The remaining 12 destinations in the BGGD budget series: what your money actually buys in Italy, Portugal, Iceland, Sri Lanka, Greece, Senegal, Zanzibar, Slovenia, Taiwan, the Azores, Mexico, and Cyprus. Day-by-day breakdowns, the costs that inflate unexpectedly, and the decisions that keep each trip within the target.
Italy on £65/Day
Italy is the most internally varied budget destination in Western Europe — the gap between Rome in August (a budget-destroying combination of expensive accommodation, tourist-priced restaurants, and entry-fee accumulation) and rural Puglia in September (inexpensive agriturismo, market food, free beaches) is wider than the gap between some entirely different countries.
The daily breakdown in Rome:
| Item | Cost |
|---|---|
| Private room, guesthouse, Testaccio neighbourhood | £32-48 |
| Cornetto + cappuccino, bar breakfast | £1.82 |
| Supplì (fried rice ball) + slice pizza al taglio, lunch | £3.64 |
| Trattoria dinner (secondi + house wine carafe) | £18-26 |
| Metro + bus, 3 journeys | £3.64 |
| Water, gelato | £2.18 |
| Colosseum + Roman Forum entry | £18.18 |
| Vatican Museums + Sistine Chapel | £20 |
| Daily total (heavy site day) | £100-124 |
| Daily total (non-site day) | £62-86 |
The Rome site entry accumulation:
Rome’s major sites are expensive — the Colosseum and Roman Forum combined ticket (€22 / £18.95), the Vatican Museums including the Sistine Chapel (€20 / £17.22 online, €26 / £22.40 at the door), the Borghese Gallery (€15 / £12.91, booking required). The total for the 5 major Rome sites: approximately £70-80 in entries alone.
The free Rome: the Pantheon (€5 / £4.30 — previously free, now charges), the Campo de’ Fiori, the Piazza Navona, the Spanish Steps, the Trevi Fountain (free to see, crowded), the Trastevere neighbourhood streets. Rome’s public spaces are among the finest in Europe and entirely free.
The regional cost variation:
| Region | Budget Room | Lunch | Dinner | Daily Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rome (peak) | £38-55 | £3.64-7.27 | £16-26 | £72-106 |
| Florence (peak) | £35-50 | £3.64-7.27 | £14-22 | £65-95 |
| Venice (peak) | £45-70 | £5.45-9.09 | £18-28 | £82-120 |
| Naples | £22-35 | £1.82-3.64 | £8-14 | £42-65 |
| Puglia (September) | £20-32 | £3.64-5.45 | £9-14 | £40-60 |
| Sicily (May) | £22-35 | £2.73-4.55 | £9-15 | £42-65 |
The seasonal variation:
Italy’s accommodation pricing swings 40-60% between peak (July-August in coastal areas, Easter in Rome and Florence) and shoulder (May, June, September, October). The October week in Naples, Puglia, and Sicily costs approximately the same as a July weekend in Florence.
The pizza and pasta rule:
A pizza at a Neapolitan pizzeria: £5.45-7.27. The same pizza at a tourist-facing restaurant on a major piazza: £12-18. The £65/day Italy budget requires consistently choosing the former. The visual test: if the menu is laminated and has photographs, the price has been adjusted for tourist tolerance. If the menu is written on a chalkboard and the tables are checked tablecloths, the price reflects what the neighbourhood pays.
The 10-day Italy circuit:
| Segment | Days | Daily Cost |
|---|---|---|
| Rome | 3 | £80-105 (site entry heavy) |
| Naples | 2 | £42-62 |
| Amalfi Coast (day trip) | 1 | £55-75 |
| Sicily (Palermo + Agrigento) | 4 | £45-65 |
10-day Italy total (return flights UK, easyJet/Ryanair, £50-130): £620-830 including flights.
Portugal on £55/Day
Portugal is the finest value Western European destination for UK travellers — the combination of cheap direct flights (Lisbon from £40-120 return), affordable accommodation outside Lisbon peak season, and the general cost structure of the Portuguese economy produces daily costs significantly below Italy, Spain, or France for equivalent quality.
