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The average cost of a vacation: Transportation, food, entertainment and more

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Table of contents

Key vacation cost statistics

How much does a vacation cost.

• Vacations vs. staycations

Vacation budgeting tips

As another travel season approaches, many consumers are planning how much they’ll need to spend on such items as flights and accommodations, with the caveat that these costs are higher than they’ve been in previous years.

While inflation has slowed, its effects persist. According to Bankrate’s Summer Vacation Survey, 47 percent of Americans aren’t planning a summer trip this year. Nearly two-thirds (65 percent) of those people cite affordability. Strategic financial planning will be essential for managing travel costs while still making invaluable travel experiences.

Vacation costs vary tremendously depending on such factors including the destination, accommodations and activities. Here are some average costs to help you budget your vacation and manage increased costs.

• For a one-week vacation in the U.S., the average cost for one person is $1,991. (Budget Your Trip)
• A one-week vacation in the U.S. for two people jumps to an average cost of $3,982. (Budget Your Trip)
• Round-trip flights to Europe from the U.S. are averaging around $918, between May and September 2024. (The Points Guy)
• The average cost for a double occupancy hotel room in the U.S. is $259 per night. (Budget Your Trip)

The average cost of a one-week vacation in the U.S. for one person is $1,991 . Many Americans, keeping in mind the cost of traveling, plan to take various measures to reduce how much they’re spending on such expenses as travel and accommodations.

Transportation costs

Transportation can account for a large chunk of your vacation budget, so it’s a good idea to start with these costs when planning your trip. In addition to airfare, factor in any other costs such as car rental, gasoline, tolls and parking fees.

Airfare tends to peak in June, with the highest prices around the summer months in general. Fares will peak this summer at $315 for a round-trip domestic ticket, with prices remaining in line with those of last year, according to Hopper.

To keep traveling budget-friendly amid rising costs, many consumers are making changes to their plans. Over one-quarter (27 percent) say they’re driving instead of flying to their destination this year, according to Bankrate’s holiday travel survey. Meanwhile, 21 percent say they’re traveling a shorter distance, and 17 percent say they’re using rewards points or loyalty programs to help pay for travel.

Keep in mind: More than one-third (36 percent) of U.S. adults traveling this summer will take on debt to pay for their vacation, according to Bankrate’s Summer Vacation Survey. Ways you can avoid vacation debt include taking a shorter vacation or a staycation.

Hotel and other accommodation costs

Hotel prices vary dramatically depending on the location, demand and time of year. An oceanfront hotel room in South Florida, for example, will cost less in the winter months than in summer, when deals can be found.

If your budget isn’t generous and you’re OK with fewer comforts, hostels or a recreational vehicle park can save you money.

When planning a vacation, you can also save by choosing a destination that’s less popular, while still offering value in experience. France, one of the most popular destinations, costs on average $1,753 to visit for one week. Meanwhile, the average cost for a week-long trip to Zagreb, Croatia, costs $574 on average, according to Budget Your Trip.

Food and entertainment costs

Food and entertainment expenses can lighten your wallet if you don’t draft a thorough vacation budget. They tend to be among the last costs travelers consider when planning a trip.

The average cost of food for one person on vacation, per day, is $58, according to Budget Your Trip. This figure doesn’t include snacks, tips or alcohol.

Budgeting for a family vacation can be trickier than budgeting for a solo trip, especially if young children are coming along. You probably won’t be eating at posh restaurants and strolling museums with kids in tow, but you likely will have to budget for a bigger hotel room and reservations for activities they’ll enjoy. Don’t forget to look for group rates and discounts, if eligible.

Average cost of a vacation by generation

Data from Squaremouth , a travel insurance company, shows that older generations spend more on travel than younger generations, on average. The Silent generation — the oldest living generation — spends over $3,500 per trip, on average. By contrast, Generation Zers spend just under $2,000 per trip, on average.

The higher vacation costs for older generations may be due to them having more savings , longer trips or a number of other factors. Still, while Gen Zers are spending less on travel, they’re more likely to travel for fun : 68 percent of Gen Zers planned to travel for leisure in 2023, according to Bankrate’s travel problems survey .

