Travel is expensive. Between flights, hotels, meals, transportation, and the barrage of tourist traps, it is hard to keep to a strict budget when traveling in a different country.
However, it's even harder if you don't do your due diligence.
In the recently published 2015 Travel and Tourism Competitiveness report, the World Economic Forum ranks 141 countries based on how cheap/expensive it is to travel there. This takes into account things like average cost of a flights to and from, average cost of hotel accommodations, cost of living, fuel prices, and purchasing power parity (PPP)*.
Knowing the costs of visiting an area can make all the difference between traveling sensibly and hitchhiking back to the airport.
Note: Hotel and gas conversions are based on the US dollar and information from the World Bank and are subject to change. PPP is relative to the country's home currency.
*An example of PPP: If the PPP in the United States is 1 and the PPP in Poland is .6, then a cup of coffee in Poland is 40% cheaper than it is in the US, relative to the Polish zloty. PPP is based on the GDP of each economy.
#21 Finland
Flying to Finland won't break the bank because it ranks 30th of 141 economies based on cheapest airfare. To stay in a first-class hotel it will cost you an average of $123.40 per night, making it the 39th cheapest.
On the negative side, the PPP in Finland is 20% more expensive than the United States — ranking it at 134th. In addition, gas stands at a whopping $7.86 per gallon, ranking it 131st of 141.
#20 Ireland
Ireland ranks 79th of 141 economies in terms of plane ticket affordability, making it a middling destination for air travel. A first-class hotel costs about $126 per night, making it the 46th cheapest.
The PPP will hurt you, as goods and services cost 10% more in Ireland than they do in the US, which ranks 124th. Gas will run you $7.63 per gallon, ranking it 128th.
#19 Seychelles
Seychelles is an island nation in the Indian Ocean between Somalia and Madagascar. Airfare is not particularly cheap, as Seychelles ranks 89th of 141 in affordability of air travel. If you want to stay in a hotel in Seychelles, you can expect to pay an average of $374.70 per night, ranking it 101st of 102 economies for which data was available.
The PPP in Seychelles is .6, which is 40% less than that of the United States, but still 84th on the overall rankings. Gas costs $5.62 per gallon (82nd).
#18 Canada
Flying to Canada is not cheap, as it ranks 130th of 141 economies surveyed. A hotel in Canada costs an average 0f $124.40 per night, good for 41st cheapest.
Goods and services in Canada — according to PPP — are roughly 20% more expensive than in the US, ranking it at 132nd. Gas costs $5.98 per gallon, ranking at 60th cheapest.
#17 Myanmar
The average cost of a hotel room in the Asian country is $185.20, ranking it 80th overall. In addition, gas costs roughly $3.93 per gallon, good for 30th cheapest.
The World Economic Forum was unable to determine the airfare costs or the PPP of Myanmar.
#16 Germany
Germany ranks 110th of 141 economies in airfare. A first-class hotel room is $125.90 per night, coming in at 44th cheapest.
In terms of PPP, goods and services in Germany are about equal with the US (i.e. a cup of coffee costs about the same), ranking at 121st. A gallon of gas in Germany costs an exorbitant $7.40 per gallon, ranking 122nd.
#15 Hong Kong (SAR)
Airfare to the Chinese region of Hong Kong is relatively cheap, ranking 41st in the world. But if you want a hotel, expect to pay an average of $229.50, ranking 94th.
Goods and services in Hong Kong are 30% cheaper than they are in the US, with a PPP of .7, but rank 101st overall. Gas costs an abysmal $8.16 per gallon, ranking 135th of 141.
#14 Iceland
Flights to Iceland rank as the 19th cheapest in the world. Goods and services, in accordance with the PPP of 1.1, are 10% more expensive in Iceland than in the US (or 124th overall).
Gas costs roughly $7.52 per gallon (125th).
The World Economic Forum could not determine the average price of a hotel.
#13 Barbados
The Caribbean island of Barbados features reasonable airfares that rank 52nd in the world. But you will more than make up for it with hotel rates that average $337.50 per night — good for 100th.
The PPP is equal to that of the United States at 1, and ranks 118th overall. Gas costs $4.72 per gallon, which is tied with several other countries for 48th in the world.
#12 Netherlands
Visiting the Dutch will require an expensive flight, as the Netherlands ranks 97th in airfare. To get a first-class hotel will cost an average of $137.50 per night, which ranks 54th.