The daily breakdown in Lisbon:
| Item | Cost |
|---|---|
| Private room, guesthouse, Mouraria or Intendente | £28-42 |
| Pastel de nata + bica (espresso), breakfast | £1.72 |
| Bifanas (pork sandwich) or tosta mista, lunch | £2.58-3.44 |
| Tasca dinner (prato do dia + house wine) | £10-16 |
| Metro + tram, 3 journeys | £3.44 |
| Meia de leite (café au lait) at afternoon café | £0.86 |
| Museu Nacional do Azulejo | £4.30 |
| Water | £0.86 |
| Daily total | £52-73 |
The Lisbon vs the rest of Portugal:
Lisbon’s accommodation has risen significantly since 2015. The £28-42/night private room in Mouraria or Intendente (the less-touristic residential neighbourhoods) represents good value; the same quality room in the Alfama or Bairro Alto costs £38-60. Outside Lisbon, the value improves dramatically:
| Location | Budget Room | Daily Cost |
|---|---|---|
| Lisbon (peak) | £35-55 | £60-85 |
| Porto | £28-45 | £50-72 |
| Évora (Alentejo) | £20-32 | £35-52 |
| Algarve (September) | £22-38 | £42-62 |
| Douro Valley (guesthouse) | £22-35 | £38-55 |
| Azores (São Miguel) | £18-30 | £35-52 |
| Madeira (Funchal) | £25-40 | £45-65 |
The prato do dia:
The prato do dia (plate of the day) served at Portuguese restaurants and tascas at lunch — typically €7-10 / £6.02-8.60 including a starter (soup or small salad), main, dessert or coffee, and a glass of wine or water. The finest value set meal in Western Europe, available at any non-tourist-facing restaurant in Portugal from noon to 3pm.
The Vinho Verde calculation:
A bottle of decent Vinho Verde at a Portuguese supermarket (Pingo Doce, Continente): £2.58-4.30. The same bottle at a Lisbon restaurant: £8-14. The £55/day Portugal budget absorbs one restaurant bottle of wine or one good supermarket bottle with a picnic — not both.
The 10-day Portugal circuit:
| Segment | Days | Daily Cost |
|---|---|---|
| Lisbon | 3 | £62-82 |
| Sintra day trip | 1 | £45-65 |
| Évora + Alentejo | 2 | £38-55 |
| Porto | 2 | £52-72 |
| Douro Valley | 2 | £42-60 |
10-day Portugal total (return flights UK, easyJet/TAP, £40-120): £530-750 including flights.
Iceland on a Budget
Iceland is the most expensive country in this series — and the gap between the floor (camping, self-catering, your own vehicle) and the ceiling (Reykjavík boutique hotels, geothermal spa restaurant dinners, guided tours) is the widest of any destination covered.
The honest daily floor (camping + self-catering):
| Item | Cost |
|---|---|
| Campsite (with facilities) | £14-22 |
| Supermarket breakfast (skyr, bread, fruit) | £3.50 |
| Supermarket lunch (sandwich, drink) | £4.50 |
| Self-cooked dinner (supermarket ingredients) | £6-10 |
| Petrol (Ring Road driving) | £8-14 |
| Golden Circle entry sites (Geysir: free, Þingvellir: free, Gullfoss: free) | £0 |
| Daily total (camping + cooking) | £36-64 |
The honest daily mid-range (guesthouse + mix of eating):
| Item | Cost |
|---|---|
| Guesthouse, shared bathroom | £55-80 |
| Skyr + coffee, guesthouse breakfast | £5-8 |
| Soup and bread, lunch café | £12-16 |
| Restaurant dinner (fish, no wine) | £22-32 |
| Petrol | £8-14 |
| Daily total | £102-150 |
The Iceland budget reality:
Iceland cannot be done comfortably on £50/day. The £35-65/day floor requires: camping throughout, cooking 90% of meals from supermarkets (Bónus is the cheapest Icelandic supermarket, identifiable by the yellow pig logo — stock up in Reykjavík before the Ring Road where prices rise further), carrying a petrol jerry can for the remote interior sections, and accepting hostel dormitories or camping rather than private rooms.