During the 2023 holiday season, younger generations were also more likely to change their travel plans due to inflation. Of Gen Z holiday travelers, 86 percent changed their travel plans for cost reasons, followed by millennials (80 percent), Gen Xers (77 percent) and baby boomers (68 percent), according to Bankrate’s Holiday Travel Survey.

Vacations and inflation

Increased costs for airlines, accommodations and other travel-related services contribute to higher overall trip expenses. Since this time last year, the average cost for a one-week vacation in the U.S., has risen by $413, or about 26 percent.

These high costs, coupled with diminished purchasing power, prompts consumers to make adjustments in their travel plans, either by choosing more economical options, shortening their vacations or, in the worst case, forgoing travel altogether. According to Bankrate’s Summer Vacation Survey, 65 percent of U.S. adults not planning to travel this summer say it’s because they can’t afford it.

But you don’t have to give up the idea of traveling this year because of costs. Instead, strategic planning and setting priorities can ensure you’re traveling within the capacity of your wallet.

More than a one-third (36 percent) of U.S. adults traveling this summer say they will take on debt as a result, according to Bankrate’s Summer Vacation Survey.

“We have most definitely put a bit too much emphasis on spending money during the holidays,” says Aja Evans, LMHC, Financial Therapist at Laurel Road, a division of KeyBank. “While I love the value of coming together during this time, the costs can quickly add up.”

Here are some tips to help you get the most trip for your money :

• Determine how much you can spend on the vacation and draft a budget.
• Start a vacation fund, such as a sinking fund , in a high-yield savings account .
• “Prioritize your must-attend events” rather than traveling for every holiday, says financial therapist Aja Evans, LMHC.
• Avoid paying high prices for lodging at popular destinations by finding accommodations slightly farther away.
• Save money by visiting destinations during off-seasons.
• Search for inexpensive flights and book in advance. You might save money on international flights by booking the cheapest flight to the destination country, followed by another flight to the particular city you wish to visit.
• If traveling abroad, find places that offer the best currency exchange rates.
• Consider using a prepaid debit card to control daily spending or a good travel rewards credit card to earn cash back on certain purchases.
• Plan meals, and work them into your budget accordingly. If you wish to eat at a high-end restaurant for dinner, choose an inexpensive meal for lunch.
• Plan what you’ll need to bring, and pack those items in your travel bag. This can help you avoid buying things on the trip that you forgot to bring, such as toiletries or over-the-counter medicine.

Budgeting for a family vacation can be trickier than budgeting for a solo trip, especially if young children are coming along. You probably won’t be eating at posh restaurants and visiting many museums with young kids in tow, but you will have to pay for a bigger hotel room and plan for activities they’ll enjoy. Don’t forget to look for group rates and discounts, if eligible.

Bottom line

The main budgetary components of a vacation include lodging, transportation, food and entertainment — all of which cost more now than they did in past years, due to the effects of high inflation.

While all aspects of a vacation can be pricey, it’s possible to lower your costs significantly through such activities as budgeting, traveling during the off-season, finding affordable ways (and places) to eat and planning early.

And, of course, setting money aside early and often can help you get the most out of your vacation. “Setting up a sinking fund you contribute to throughout the year can alleviate the last-minute pressure to spend money you don’t have,” financial therapist Evans says.

— Former Bankrate writer René Bennett contributed to a previous version of this story.

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Vacation Budget Calculator: How Much Does the Average Vacation Cost?

We’ve all heard that taking a vacation is great for our mental health. It’s a chance to get away from our stressful daily lives and go on an adventure. In addition to figuring out where you’ll go on your next vacation, you need to start saving for vacation expenses. Before we can figure out what you need to save, we need to know, how much does the average vacation cost ?

In this article:

How Much Does an Average Vacation Really Cost? 

I’m using my own experience with vacation costs to get a basic idea of what the average vacation cost is for a family. Of course, these numbers are just averages to help you with your planning. I will say that in the past year, vacation costs have skyrocketed

I’ve researched the average cost for most standard vacation expenses. These numbers can easily be used to calculate the vacation cost for one person or a couple, but for a family of four, the average cost of vacation will be between $4,100 and $5,100.