The PPP is about 10% greater than the United States, coming in at 125th overall (1.1). And Dutch gas is the third-most expensive of all economies surveyed. A gallon of gas will cost $8.80, which ranks 139th of 141.
#11 Senegal
If you want to visit the West African nation of Senegal, be prepared to pay a hefty fee. Flights to Senegal rank 136th of 137 economies from which data was recovered.
But the PPP in Senegal is 50% less than that of the US at .5, and 49th cheapest overall. Gas runs you around $6.50 per gallon, good for 98th of 141.
Average hotel rates in Senegal could not be determined.
#10 Austria
Austria ranks 125th in airfare and 45th in hotel accommodations, with a room costing $125.90 per night on average.
Goods and services in Austria are roughly 10% more expensive then they are in the US, and Austria PPP ranks 127th overall. Gas costs $6.84 per gallon and ranks 111th overall.
#9 Italy
Italy ranks 83rd in airfare rates while a hotel room will run you $170.50 per night; good for 76th in the world.
In terms of PPP, Italy is equal to the United States and ranks 120th in the world. The price of gas in Italy is $8.61 per gallon, ranking near the bottom at 137th.
#8 Sweden
The Swedes can boast about the 26th cheapest airfare rates in the world, but that is where the bargains end. They rank 70th in hotel accommodations, with an average night costing you about $159.80.
In addition, goods and services in Sweden cost 30% more than in the US, and rank 135th overall. Gas costs a bloated $7.93 per gallon, which puts Sweden at 133rd of 141.
#7 Denmark
The Danes rank 57th in cheapness of flights and offer hotel accommodations at an average of $150.20 per night (66th).
Travelers will be hit hard when it comes to PPP, as Danish goods and services are roughly 40% more expensive than what Americans are accustomed to. Denmark also ranks 128th in gas prices, with a gallon costing about $7.63.
#6 Israel
Israel sits at 77th in the world in airfare prices and 83rd in hotel room accommodations, with a room costing an average of $201.30 per night.
Thanks to a 10% difference in PPP, goods and services in Israel are slightly more expensive than in the US at 1.1 (126th). And despite being in the Middle East, gas in Israel costs about $7.59 per gallon, good for 127th.
#5 Norway
Flights to Norway are relatively cheap, as the Scandinavian nation ranks 21st in the world for airfare. The average one-night stay in a hotel will cost $151.70, making it 67th in the world.
When it comes to PPP, the Norwegians rank second-to-last in the world at 138th. Norwegian goods and services cost on average 50% more than comparable goods in the United States. Finally, Norway is behind only Turkey as the country with the highest gas prices in the world. The average price of a gallon of gas? $9.56 (140th).
#4 Australia
Not surprisingly, flights to the isolated Australian continent are among the most expensive in the world at 127th of 141. Hotel accommodations are slightly more reasonable, but still run an average of $162.30 (74th)
In terms of PPP, Australia is dead last at 139 (Argentina and Myanmar could not be ranked). The average cost of goods down under is 50% greater than they are in the United States. Aussie gas is a little cheaper at $5.25 per gallon, which ranks 68th in the world.
#3 France
France cracks the top three, aided by airfare rates that rank 114th in the world. To stay in a nice French hotel, one can expect to pay about $219.80 per night, which ranks 93rd of 102 economies from which data was recovered.
Goods and services in France are about 10% more than the US and sit at 128th overall with a 1.1 PPP. Gas costs about $7.21 per gallon, good for 118th in the world.
#2 United Kingdom
If you want to visit the United Kingdom, don't fly. The United Kingdom ranks dead last in terms of airfare, making flights there the most expensive in the world. Hotel rooms come at a much more reasonable price of $139.10, good for 56th in the world.
The PPP in the UK is 10% greater than that of the US, making goods and services slightly more expensive (123rd overall). Gas (or "petrol" as the English say), costs $8.20 per gallon, which is 136th in the world.
#1 Switzerland
Switzerland is the most expensive country in the world to visit. Flying to Switzerland is not cheap, as Swiss airfare rates rank 101st in the world. Once you get there, expect your hotel to cost you an average of $241.60 per night, good for 97th of 102 economies surveyed.
The PPP of Switzerland is 1.5 (137th), which means that goods and services in Switzerland will cost 50% more than they do in the US. Finally, gas costs $7.10 per gallon, which is 117th in the world.
Some of these areas are among the most popular tourist destinations in the world. But before you get on that plane make sure you packed enough cash.
Matterhorn, Switzerland