The activities: most of Iceland’s finest experiences are free — the waterfalls (Skógafoss, Seljalandsfoss, Goðafoss), the geysers (Geysir itself is free), the national parks (Þingvellir free, Skaftafell within Vatnajökull National Park free), the midnight sun, the Northern Lights. The costs are the Blue Lagoon (£56-78 depending on package — skip it, the Mývatn Nature Baths at £19.31 give a similar experience without the crowds), the glacier hike (£55-80 for a guided walk on Sólheimajökull with crampons and a guide — this is worth it and requires a guide), and the whale watching (£65-85, from Húsavík for the finest experience).
The camper van calculation:
A camper van hire (the Iceland road trip standard) for 7 days: £550-900 depending on size and season. With 4 people sharing: £138-225/person including the vehicle. This changes the Iceland budget significantly — the camper van gives both transport AND accommodation in one cost. The per-person daily cost for 4 people sharing a camper: £42-55 (vehicle share) + £5-8 food = £47-63/day. The most cost-effective Iceland option.
The 7-day Iceland budget:
| Option | Total Cost (excl. flights) | Per Day |
|---|---|---|
| Camper van + self-catering (4 people) | £980-1,260 | £140-180/van or £35-45/person |
| Guesthouses + cooking | £700-980 | £100-140/person |
| Hotels + restaurants | £1,260-1,750 | £180-250/person |
Return flights UK to Reykjavík (Keflavík): easyJet, Wizz Air, £80-180. Total 7-day Iceland (camper, 2 people sharing): £700-980 per person including flights.
Sri Lanka on £45/Day
Sri Lanka has two cost tiers: the tourist infrastructure of Colombo, Kandy, and the southern coast (Galle, Mirissa, Arugam Bay) where prices approach Thailand’s tourist-area equivalents, and the local economy of the hill country and the north where costs are 40-50% lower.
The daily breakdown in Kandy:
| Item | Cost |
|---|---|
| Private room, guesthouse | £12-20 |
| String hoppers + curry, breakfast | £1.40 |
| Rice and curry (local restaurant), lunch | £1.75-2.80 |
| Restaurant dinner | £5-9 |
| Tuk-tuk, 3 journeys | £2.80 |
| Temple of the Tooth entry | £12.54 |
| Peradeniya Botanical Gardens | £4.19 |
| Water, king coconut | £0.70 |
| Daily total | £40-54 |
The hill country train:
The Kandy to Ella train (covered in the Sri Lanka extension guides) costs £1.05-2.10 for the 7-hour journey — the finest value train experience in Asia relative to the quality of the journey. Book at the station; no advance booking required for second class unreserved.
The wildlife parks:
The national park entry fees are the primary budget inflator in Sri Lanka. Yala (the leopard park) charges $40-45 / £31.50-35.44 per person plus the compulsory jeep hire ($50-80 / £39.37-62.99 per vehicle including driver). The leopard encounter costs approximately £55-80 per person for a morning drive. Budget for it separately from the daily average.
The Galle Fort premium:
The Galle Fort (the UNESCO-listed Dutch colonial fortified city on the southern coast) has the highest guesthouse prices in Sri Lanka — boutique hotels within the fort walls from £65-150/night. The equivalent guesthouse quality in Unawatuna (15 minutes outside the fort) costs £20-35/night. The budget Sri Lanka itinerary stays in Unawatuna and walks to the fort for the day.
The 10-day Sri Lanka circuit:
| Segment | Days | Daily Cost |
|---|---|---|
| Colombo (transit) | 1 | £35-48 |
| Kandy + Sigiriya | 3 | £40-55 |
| Ella (train arrival from Kandy) | 2 | £28-40 |
| Yala (2 game drives) | 2 | £60-85 (wildlife day) |
| Mirissa or Galle | 2 | £38-58 |
10-day Sri Lanka total (return flights UK via Dubai or Doha, £350-550): £700-1,000 including flights.
