Money
Vacation budget planner
Estimate a realistic trip budget from travelers, days, lodging, food, flights, activities, local transport, misc costs, and buffer.
- Total, per-person, and per-day cost
- Editable category assumptions
- Destination cost level factor
Formula and method
Trip budget method
total = lodging + food + transport + activities + flights + misc + bufferThe calculator multiplies daily items by days and travelers, applies the destination level where useful, then adds the buffer.
Every price is editable because the tool does not use external travel APIs.
Assumptions
- Destination level is a simple scenario multiplier.
- Flights and misc costs are entered manually.
- A buffer helps cover exchange rates, tips, and changes.
Practical examples
One-week couple trip
2 travelers, 7 days, $140 lodging, $55 food
Total trip, per-person, and per-day estimatesBudget destination
Low cost level with flights entered manually
Lower daily categories with the same transparent formulaFAQ
Does this use live hotel or flight prices?
No. Enter your own assumptions from quotes or plans.
Are activities per person?
Yes. Activities are treated as a per-traveler trip total.
How much buffer should I add?
10-15% is common for planning, more for uncertain exchange rates or flexible itineraries.
Can I use any currency?
Use the currency selector for formatting and enter all values in the same currency.