Wondering “how do I create a vacation budget?” Use the calculator at the bottom of this post as a personal vacation cost estimator based on your family size and destination. And print off my vacation budget planner to keep track of your estimates.

How Much Does the Average Person Spend on a Vacation?

An estimate of what the average person spends on vacation is approximately $350 per day plus transportation costs.

This is based on spending $200-$300 a night on your accommodations and $75 a day on meals. For meals, I’m estimating $15 for breakfast, $25 for lunch, $30 for dinner, plus $5 for a snack.

Of course, this is just an estimate! Personally, I think $200 a night for accommodations is low, but it will depend on the destination and what type of hotel you like. Based on my vacations I’d estimate spending $250-$350 per night in a hotel. Especially lately! I recently saw rates for basic chain hotels hitting $600 a night in New York City in December.

Traveling during a peak holiday or event? Expect your hotel costs to be one of the biggest expenses. A friend recently paid $400 for a Residence Inn off the highway for Christmas Eve. Hotel costs are no joke in 2023, but many are starting to see the prices come back down from the 2021 highs.

The average person will spend about  $1800-$2500  on a one week vacation. That’s estimating $210-$310 a day for hotel and food, and just under $400 for airfare. That doesn’t include car expenses or attraction tickets and tours.

And be sure to read my best tips for how to save for vacation !

How Much Cash Should You Carry on Vacation?

In these days of credit cards, I’ll be the first to admit that I forget about carrying cash. You do want to have cash on hand for vacation. In my experience, you should estimate carrying about $25 a day in cash.

Again, this will vary based on your destination and what activities you have planned. It’s also a good idea to carry a variety of bills. You’ll need some lower denominations for tipping valets, housekeepers, and/or bellmen.

You’ll need to do some research in advance to find out how widely credit cards are accepted at your destination. For most places in the US, credit cards are widely accepted and cash will mainly be used for tipping hotel staff and tour guides.

You might need cash for some smaller shopping spots, like food carts or farmers’ markets. You could also need to have cash on hand for taxis as some will offer you a deal to pay in cash instead of credit.

You’ll also want to determine how easy it will be for you to get more cash while on vacation. Are you traveling to a destination that has ATMs that partner with your bank?

Or perhaps you want to get a no-fee ATM bank account like SoFi to save on ATM fees while traveling abroad. Be sure you know your ATM pin code and if chips are required.

Also, make sure you’ve notified your bank of your travel plans as part of your vacation preparation , although more and more banks no longer freeze cards when used out of the country.

The Complete List of Typical Travel Expenses

When it comes to planning for your vacation, here are the typical travel expenses you can expect.

• Transportation (airfare, gas, shuttles, taxis, parking, etc)
• Accommodations (hotels, home rentals, etc)
• Dining (meals, beverages, snacks)
• Activities (attraction tickets, tours, etc)
• Shopping (souvenirs, boutiques, etc)

Average Transportation Costs: How will you travel there & how will get around once you’ve arrived at your destination?

This can be one of the largest expenses for a vacation. Driving can be a great way to keep costs low. Of course, driving will take you longer which means less time at your destination. You’ll need to decide whether flying or driving is best based on your distance, budget, and timeline.

How Much Does a Plane Ticket Cost?

$397 pp / $1,588 for a family of four (domestic)

These prices will be all over the board. According to the Dept of Transportation , the average cost of a domestic (US) plane ticket is about $397.

International airfare is going to vary greatly based on your outbound city. You can often find international deals from major coastal hubs that will get you an international ticket for $500-$800. Consider subscribing to Scott’s Cheap Flights if you’re flexible on where you want to go and just want to get a deal!

You can also consider credit card points to help lower your transportation costs.

Driving Instead of Flying to Save Money

$3.29 per gallon of gas

If you do choose to drive instead of flying, AAA has the current gas price averaged at $3.29. Keep in mind that the west coast will be higher, and many larger cities will have higher gas prices.

To calculate your gas costs use this formula: total distance of your trip and divide it by your miles per gallon to get the number of gallons of gas you will need on your trip. Then multiply that number by the current price of gas ($3.29), and the result is your estimated cost of gas.