Greece on a Budget — The Islands Calculation
Greece’s cost structure is driven by the ferry economy — the island-hopping circuit requires ferry tickets, and the ferry tickets for the most popular island routes (Athens-Santorini, Santorini-Mykonos) are the primary budget line item alongside accommodation.
The daily breakdown in Athens:
| Item | Cost |
|---|---|
| Private room, guesthouse, Koukaki | £22-35 |
| Spanakopita (spinach pie), breakfast | £1.72 |
| Gyros, lunch | £2.58 |
| Taverna dinner (mezedes + carafe of house wine) | £12-18 |
| Metro, 3 journeys | £3.61 |
| Acropolis combined ticket | £25.83 |
| Daily total (Acropolis day) | £68-87 |
| Daily total (non-site day) | £44-58 |
The island premium:
| Island | Budget Room | Dinner | Daily Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Santorini (peak) | £55-90 | £20-35 | £90-140 |
| Mykonos (peak) | £60-100 | £22-38 | £100-155 |
| Crete | £22-38 | £12-18 | £42-65 |
| Naxos | £18-30 | £10-16 | £36-55 |
| Paros | £20-35 | £12-18 | £40-62 |
| Rhodes (old town) | £20-32 | £12-16 | £38-58 |
| Hydra | £28-45 | £14-22 | £52-78 |
The honest Santorini note:
Santorini is the most expensive island in the Greek archipelago by a significant margin — the caldera-view hotels (the caves carved into the volcanic cliff, the infinity pools, the sunset terraces) drive the accommodation prices to £90-250/night even for budget-tier rooms in peak season. The caldera view is one of the most extraordinary landscapes in Europe; the price reflects the demand. Budget travellers who want the Santorini view should either: stay in Fira or Imerovigli (slightly lower prices than Oia), visit in May or October (25-35% below July-August), or do Santorini as a day trip from Naxos or Paros (ferry day trip, no accommodation).
The ferry costs:
| Route | Ferry Type | Cost |
|---|---|---|
| Athens (Piraeus) to Santorini | Fast ferry (5 hours) | £38-55 |
| Athens to Crete (Heraklion) | Overnight ferry (8 hours) | £28-45 |
| Santorini to Mykonos | Fast ferry (2 hours) | £22-35 |
| Naxos to Paros | Small ferry (45 min) | £5-9 |
The 10-day Greek islands budget:
| Segment | Days | Daily Cost |
|---|---|---|
| Athens | 2 | £55-80 |
| Naxos (base island) | 3 | £38-55 |
| Santorini (day trip or 2 nights) | 2 | £65-100 |
| Crete (eastern Crete, away from resorts) | 3 | £42-62 |
10-day Greece total (return flights UK to Athens, £60-180): £560-840 including flights.
Senegal on £30/Day
Senegal is the entry point for West Africa for UK travellers — the stable democracy, the relative accessibility from London (direct Air Senegal from Paris, various connections), and the specific appeal of Dakar, the Casamance coast, and the wildlife reserves make it the most practical first West Africa trip.
The daily breakdown outside Dakar:
| Item | Cost |
|---|---|
| Guesthouse room, Saint-Louis or Ziguinchor | £8-15 |
| Thiéboudienne (national dish), lunch | £1.65-3.30 |
| Restaurant dinner | £4.13-8.26 |
| Bush taxi, inter-town journey | £1.65-4.13 |
| Local tea (attaya), 3 glasses | £0.41 |
| Water | £0.41 |
| Daily total | £18-32 |
The Dakar premium:
As the capital and the most internationally connected city, Dakar costs 30-40% more than the rest of Senegal. The Plateau guesthouses (£14-22/night) and the tourist-facing restaurants (meals £6-12) push the Dakar daily cost to £32-48 — above the £30/day target. The budget: 2 days in Dakar (worth paying the premium for the city experience), then move to the affordable interior.
The Casamance coast:
The Casamance region (the southern section of Senegal, separated from the north by The Gambia) — the camp de base (simple eco-lodges) on the Atlantic coast near Ziguinchor: £8-15/night including meals. The pirogue (the traditional dugout canoe) transportation between the river villages: £1.65-4.13 per journey. The most affordable and most characterful accommodation in Senegal.
