Daily Travel Budget Calculator (in Any Currency)

Why a daily number works better than a trip total

Once you're away, a trip total is hard to keep track of. A daily number is easy: if lunch and the museum come in under it, you've got a little extra for tomorrow. If one day runs over, you know to keep the next one simple.

What counts as "already paid"

Anything booked and paid before you go: flights, rooms, a rental car paid in advance, tickets you bought online. Don't include deposits with a balance due on arrival; leave that balance in the daily money, or add it to "already paid" once you've set it aside.

Kids as a share of an adult

Families rarely spend the same on every person. Counting each child as half an adult is a common rule of thumb, but you know your kids: teenagers can out-eat their parents, and babies cost almost nothing on the ground (apart from the diapers you packed).

Exchange rates

Enter the rate as "1 of my currency buys this much local money". The rate your card actually gives you is usually a bit worse than the one you see online, and some cards add a foreign transaction fee, so it's worth rounding down a little. Planning a Scotland trip? The Scotland guide lists the costs people often forget, like the UK ETA and the Edinburgh visitor levy.