(Distance / MPG) x Gas Gallon Price = Cost of Gas

Rental Car / Rideshare? What is More Cost-Effective?

$60 per day / $420 / week

This can be an easy expense to cut if you plan a trip to a walkable city or are driving to your destination. However, even the best cities will often require you to get to and from the airport.

And, if you’re traveling to somewhere like Oahu or Southern California, you’ll likely want to have your own car for exploring.

Car rental costs have skyrocketed lately, so it is something to research. There are so many factors to determine this expense, but based on my experience, for 2023 I’d calculate $60 a day. Rideshares can save you money if you’re mainly using them for airport runs or only a trip or two.

However, rideshares don’t always work well for families because of the luggage considerations to and from the airport and because of car seats. Families might be better off renting a car. But then keep in mind you’ll need to pay for gas and parking when renting.

Parking / Shuttles Add-on Additional Fees

If you’ll be parking at the airport for your flight, don’t forget to add that expense to your vacation cost planning. And if you’re driving or renting a car, be sure to check to see if your hotel charges parking fees.

In large cities parking fees can be substantial. For example, in downtown Seattle, many hotels charge $50+ a night for parking.

The Average Price Range for Hotel Accommodation Vary Depending on Your Needs

$250 per night / $1,750 for a week

There are two primary values for this expense, your nightly rate, and the hotel taxes & fees. According to the Business Travel Index, the cost of a hotel room in NYC, San Francisco, and Austin are $393, $387, and $215 respectively. These prices include taxes and fees which are typically around 10%-15%.

According to a Hotel Management report, hotel room rates were up 14% in April of 2022 compared to April of 2022. They report that the average daily rate was $149.90 per night. Based on my own experience, this is low for most tourist destinations for 3* properties, so keep that in mind.

For our calculations, we’ll assume you can find a deal and score a room for $250 a night. You can also consider a home rental, which can often cost less, but note that there have been a lot of bad reports lately about the cost and cancellations of Airbnb rentals.

Don’t forget to budget for any daily resort fees and for tipping hotel staff when you’re planning your hotel costs.

How Much to Budget for Food on Vacation?

$75 per day per person

We all know that one of the big perks of a vacation is the food. Not only do we get to try new restaurants and foods, but we also don’t have to do the dishes!

To calculate the food costs you want to budget daily for breakfast, lunch, dinner, and snacks. I estimate a daily food budget of $75 for an adult or $525 for a 1-week vacation.

These numbers are primarily based on table service meals. You can certainly find less expensive dining options in almost any city. And you can also find many restaurants that will cost much more.

Families with young kids can save a bit with kids’ meals, so for a family of four, I’d budget $1610 for a week. With daily budgets of $50 for breakfasts, $70 for lunches, $90 for dinners, and $20 for snacks, for a total daily food budget of $230.

Now that I have two teens, we have to budget as if we’re four adults, so we have a daily food budget of $300 for our family of four or $2100 for a week.

You can seriously shave some of these expenses down if you stay at a hotel with a free breakfast or if you make some of your meals in a rental or hotel kitchen.

• Breakfast = $15 pp / $105 for the week per person
• Lunch = $25 pp / $175 for the week per person
• Dinner = $30 pp / $210 for the week per person
• Snacks = $5 pp / $40 for the week per person

Total = $75 per person per day / $525 per person for one week of vacation

Beer, Wine, and Cocktails

If you enjoy alcoholic drinks while on vacation, be sure to increase your dinner budget (and perhaps lunch, too) to allow for drinks. They’ll run you anywhere from $9-$20 depending on your destination and your drink of choice.

If you plan to have one alcoholic drink a day while on vacation, your daily food budget goes from $75 to $90 per person. If you have two drinks per day then you’re looking at budgeting around $105 a day for food and drinks. Of course, if you’re a beer drinker, it will be a bit less as wine and cocktails typically cost more than a brew.

Calculate the Total Cost of All Activities Per Person Before Your Vacation Starts

Activity costs will all depend on what you plan on doing while on vacation. Some cities are filled with free things to do, while others are museum meccas where you’ll find plenty of admission ticket costs.

