social) with Airbnb studios (quiet/work time)
💰 My Actual Accommodation Costs (30-Day Trips)
$8-15/night hostels
$300-450 per month
$15-25/night
$450-750 per month
$25-40/night
$750-1,200 per month
🍜 Food: Eat Well for $10-20/Day
Food is where most tourists overspend. Here’s how to eat delicious local food without destroying your budget:
🥘 1. Eat Where Locals Eat
Tourist areas = 200-300% markup. Walk 2 blocks away = authentic + cheap.
- Street food stalls: Best value, most authentic ($1-3/meal)
- Local markets: Food courts = delicious + cheap
- Family-run restaurants: No English menu = good sign
- Where workers eat: Look for busy lunch spots at noon
- University areas: Cheap student eateries everywhere
Real example: Vietnam—Tourist pho ₫150,000 ($9) vs Local pho ₫35,000 ($2)
🍳 2. Cook Your Own Meals (Sometimes)
Cooking 30-50% of meals saves $300-500/month.
- Breakfast: Cook (saves $5-8/day)
- Lunch: Eat out local food (cheap + cultural experience)
- Dinner: Mix of cooking + eating out
- Snacks: Buy from supermarkets, not tourist shops
What to cook: Pasta, rice dishes, sandwiches, salads, breakfast (eggs/oats/fruit)
⏰ 3. Lunch Specials & Set Menus
Same restaurant, same food, 30-50% cheaper at lunch vs dinner!
- Lunch menus: 3-course lunch = cheaper than dinner main
- Early bird specials: Restaurants before 6pm = discounts
- Set menus: À la carte = 40% more expensive
- Happy hours: Drinks + snacks deals (5-7pm usually)
- Takeaway: Often 10-20% cheaper than dine-in
💧 4. Carry Snacks & Water
Tourist area water/snacks = 300% markup. Bring your own.
- Reusable water bottle: Fill at accommodation (saves $3-5/day)
- Snack bars/nuts: Supermarket = $0.50, Tourist shop = $3
- Fruit from markets: Cheap, healthy, filling
- Instant coffee sachets: Cafe = $5, Your thermos = $0.20
Savings: $5-8/day × 30 days = $150-240 saved per month!
🍽️ My Actual Daily Food Costs
$10-15/day
Mix street food + cooking
$15-25/day
Local restaurants + markets
$25-35/day
Cook breakfast + lunch deals
🚆 Transport: Get Around for 70% Less
Transport can quickly blow your budget if you’re not careful. Here’s how to get around efficiently and cheaply:
🚇 1. Master Public Transport
Taxis/Uber = 5-10x more expensive than metro/bus.
- Day/week passes: Unlimited rides often cheaper than 3-4 single tickets
- Rechargeable cards: Tokyo Suica, London Oyster = discounts
- Download offline maps: Google Maps works without internet
- Night buses/trains: Save accommodation costs
- Ask locals: They know the cheapest routes
Example: Barcelona metro pass €10/day vs €40/day taxis = €210 saved/week
🚶 2. Walk or Bike
Best way to explore + completely free + burn off all that street food!
- Walking: Free + see hidden gems + stay fit
- City bikes: Many cities have free/cheap bike share ($2-5/day)
- Rent bicycles: $5-10/day vs $20-40 for tours
- Scooter rentals: Asia = $5-8/day (get insurance!)
- Free walking tours: Tip-based ($5-10) vs paid ($30-50)
My rule: Walk if <3km, bike if 3-8km, metro if >8km
✈️ 3. Book Flights & Trains Smart
Flying Tuesday vs Friday = often 40-60% cheaper.
- Flexible dates: Search ±3 days for best prices
- Budget airlines: Ryanair, AirAsia, JetStar (watch baggage fees!)
- Fly midweek: Tue/Wed cheapest, Fri/Sun most expensive
- Compare on Omio: Trains, buses, flights in one search
- Use 12Go in Asia: Best for buses/trains/ferries
- Book 6-8 weeks ahead: Sweet spot for lowest prices
🤝 4. Share Costs
Everything’s cheaper when split 2-4 ways.
- Taxis/Uber: Split with other hostel guests
- Car rentals: $40/day ÷ 4 people = $10/person
- Accommodation: Airbnb apartment = $15/person vs $40 hostel bed
- Tours: Private tours split = same price as group tours
- Food: Share dishes family-style = try more for less
Where to find travel buddies: Hostel common rooms, Facebook groups
🚌 My Actual Daily Transport Costs
$3-8/day
Mostly walking + local buses
$5-10/day
Metro passes + walking
$8-15/day
Day passes + bikes
🎭 Activities: Have Fun Without Going Broke
You don’t need to pay for expensive tours to have amazing experiences. Here’s how to see and do everything without overspending:
🆓 Free Activities
- Free walking tours: Tip-based ($5-10 suggested)
- Museums: Many have free days (check websites)
- Parks & beaches: Always free
- Local festivals: Free entertainment + cultural experience
- Hiking trails: Free + incredible views
- Watch sunsets: Free + Instagram-worthy
💰 Discount Strategies
- Student discounts: Carry ISIC card (save 20-50%)
- City passes: Multiple attractions bundled = cheaper
- Off-peak timing: Visit popular sites early morning
- Group bookings: Often 10-20% cheaper
- Book online: Usually cheaper than at the door
💰 Complete Budget Travel Cost Breakdown
| Category | Southeast Asia | Eastern Europe | Western Europe |
|---|---|---|---|
| Accommodation | $10-15/day | $15-25/day | $30-40/day |
| Food | $10-15/day | $15-25/day | $25-35/day |
| Transport | $5-8/day | $5-10/day | $10-15/day |
| Activities/Attractions | $5-10/day | $10-15/day | $15-25/day |
| TOTAL PER DAY | $30-48 | $45-75 | $80-115 |
| 30-DAY TRIP TOTAL | $900-1,440 | $1,350-2,250 | $2,400-3,450 |
*Excludes international flights and travel insurance. Includes buffer for occasional splurges.
Ready to Start Budget Travelling?
Set yourself up with the essential tools that’ll save you thousands:
Save $5,000+ per year on travel • Start your adventure today!
Last updated: January 2026. All costs based on personal travel experience across 40+ countries.
Important notes:
- Costs vary by travel style and destination. These are realistic budget traveller costs.
- International flights not included (add $400-1,500 depending on destination).
- Travel insurance essential—don’t skip it to save money!
- This post contains affiliate links. I earn a commission at no extra cost to you, which helps keep the site running.
- Exchange rates fluctuate—use current rates when planning your trip.
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