The wildlife:
Djoudj National Bird Sanctuary (near Saint-Louis, the finest bird sanctuary in West Africa — 3 million migratory birds from October to April, UNESCO-listed): entry £4.96. Niokolo-Koba National Park (the largest national park in Senegal, elephants, hippos, lions, the safari circuit): guide + vehicle £16.53-24.79/day.
Zanzibar on £45/Day
Zanzibar (the autonomous Tanzanian island archipelago) divides between Stone Town (the UNESCO-listed Swahili-Arabic old city, the most affordable accommodation and food) and the beach resort hotels on the north and east coasts (Nungwi, Kendwa, Paje — where the cost approaches Maldives pricing for the top-tier properties).
The daily breakdown in Stone Town:
| Item | Cost |
|---|---|
| Private room, Stone Town guesthouse | £14-22 |
| Zanzibar pizza (the local street food — folded omelette flatbread with filling), breakfast | £1.67 |
| Fish biryani, Forodhani Night Market, dinner | £2.50-4.17 |
| Spice tour, half day | £12.50 |
| Dhow sunset cruise, prison island | £16.67 |
| Water, fresh-pressed sugarcane juice | £0.83 |
| Daily total | £48-59 |
The beach resort reality:
The north coast beach hotels (Nungwi, Kendwa) range from £35-80/night for a basic beach bungalow to £150-400/night for the resort-grade properties. The budget traveller’s option: the local guesthouses in the village sections of Nungwi and Paje (£18-28/night, 5-10 minutes walk from the main beach), which give the beach without the resort pricing.
The Zanzibar spice tour:
The half-day spice farm tour (essential, the island’s historical raison d’être — the cloves, nutmeg, cinnamon, black pepper, and vanilla that made Zanzibar the “Spice Island”) from any Stone Town tour operator: $15-20 / £11.81-15.74 per person. Includes the farm walk, the spice tasting, and the guide’s identification of 20+ spice varieties growing in situ. Worth every pound.
The Mnemba Atoll:
Snorkelling at Mnemba Atoll (the protected reef northeast of the main Zanzibar island — the finest coral reef accessible from Zanzibar, the sea turtle nesting site): day trip from the north coast $40-60 / £31.50-47.24 per person by local dhow. Budget for this separately.
Slovenia on £45/Day
Slovenia is the most consistently surprising budget destination in Central Europe — smaller than Wales, containing Lake Bled, the Soča Valley, the Škocjan Caves (UNESCO), the Triglav National Park, and the charming capital Ljubljana (covered in the 48-hour guide), all within 3 hours of each other.
The daily breakdown in Ljubljana:
| Item | Cost |
|---|---|
| Private room, guesthouse | £22-35 |
| Štruklji (market breakfast) | £2.66 |
| Lunch, local restaurant | £7.97-11.95 |
| Restaurant dinner + glass of Slovenian wine | £14-22 |
| Bus + tram | £2.13 |
| Ljubljana Castle entry | £5.31 |
| Coffee | £1.33 |
| Daily total | £56-82 |
The outdoor Slovenia:
The costs that make Slovenia exceptional value — the hiking, the Soča River kayaking, the Triglav National Park trails — are free. The Lake Bled circuit (6km walk): free. The Vintgar Gorge (the finest gorge walk in Slovenia): €6 / £5.17. The Predjama Castle (the castle built into the face of a cliff, the most theatrical castle in Slovenia): €16 / £13.79.
The Soča Valley:
The Soča River (the emerald-green river of the Julian Alps, the specific colour produced by glacial meltwater through limestone — the most vivid river water in Europe) is accessible from Bovec (the adventure sports hub): white water rafting £35-50 per person, kayak hire £22-35 per day, canyoning £50-70 per person. The river itself: free to swim, free to photograph, free to sit beside.
The 7-day Slovenia budget:
| Segment | Days | Daily Cost |
|---|---|---|
| Ljubljana | 2 | £58-80 |
| Lake Bled + Vintgar Gorge | 2 | £48-68 |
| Soča Valley (Bovec) | 2 | £42-62 (hiking + rafting) |
| Škocjan Caves | 1 | £38-52 (caves + travel) |
7-day Slovenia total (return flights UK, Wizz Air to Ljubljana, £40-120): £430-610 including flights.