Assuming a one-week vacation, let’s estimate that you’ll visit three attractions that have an admission fee of $25. For a family of four, you’ll want to budget $300 for attractions. Of course, the cost of a Disneyland vacation will make this expense much larger than a standard city or national park vacation.

And if you like to get your kids souvenirs on vacation, be sure to allow perhaps another $50-$100 for shopping. I’ll admit that I also like to shop on vacation, so consider adding some shopping budget to your plans if you want to buy something special on your trip.

TIP: For major cities, you can save some serious money on attraction expenses by purchasing a CityPASS or Go City card. Both of these programs are a voucher system where you pay one price for a universal entrance ticket to various popular city attractions.

You can save about 40% on attractions in places like LA, NYC, San Diego, Orlando, Boston, and more! For example, the CityPASS Seattle can save you over 40% on entrance ticket costs for the Space Needle, Aquarium, MoPop Museum, Chihuly Glass Museum, and the Zoo. I’ve also used the NYC CityPASS to visit the Empire State Building and some of its famous museums.

Go City features many international city destinations like Dublin and Rome .

The Cost of Your Vacation Varies Depending on Several Factors

Hopefully, you can see that your vacation cost can vary depending on the choices you make. As stated above, flying typically costs more. However flying also saves you time. If you’re wanting to go across the country, flying could be the best option. And of course, if you’re planning an overseas trip, flying is your only option.

Your vacation costs will also depend on how many people are traveling. Transportation, food, and attraction costs can add up fast for a family, but sharing a hotel room means that one person might pay the same as a family of four for accommodations.

Home rentals are also very popular and can save you money, however, be mindful that service fees can make that nightly rate double in price. You’re also subject to paying more later on if your host decides to cancel your reservation with minimal notice.

Food is also a place you can try to save money and lower vacation expenses. If you find a hotel that offers free breakfast, that’s a great way to save money and get your day started quicker. You might also choose to pre-pack some snacks for your trip or stop by a local grocery store to save on restaurant costs.

Many of the suite-type hotel chains (like Homewood Suites or Residence Inn) will offer grocery delivery services for their guests. You can give them a shopping list and they’ll shop and stock your suite kitchen with your food. Making sandwiches in your room for lunch can save you hundreds. You can also use services like Instacart to deliver groceries to your hotel.

Lastly, keep in mind where you’re traveling to. Popular city destinations are going to likely be more expensive than smaller “suburb” type destinations. National Parks can be great value destinations, but hotel costs can be significant, and will book out early. 

When you travel also can impact your vacation costs substantially. If school is on break, i.e. summer vacation, you can expect costs to be higher. If you can travel in the shoulder or off-season you can find better deals on airfare and hotels.

Let’s look at some common vacations and what the vacation costs might be:

How Much Does It Cost To Go To Florida?

This is probably one of the more popular destinations for families. And the cost of a trip to Florida will depend on whether you’re going for the beaches or theme parks.

Our family has taken quite a few theme park vacations to Florida. While it’s a huge state with so many great places to visit, most families are going in order to visit the Mouse. Be sure to read how much a Disney World vacation costs !

Let’s use our calculations above to help determine what to budget for a vacation to Florida.

• Airfare = $397 per person based on the Bureau of Transportation
• Rental Car = $60 per day + toll fees + parking
• Hotel = $200 per night + resort fees
• Tipping = $35
• Food = $75 per adult per day (children $40)
• Activities = $100 per person per day for theme parks

Based on averages, a one-week trip to Florida will cost about $2,800 for a solo traveler, $4,200 for a couple sharing a car and hotel, and approximately $5,600 for a family of four.

This will vary greatly depending on what your hotel costs are and how many attractions you plan to visit. If you’re staying at a nice hotel on the beach and lounging in the sand you’ll save on attraction costs but likely pay more for the hotel on the beach.

If you’re planning a theme park vacation, you’ll need to budget much more for activities. And if you’re planning to stay on-site at a Walt Disney World hotel, you might need to increase your hotel budget depending on what level of resort hotel you choose. But I scored a deal on our recent WDW Deluxe hotel vacation using Dave’s Vacation Rentals !

Average Cost European Vacation

Traveling to Europe is a bucket list trip for many. It does come with some special considerations for calculating the cost of a European vacation.

