Top Three Countries for Traveling on a Budget

Traveling on a budget? Mexico, Portugal, and Guatemala are three amazing destinations when traveling on a budget.

Traveling is exciting and fun, but it can be expensive. If touring the world is your once-in-a-life dream, you don’t necessarily have to break your bank. There are quite a handful of amazing destinations that allow you to visit on a budget. This list includes some of the cheapest world-class traveling destinations that offer the best scenery, history, local food, and many more things for a fraction of the American buck. This means you can enjoy the location, live comfortably, and eat good food for less than $60 a day. Mexico, Portugal, and Guatemala are three countries to check out when traveling on a budget.

Traveling on a Budget in Mexico

You can live on a budget in Mexico; however, if you want to splurge and get a taste of Mexican luxury, you won’t find a shortage of luxury hotels and bling restaurants. You can enjoy the best of Mexico’s local cuisine on a budget for less than $28 a day. You can even stay at a good (4-star) hotel for only $30 (a night).

Central Guanajuato Market (the Mercado Hidalgo) in the historic city center is a great example of finding flavorful and inexpensive local foods. Photo by Elijah-Lovkoff via iStock by Getty Images

The fresh and delicious tacos are amazing for the budget. You can enjoy the best local food for under $1 (US). While you explore the history and scenery of Mexico, we recommend that you ditch a rental car in place of Uber, which is way more affordable, as it won’t cost you more than $5 for a 15-minute Uber ride. For more information on how to travel around Mexico, we recommend checking out this Mexico guide of geckoroutes.com.

Traveling on a Budget in Portugal

If you are a die-hard fan of historical monuments, you might want to include Portugal on your bucket list, which is next to tourist-popular Spain. Although Portugal is filled with equally rich historical and cultural traditions and mesmerizing coastlines, it differs from Spain regarding your budget. Portugal is cheaper; it won’t cost you more than $15 to spend the night at a good hotel.

Viking River Cruise - Portugal - Douro River Cruise

Belem Tower in Lisbon, Portugal. Photo by Susan Lanier-Graham

You can book a ride on a tram in Lisbon, which will tour you through the main tourist sites, for about $3 (US). For $8, you can have the best Franchesina sandwich of your life (it comes with a side of fries). If you want to have a real taste of Portugal, listen to some Fado music while dining on a refined meal for about $20.

If you like wine, you should visit the Port Wine Institute to taste Portugal’s signature wine (Port) for as cheap as $1 per glass. What else can you ask for when you are traveling on a budget?

Traveling on a Budget in Guatemala

Along with the other budget-friendly Central American destination of Costa Rica, Guatemala offers many tourist attractions, including the rainforests, ancient Mayan ruins, and volcanoes. On average, you won’t be spending more than $36 daily to explore this culturally rich country. If you want to stay at a slightly better hotel for the night (4-stars), the costs might go up to $70. However, you can also stay at a hostel dorm for as cheap as $5. You won’t be spending more than $5 on a good and wholesome dinner of rice, beans, and chicken. You will be surprised to find coffee as the popular cultural beverage served in Guatemala. That said, while exploring the beautiful ancient ruins of Mayan, take a break and visit a coffee farm.

The famous architecture and yellow arch in the main street of Antigua, Guatemala at sunrise with the active Agua volcano in the background. Photo by SL_Photography via iStock by Getty Images

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Final Thoughts About Traveling on a Budget

Traveling around the world can be fun and adventurous. Compared to the popular misconception that you need a lot of money to travel, you can visit amazing sites and countries when you are traveling on a budget. You only need to know where you are going, where you will stay, the cheap commute, and where to find the best local food. Be sure to see other suggestions on Wander for more great travel destinations.

Top Three Countries for Traveling on a Budget

Written by EJ Ray

EJ Ray is a traveler at heart. It is part of her soul and she loves to share her travels through her words. She has traveled the world, seeking great food, wine, and experiences. EJ was born in the Eastern US but has lived across the country and in Europe and Mexico. She also took to the road for a while, exploring from her RV. EJ always seeks the next great sip, bite, and adventure.