Taiwan on £40/Day
Taiwan is the most underrated destination in East Asia — the food culture rivals Japan (the night market system, the beef noodle soup, the scallion pancake, the bubble tea that originated here), the national parks are among the finest in Asia, and the cost is 30-40% below Japan for equivalent quality.
The daily breakdown in Taipei:
| Item | Cost |
|---|---|
| Private room, guesthouse, Da’an district | £22-35 |
| Shao bing you tiao (sesame flatbread + fried dough), breakfast | £0.97 |
| Beef noodle soup, lunch | £2.91 |
| Night market dinner (3-4 dishes) | £5.82-9.70 |
| MRT, 4 journeys | £2.91 |
| National Palace Museum | £4.85 |
| Tea at a Jiufen teahouse | £4.85 |
| Water, bubble tea | £1.45 |
| Daily total | £46-63 |
The night market economy:
Taiwan’s night market system is the finest in Asia — the Shilin Night Market in Taipei (the largest), the Raohe Street Night Market, the Liuhe Night Market in Kaohsiung. The key dishes:
| Dish | Cost |
|---|---|
| Oyster omelette (ô-á-chian) | £1.45-2.42 |
| Stinky tofu (chou doufu) | £0.97-1.45 |
| Scallion pancake (cōng yóu bǐng) | £0.73-1.21 |
| Taiwanese sausage + sticky rice | £1.45-2.18 |
| Fresh-cut tropical fruit | £0.97-1.94 |
A full night market dinner: £5-8.
The east coast railway:
The Taroko Gorge (the marble canyon on the east coast, the finest single natural landscape in Taiwan) is accessible from Hualien (2.5 hours from Taipei by express train, NT$738 / £18.33 one way). The gorge itself: free to enter. The marble walls, the hanging bridges, the Eternal Spring Shrine — all free. The Hualien guesthouse: £18-28/night.
The 7-day Taiwan budget:
| Segment | Days | Daily Cost |
|---|---|---|
| Taipei | 3 | £48-65 |
| Jiufen + northeast coast | 1 | £42-58 |
| Taroko Gorge + Hualien | 2 | £38-55 |
| Sun Moon Lake | 1 | £40-58 |
7-day Taiwan total (return flights UK via Hong Kong or Singapore, £400-600): £680-880 including flights.
The Azores on a Budget
The Azores — the Portuguese archipelago 1,500km west of Lisbon in the North Atlantic — is simultaneously one of the most extraordinary landscapes available from the UK and one of the most accessible budget destinations in the Atlantic islands.
The daily breakdown on São Miguel:
| Item | Cost |
|---|---|
| Private room, guesthouse, Ponta Delgada | £18-30 |
| Caldo de peixe (fish broth), café breakfast | £2.58 |
| Alcatra (slow-braised beef stew), lunch | £6.02-8.60 |
| Restaurant dinner + glass of Verdelho | £10-16 |
| Rental car (essential on São Miguel) | £22-32 |
| Sete Cidades miradouro (free) | £0 |
| Furnas geothermal springs (Terra Nostra park) | £7.74 |
| Daily total | £67-97 |
The Azores car hire reality:
São Miguel cannot be experienced properly without a car — the Sete Cidades (the twin blue-green lakes in the volcanic crater, the most photographed landscape in the Azores), the Furnas geothermal valley (the hot springs, the soil-baked cozido das Furnas stew, the geothermal pools), and the Nordeste coastline are all accessible only by road. Car hire from Ponta Delgada airport: £22-35/day. The car is the significant Azores budget item.
The whale watching:
The Azores is the finest whale watching destination in Europe — the deep Atlantic channels between the islands channel the cetacean migrations, producing encounters with sperm whales (resident year-round), blue whales (April-June), fin whales, and multiple dolphin species. Day trip: €65-80 / £55.97-68.89 per person from Pico or Faial islands.