• Airfare = $650 per person
• Transportation (train or taxi) = $5-$10 per person per day
• Hotel = $200 per night
• Tipping = $1-2 per day
• Food = $75 per adult per day
• Activities = $25 per person per attraction

The biggest adjustment you’ll need to prepare for when saving for a European vacation is the airfare. Based on my experience you can expect to find European economy flights for between $550-$700 from major cities in the US. Of course, summer is the most popular time to visit Europe from the US, and airfare and hotel costs will be more during those months.

Many hotels can be found for around $150-$200 a night across Europe and you can definitely find cheaper deals. The biggest note here is for families, European hotels are often double occupancy only. If you’re a family of four or more you might need to budget for two hotel rooms depending on the city. Many families choose Airbnb rentals instead of hotels for this reason.

Food and activity costs will be fairly standard as to what you’d pay in the United States. Transportation costs might actually be a place to save money since so many European cities are walkable and have great rail systems. A rail pass can be an economical way to get around a large city.

Based on these averages I’d estimate a one-week European vacation to cost approximately $2,225 for one person, $3,400 for a couple, and $5,750 for a family of four (one hotel room).

Based on my experience, a trip to Portugal can be a great European destination without the high price tag you might find in other popular European cities.

Average Vacation Cost to Hawaii

• Airfare = $525 per person
• Rental Car = $75 per day + parking
• Hotel = $275 per night + resort fees
• Food = $90 per adult per day
• Activities = $75 per person per attraction

Hawaii is another destination that people dream of visiting, and the vacation costs can add up fast. Airfare from the mainland can average in the $500 range, but it will vary depending on where you’re flying from and when you’re traveling. Winter escapes to Hawaii mean airfare is expensive during the cold months.

The cost of a rental car is probably one of the biggest surprises people don’t expect. The cost of a rental car in Hawaii will be about $75 per day. Then you’ll need to add on taxes and budget for parking if your resort has parking fees.

Of course, some may plan to just stay at their resort during their Hawaii vacation, but I think that’s a big mistake. Exploring the Hawaii Islands is easy and well worth it, there’s so much beauty to see. A car is necessary to check out the best things to do in Oahu .

Hotels are another place where your vacation expenses will add up. You can find hotels for under $200 but the average room rate will run around $275-$350 per night. Of course, if you want an ocean view, plan to spend closer to $400-$600 a night.

Food can also be more expensive in Hawaii, which was a surprise for Paul and me on our first visit to Maui. A simple breakfast can run you $20 and dinner can be close to $40. Plan a budget of $90 a day for meals, but don’t forget to add on if you plan to have alcoholic drinks, too.

You can definitely find condo rentals on most of the Hawaii Islands and can save money on meals by cooking in your rental, however, even grocery prices are much higher than we’re used to on the mainland.

Lastly, be sure to plan for any activities or tours you’ll want to do. Hawaii is popular for snorkeling trips, helicopter tours, and boat excursions. Those can all add up fast.

Based on these estimates, a one-week trip to Hawaii will cost $3,500 for one person, $4,750 for a couple, and about $7,000 for a family of four.

How Much Does a Luxury Vacation Cost?

Now that we’ve looked at all the basic costs and expenses, let’s take a peek at what splurging might look like.

If you want to upgrade from economy to first class for your flights, you should be prepared to pay about $1100 for a domestic first-class ticket and about $2500-$3000 for an international flight. This is one place where using travel points can help you upgrade your vacation without spending more money.

If you’re going for luxury, you’ll likely want to stay at a nice hotel. Expect to budget between $700-$1000 per night for luxury hotels. Keep in mind that you’ll likely need to be ready to tip more as well for the bellhop, valet, housekeeping, and concierge services. For one week you could be looking at spending about $5,000-$7,000 on a simple luxury hotel stay. Luxury hotels often have suites that can easily double this number.

For dining costs, you can also plan to splurge on some luxury restaurants. These prices can vary widely, however, I’d say you can expect to spend $75-$120 per person at a fine dining restaurant, plus beverages. A nice restaurant meal for two could cost about $250, but keep in mind that these meals should be treated as an experience, not a fuel-and-go opportunity.

