Affordable Urban Escapes: Cities That Won’t Break the Bank
After a year of lockdown, the desire to explore the world is stronger than ever. While some opt for extravagant bucket-list adventures, others seek a more budget-friendly way to satisfy their wanderlust.
So, which cities offer the best value for your money if you’re planning a 2021 getaway? Research conducted by Bounce, a luggage storage company, examined 75 popular city destinations. They analyzed the average costs of five common expenditures: hotel accommodation, meals at local eateries, public transportation fares, bottles of wine, and pints of beer. This study uncovered the most economical and expensive urban vacation spots across the globe.
Leading the list is Buenos Aires, the vibrant capital of Argentina. Renowned for its street food and dance culture, Buenos Aires claims the title of the most affordable city. It boasts the lowest prices for both a bottle of wine (US$3.10) and a one-way ticket on local transportation (US$0.27). Istanbul secures the second spot, offering wallet-friendly rates across the board, including a travel ticket at US$0.40 or a taxi fare of US$0.41 per kilometer. Rio de Janeiro takes the third position, proudly earning the distinction of being the most inexpensive city for a pint of draft beer, priced at US$1.34.
Yearning for more distant horizons? Here are some of the world’s most budget-friendly city breaks:
- Buenos Aires, Argentina
- Istanbul, Turkey
- Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
- St. Petersburg, Russia
- Krakow, Poland
- Moscow, Russia
- Porto, Portugal
- Budapest, Hungary
- Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
- Santiago, Chile
On the flip side, these are the pricier cities for a vacation:
- Zurich, Switzerland
- Reykjavik, Iceland
- Geneva, Switzerland
- New York, United States
- London, United Kingdom
- Copenhagen, Denmark
- San Francisco, USA
- Boston, USA
- Las Vegas, USA
- Amsterdam, Netherlands
Reykjavík, the second-ranked city, charges nearly US$200 for a nightly hotel stay and approximately US$10 for a pint of beer. Meanwhile, Geneva secures the highest restaurant meal price at US$30.56 per person, claiming the third position.