The inter-island flights:
Flying between the nine Azores islands: SATA Air Açores operates the inter-island flights (Ponta Delgada to Faial/Pico/Terceira: £20-45 one way). The ferry alternative (slower, weather-dependent, operates from June-September): £10-20.
The 7-day Azores budget:
| Segment | Days | Daily Cost |
|---|---|---|
| São Miguel (car hire incl.) | 4 | £70-95 |
| Faial/Pico (whale watching + vineyards) | 3 | £65-90 |
7-day Azores total (return flights UK via Lisbon on TAP, or direct summer charters from UK, £80-180): £590-830 including flights.
Mexico on £35/Day
Mexico’s cost structure divides between the tourist infrastructure of the Yucatán Peninsula (Cancún, Tulum, Playa del Carmen — significantly more expensive than the Mexican average) and the rest of the country (Mexico City, Oaxaca, the Pacific coast towns of Mazunte and Zipolite, the colonial interior) where the daily cost can comfortably stay at £35.
The daily breakdown in Oaxaca:
| Item | Cost |
|---|---|
| Private room, guesthouse, centro histórico | £14-22 |
| Tlayuda (the Oaxacan pizza — crisp tortilla with black beans, Oaxacan cheese, meat), breakfast | £1.68 |
| Menú del día, local restaurant | £2.52-4.20 |
| Restaurant dinner (mole negro) | £7-12 |
| Colectivo taxi, 2 journeys | £0.84 |
| Mezcal, 2 small measures (in-situ tasting) | £2.52 |
| Monte Albán entry | £2.52 |
| Water | £0.42 |
| Daily total | £32-46 |
The Yucatán premium:
Tulum (the cenote-and-beach destination that has become the wellness tourism capital of Mexico): accommodation from £22-40/night for a budget cabin (no AC, shared bathrooms) to £80-200/night for the boutique eco-hotels. Restaurant meals: £8-16 per plate. Daily cost in Tulum: £55-85 — significantly above the Mexico average.
The Yucatán budget alternative: Valladolid (the colonial city 2.5 hours from Cancún, the most affordable base for the Chichén Itzá day trip and the nearby cenotes). Guesthouses from £12-20/night, meals £2.52-6.72, daily total £28-42.
The cenotes:
The Yucatán’s cenotes (the underground freshwater sinkholes, the sacred swimming holes of the Maya civilisation): entry varies from free (the cenotes within the Coba archaeological zone) to £6-9 (the organised cenote parks near Tulum). The finest cenotes accessible for free or minimal cost: Cenote Zací in Valladolid (£2.52), the cenotes of the Cobá ruins complex (included in site entry).
The Mexico City budget:
Mexico City (the 21-million-person megalopolis, the finest food city in the Americas by most assessments): guesthouses in the Condesa or Roma neighbourhoods £18-28/night, tacos al pastor £0.42-0.84 each, restaurant dinner £8-14, Metro £0.17 per journey. Daily cost: £32-48 — some of the finest food in the world at the lowest prices in this budget series.
The 10-day Mexico budget:
| Segment | Days | Daily Cost |
|---|---|---|
| Mexico City | 3 | £32-48 |
| Oaxaca | 3 | £32-46 |
| Yucatán (Valladolid base) | 4 | £32-46 |
10-day Mexico total (return flights UK via Miami or Madrid, £400-650): £640-910 including flights.
Cyprus Off-Season Budget
Cyprus in July and August is a package holiday destination at package holiday prices — accommodation inflated, beaches crowded, the resort towns of Ayia Napa and Limassol operating at their peak commercial capacity.
Cyprus in October through May is a different country: the beaches clear, the mountains (the Troodos range) accessible in spring wildflower season, the Byzantine churches of the Troodos villages (the painted churches, 10 of them UNESCO-listed) visited without other tourists, and the accommodation prices at 30-40% of August.