Average International Vacation Cost

You can look at my example above for a European vacation cost to see that the largest expense for most international vacations is airfare. Plan to budget approximately $2,500 for one person, $3,700 for a couple, and $6,000 for a family of four for an international vacation. Of course, this will vary greatly depending on the destination and your hotel choices.

Average Cost of a Vacation for One

The average person will spend about $1800-$2500 on a one week vacation. That’s estimating $210-$310 a day for hotel and food, and just under $400 for airfare. That doesn’t include car expenses or attraction tickets and tours.

A person could save a substantial amount of money by renting a room through Airbnb or splitting a hotel stay with a friend. A solo traveler might also avoid table dining and just grab food to go which could save on food expenses.

Average Cost of a Vacation for 2

The cost of a vacation for a couple will be less than twice that of a solo traveler since you’ll be sharing the expenses for the hotel. However, you’ll still need to budget for airfare and food for each person. I estimate that a couple should budget about $2750 for a one-week trip.

Average Cost of a Vacation for a Family of 4

A one week vacation for a family of four will be approximately $4,500. This amount will vary greatly depending on where you choose to travel to and your hotel nightly rate.  

Average Cost of a Vacation for a Family of 6

For larger families, you’re going to need to budget more money. Beyond the standard increases for airfare and food, you’re also looking at an increased cost for the hotel.

You might need to book two connecting hotel rooms, which will double the cost of the hotel. Or, you could book at a suite hotel that has rooms that accommodate six people. I’d estimate a one week vacation would cost a family of 6 about $6,000.

Vacation Budget Calculator

Simply plug in the numbers and you’ll have an accurate estimate of the total cost of your vacation

Here is a calculator that will help you figure out what a vacation will cost for your family. I’ve done some of the auto calculations for you but you’ll need to look up a few values to get an idea of your expenses.

For your transportation costs, determine what the cost is for your plane tickets either based on what you’ve already spent or using a travel search. If you’re taking a road trip, you could use your gas cost (use my formula at the beginning of this post) instead of inputting airfare expenses.

You can add in if you’re planning to rent a car, or leave it blank if you don’t have a car rental. And don’t forget to add in any parking costs either at the airport or at your hotel if you drive or rent a car.

For your hotel costs, input the number of nights. Then you’ll put in your nightly rate. And use the slider to add in the hotel tax which can add up quickly. Many destinations have an average hotel tax of between 12%-14%. I’ve also included a tipping section here, so add in what you might tip shuttle drivers, bellhops, and housekeepers. Also, include any resort fees your hotel might charge.

The food fields should be fairly easy to understand. Use my food section above to determine a daily budget for your family for each of your three meals and any snacks.

Lastly, determine what your activity ticket costs will be for everyone and add what you expect to spend on souvenirs.

You should be given a grand total vacation cost which will help you budget and save.

The Bottom Line: How Much Does a Good Vacation Cost?

I estimate that $5,000 is how much you should save for a one-week vacation for a family of four. Are you a bit surprised? I know I was when the numbers all came together.

As I’ve said before, this is just an estimate. I’m sure many families can travel for less, and there are plenty who travel for much more, too. The goal is to help you have an idea of the cost so that you won’t be surprised and stressed when the trip is over and the charges start piling in.

Although no two vacations are alike if you take the time to plan & budget you can take a cost-effective vacation that can surpass “average” in the fun department and come in below average in the cost department.

Now that you know how much a vacation will cost, check out these fun ideas to help you save money for your vacation !

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Kim Tate is the founder of Stuffed Suitcase, a travel blog created to help fellow women and moms plan their next trip. She lives in Seattle, WA, with her husband and two daughters. Through scenic photography and first-person storytelling, Kim inspires readers on where to go next and gives them travel tips to make traveling easier.

Kim also founded and co-hosts the family travel podcast, Vacation Mavens, and has published two books, Wanderlist, a travel planning workbook, and A to Z Alphabet Travel Coloring Book for Kids.

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77 Comments

I like how you reasoned this out. We often get to vacations and kind of just turn our brains off when it comes to spending, even if we set out not to do that. We charged WAY too much for food on our last vacation. Thanks for this tool. It will help us plan better for the next one.

