The world’s cheapest destinations for a semi-luxury break

With the cost of living still biting, it makes sense to seek out destinations where your dollar (or yen or euro…) goes further on the ground.

A new study on the world’s most and least expensive holiday destinations produced some interesting findings, with many in the latter category falling well off the beaten tourist trail.

To compile the results, US travel brand Florida Panhandle considered the average daily cost of accommodation, food and public transport at 100 popular destinations around the globe. The entry fees for the three most-reviewed local attractions on TripAdvisor were also taken into account.

The average daily rate for accommodation was determined by searching for four- and five-star rated properties during peak periods on Booking.com, so it’s possible to find cheaper rates if you stay in mid-range or budget digs and travel off-peak. The daily food costs were based on one meal at a popular “inexpensive” restaurant and two meals at mid-range restaurants, so you could also save by eating out at cheaper places or self-catering.

We take a look at the cheapest destinations below, and include the cost of airfares from New Zealand.

Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan

The Kyrg capital emerged the world’s least expensive destination, costing visitors an average US$122 (NZ$197) a day.

Most of that (US$90) will go on accommodation, with food costing an average US$29 a day and public transport US$1 a day. Attractions cost an average US$2 to visit.

Many travellers only stick around long enough to pick up visas for other parts of Central Asia, but Bishkek is a worthy destination in its own right, with stellar arts and food scenes, cranking nightlife, and the natural and cultural attractions of the Tien Shan mountains on its doorstep.

Strolling around the central city with its brutalist Soviet-era architecture and getting lost in the maze that is Osh Bazaar are among the city’s top attractions – and both are free.

Take a two-hour minibus ride to the Issyk-Ata Valleya and you’ll find yourself in an alpine wonderland home to a Soviet-era sanatorium complex where everyone from WWII soldiers and victims of the Chernobyl disaster to athletes with sore muscles have sought relief in the mineral-rich hot springs. The mountain views from the heated swimming pools are spectacular, and there’s a hiking trail across a valley to a hidden waterfall.

Getting there: A one-way flight from Auckland to Bishek in May 2024 cost from NZ$1402 using flight aggregator Skyscanner.

Kandy, Sri Lanka

Sitting pretty around an ornamental lake high in Sri Lanka’s mist-covered Hill Country, Kandy is often referred to as the country’s cultural capital.

Kandy costs visitors an average US$140 (NZ$225) a day according to the study, with US$119 of that going on accommodation, US$15 on food, and US$4 on public transport. Your average attraction will set you back just US$2.

The golden-roofed Temple of the Sacred Tooth houses Sri Lanka’s most important Buddhist relic a tooth said to have belonged to the great man himself. The Degal Doruwa Raja Maha Vira cave temple with its murals telling tale of the Buddha’s previous lives is another must-visit, as is the monkey-filled Udawatta Kele Sanctuary.

In the Kandyan foothills, you’ll find walking trails which range from gentle strolls through tea estates to challenging hikes into the cloud forest of the UNESCO-listed Knuckles Mountain Range, home to leopards, purple-faced leaf monkeys and brightly coloured birds and lizards.

If that sounds a bit too much like hard work, explore Hill Country by train – the trip from Kandy to Ella is often included in lists of the most scenic rail journeys in the world.

Getting there: A return trip from Auckland to Sri Lanka’s main international airport, Colombo, in February 2024 cost about NZ$1661. From Colombo, you can catch a train to Kandy for about LKR1600 (NZ$8).

Warsaw, Poland

With youthful energy breathing new life into its historic buildings, the Polish capital is one of the best-value options in Europe, and indeed the world, for a city break.

Warsaw emerged the third-cheapest destination to visit, costing travellers an average US$155 (NZ$250) a day. Visitors can expect to spend an average US$89 of that on accommodation, US$54 on food, and US$6 on public transport, with attractions costing an average US$6.

Despite the devastation caused by Nazi Germany, Warsaw’s architecture dazzles. You’ll find everything from a red-brick castle filled with period furniture and original works of art to mediaeval churches, art nouveau market halls and a café shaped like a flying saucer.

Take a deep dive into the city’s tumultuous history at the many poignant museums, which include the Museum of Warsaw, Warsaw Rising Museum and award-winning POLIN Museum of the History of Polish Jews. The latter shines a light on how much Jewish culture enriched Poland before Europe’s largest Jewish community was near-decimated during WWII.

For a nature fix, head to Wilanow Palace, 12km southeast of the city centre where you’ll find baroque Italian-style gardens and a Renaissance-inspired rose garden.

For a traditional meal on the cheap, head to a milk bar, where you can tuck into hearty dishes such as pierogies (dumplings) and ruskies stuffed with the likes of potato, cheese and onion, and meat, sauerkraut and mushrooms.

Getting there: A return trip from Auckland to Warsaw in June 2024 cost about NZ$2382 using Google Flights.

Granada, Nicaragua

The oldest inhabited city in continental Latin America, tropical Granada charms with its pastel-coloured adobe houses, palm-lined market squares, and historic cathedrals and markets.

The city placed fourth on the list, costing visitors an average US$157 (US$253) a day. Visitors pay an average US$88 a day for accommodation, US$30 for food, and US$10 on public transport. Attractions cost an average US$29.

Climb the bell tower of the 16th century Iglesia La Merced for views out to Lake Nicaragua – the largest freshwater lake in Central America – and surrounding volcanoes.

The hundreds of tiny islands dotting the lake can be visited by boat, a highlight being Ometepe. Climb its twin volcanic peaks, dive into the natural swimming hole that is Ojo de Agua, visit organic chocolate factory El Pital, and keep your eyes peeled for yellow-naped parrots, white-faced capuchins and blue morpho butterflies.

Getting there: A return trip from Auckland to Managua, the closest international airport to Granada, costs about NZ$2776 using Google Flights. From Managua’s UCA Bus Terminal, you can catch a bus to Granada for about US$2. The trip takes about 90 minutes.

The cheapest destinations in the world per person per day according to the study

1. Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan: $122

2. Kandy, Sri Lanka: $140

3. Warsaw, Poland: $155

4. Granada, Nicaragua: $157

5. La Antigua, Guatemala: $167

The most expensive destinations in the world per person per day according to the study

1. Gustavia, St. Barts: $1,853

2. Gstaad, Switzerland: $1,544

3. Aspen, Colorado, USA: $1,478

4. Park City, Utah, USA: $1,257

5. Maui, Hawaii, USA: $1,082