The same dinner that costs a few dollars at a street stall in Bangkok can cost ten times as much in Oslo, Zurich or Tokyo. Food is the most elastic part of a travel budget — which is good news, because it's also the part you control most, day to day.
Why food is the line you control most
Flights and accommodation are mostly locked in once you book. Food is different: you make three or four small decisions about it every single day, and those decisions compound. Eat where the office workers and market traders eat and you'll spend a fraction of what the restaurant on the tourist strip charges — often for better, more local food. That's why two people on the same trip can have wildly different food bills, and why food is the easiest place to save without feeling like you've gone without.
The mistake is treating it as one vague number. "A bit for food" quietly becomes the biggest surprise on the card statement, especially once drinks are in the mix. It's far better to anchor on a realistic daily figure for where you're going, then adjust it to how you actually like to eat.
What food costs, region by region
These are rough daily, per-person ranges in AUD for a normal mix of eating — they move with the city, the season and the exchange rate, so treat them as a starting line, not a promise.
- Southeast & South Asia — the cheapest region to eat well. Street food and local spots can keep you to around AUD 15–30 a day; you'd have to try hard to overspend.
- Eastern Europe & Latin America — still very affordable, roughly AUD 25–45 a day with a mix of markets and casual restaurants.
- Western Europe, North America & Australia — the middle-to-upper band, often AUD 50–90 a day once you're eating out for most meals.
- The Nordics, Switzerland & Japan — the priciest, where sit-down meals push AUD 90–130+ a day, though Japan rewards anyone who eats at counters and convenience stores.
Estimate yours
Pick your region, how you plan to eat, and your trip length below for a quick daily figure and trip total.
Estimate your daily food budget →
Rough ballpark in AUD — it shifts with the city, the exchange rate and your appetite. Use it as a starting line, not a promise.
What moves the number
- Where you eat — a local market stall vs a tourist-strip restaurant can be a 5× difference in the same city.
- Drinks — alcohol, coffee and bottled water quietly add up, often more than the food.
- A kitchen — even just doing breakfast yourself drops the daily total noticeably.
- Tipping — expected (and 10–20%) in some countries, not done at all in others.
Eat well for less
Make lunch your big restaurant meal — set menus and lunch specials are routinely cheaper than the same dish at dinner. Self-cater breakfast where you have a kitchen, carry a refillable water bottle (bottled water alone can add up over a fortnight), and treat the special dinner as an occasional highlight rather than the default. You rarely eat worse for spending less on the road — usually the opposite, because the cheap, busy places are where the best local cooking is.
Go deeper
Questions
How much should I budget for food a day?
Hugely variable — roughly AUD 15–30/day eating local in Southeast Asia, up to AUD 60–100+ eating out in Western Europe or Japan. Use the estimate above and lean to the higher end if you'll eat in restaurants.
Which countries are cheapest to eat in?
Much of Southeast Asia, South Asia, and parts of Latin America and Eastern Europe — especially for street food. The Nordics, Switzerland, Japan and Australia sit at the pricey end.
Is street food safe?
Usually yes at busy stalls with high turnover, where it's cooked fresh and hot in front of you. A crowd of locals is the best sign. Be more careful with raw items, pre-cut fruit left out, and tap water or ice where the water isn't safe.
Should I budget drinks separately?
Yes — alcohol and even coffee and water can rival the food bill, especially in pricey countries. A separate line keeps your food estimate honest.
Food cost ranges are general guidance only and vary widely by country, city, season and where you eat. Always check current local prices for your destination. A planning aid, not financial advice.