The daily breakdown in Paphos (October):
| Item | Cost |
|---|---|
| Private room, guesthouse, Paphos old town | £22-35 |
| Village bakery breakfast (flaouna + coffee) | £2.17 |
| Meze lunch (village taverna) | £9.78-14.13 |
| Restaurant dinner | £10-16 |
| Hire car (essential for Troodos) | £20-28 |
| Paphos Archaeological Park (mosaics) | £3.26 |
| Water, fresh-pressed orange juice | £1.09 |
| Daily total | £68-101 |
The Troodos villages:
The Troodos mountain range at the centre of Cyprus — the painted Byzantine churches (Kykkos Monastery, Asinou Church, Panagia Forviotissa — all UNESCO-listed, all free or nominal entry) are dispersed through the mountain villages. Car hire is the only practical way to visit them.
The villages themselves: the kafeneia (the village coffee shops) serving Cypriot coffee (the same preparation as Greek coffee, thick, served in a small cup with a glass of water) for £0.65-0.87, the village bakeries serving koulouri (sesame bread rings) and flaouna (the cheese and mint pastry) for £0.43-0.87 each.
The off-season advantage:
The Akamas Peninsula (the protected wilderness park on the northwest coast — the sea turtle nesting beaches, the Blue Lagoon accessible by boat from Latchi, the hiking trails) in October: the tourist boat season has ended, the trails are empty, the water is still 24-25°C. A hired car and the Akamas: the finest free day in Cyprus.
The 7-day Cyprus off-season budget:
| Segment | Days | Daily Cost |
|---|---|---|
| Paphos (base for Troodos) | 3 | £70-98 |
| Nicosia (the divided capital) | 2 | £58-80 |
| Larnaka + Akamas day trip | 2 | £65-88 |
7-day Cyprus total (return flights UK, easyJet/Ryanair to Paphos or Larnaka, £60-160): £530-750 including flights.
The Complete Budget Comparison — All 27 Countries
| Country | Daily Budget | 10-Day Total (excl. flights) | Return Flights |
|---|---|---|---|
| Laos | £18-28 | £180-280 | £400-600 |
| Nepal | £22-32 | £220-320 | £400-600 |
| Albania | £22-32 | £220-320 | £50-120 |
| Cambodia | £25-35 | £250-350 | £400-600 |
| Mexico | £32-46 | £320-460 | £400-650 |
| Georgia | £26-38 | £260-380 | £100-220 |
| Vietnam | £25-38 | £250-380 | £350-550 |
| Senegal | £20-32 | £200-320 | £550-850 |
| North Macedonia | £20-30 | £200-300 | £60-150 |
| Uzbekistan | £25-37 | £250-370 | £350-500 |
| Thailand | £28-45 | £280-450 | £350-500 |
| Bosnia | £27-40 | £270-400 | £60-150 |
| Sri Lanka | £38-58 | £380-580 | £350-550 |
| Ethiopia | £26-38 | £260-380 | £500-750 |
| Philippines | £30-45 | £300-450 | £400-600 |
| Taiwan | £42-62 | £420-620 | £400-600 |
| Morocco | £35-52 | £350-520 | £80-180 |
| Portugal | £42-62 | £420-620 | £40-120 |
| Zanzibar | £42-62 | £420-620 | £500-800 |
| Slovenia | £48-68 | £480-680 | £40-120 |
| Colombia | £28-48 | £280-480 | £500-750 |
| Peru | £28-44 | £280-440 | £500-750 |
| Turkey | £35-55 | £350-550 | £100-250 |
| Egypt | £35-50 | £350-500 | £250-450 |
| Greece (islands) | £52-82 | £520-820 | £60-180 |
| Cyprus (off-season) | £62-88 | £620-880 | £60-160 |
| Italy | £55-85 | £550-850 | £50-130 |
| Montenegro | £38-58 | £380-580 | £80-180 |
| Japan | £38-60 | £380-600 | £500-800 |
| Azores | £62-88 | £620-880 | £80-180 |
| Iceland | £50-120 | £500-1,200 | £80-180 |
| Jordan | £55-80 | £550-800 | £180-350 |
| Rwanda (gorilla) | £170-250 | — | £450-650 |
All budget breakdowns connect to the full destination guides. Free budget calculator PDFs for every country at bggdworld.com/budget-guides.