I’m absolutely with you Lynne. I always tell me hubby, “oh, it’ll probably only be like $2-$3k” then when I start adding things up it’s a real eye opener. I’m really excited to continue writing up my ideas for how to save up for your family vacation, so check back soon for that post!

So how much did it cost to rent a car

Wow that is certainly eye-opening! When we travel we try to stay in a condo with a kitchen vs a hotel so we can do some of our own cooking to save on food costs, and that helps a little.

Michelle, that’s one of the big ways we try to save money. It also encourages healthier eating typically too! We have yet to rent a condo, but we’ve stayed in the suite hotels that include kitchens to help save money. That’s one of my tips in my upcoming “save for vacation” article. Shhhh, don’t tell. :)

Last year, my husband and I went on a round the States trip. I left first from Florida, flying to Arizona. Hotel an car rental. visiting kids and grandkids. Hubby flew out a few days later when he could get off work. We then drove from Arizona to Wyoming, stopping along the way to see various monuments and Yellowstone. Saw the geysers and falls. Saw the animals. Saw everything. Flew back to Florida from Wyoming. All in all, it cost us about 5K. Whew! About twice as much as what I thought it was going to cost us.

I’ve been there Vicki. It really is amazing how quickly it can all add up. However, that sounds like an awesome trip and hopefully well worth it! We always say we like to buy experiences more than things!

That is awesome – thank you for putting it into perspective – that’s not too bad at all for a family of 4 and thankfully we’re a family of 3! :) Coming to ya from SITS – Happy SITS Day! -Iva

Hi Iva! It definitely is doable, but surprises many how the costs add up. Having 3 definitely helps with the airfare, attractions, and food expenses! My in-laws have 3 kids (so family of 5) and we’ve noticed how it increases traveling costs for them versus us just with that one extra kid.

Very interesting post! I always wonder what other people pay for a vacation. It’s amazing how widely this can vary. My husband and I usually did European trips (just the two of us) for about $7,000, but that was for 16 days, which I thought was pretty good! The last time we went, we took our daughter and were able to do it for about the same price, but just cut down some of the other expenses.

Hi Rachel! I considered trying to add different types of trips (like international), but thought this would be the most straightforward. Even international trips vary widely depending on your destination, while most domestic trips are consistent. Many families also don’t travel for a full week (I think the average is 4-5 days), but lots of people I know fly somewhere for at least a week for a family vacation.

Oh, definitely! There are a million and one ways you can make any vacation cheaper or more expensive. It’s all about priorities and what’s most important to you in a vacation:)

Absolutely! 16 days in Europe for $7,000 seems like you got a great bang for your buck! :)

Congratulations and enjoy your SITS Day!

WorkFromYourHome101.com

Thanks Rachel! I’m really enjoying reading all the great SITS reader comments.

Wow! I didn’t realize a vacation would cost $4000! I really like that fact that the figure is a comprehensive and encompasses most parts of a vacation. I’ll definitely be keeping your post in mind as vacation season approaches. Thanks for sharing this@

Glad it was helpful Tenns! You can always make choices to decrease (or increase) those costs, but this gives you a basic plan to work from! Hope you have great travels!

Happy SITS Day! I hope you have a great one!

$4,000…Yikes. Now I know why we haven’t been on one…ever! We are a family of 5, so a vacation other than to visit family is just not in the budget, unless of course we saved up for awhile, and we’d definitely not be able to do a week. I think this post left me in sticker shock…

It really adds up Julie! A big way to save costs is to consider driving locally instead of flying (no 5 plane tickets). I’m going to post soon about how to save up for a vacation, so perhaps that can help you come up with a way to make one happen. You could also plan a staycation where you do something in your own hometown!

Sounds great! The most fun we have on vacations is going to either visit my Granny or my sister. Both live near lots of cheap activities to do and have lots of room for us to stay. :) I welcome tips, however, on all the things you mentioned. Driving is always more economical for us, and I have a fear of flying anyway, so that’s all good. :) Thanks for the advice!

Sounds like you’ve had some great experiences Julie! Thanks for stopping by!

My brother tells me it costs his family of 4 $4000-$5000 for a family vacation, so you are right on. My husband & I usually spend about $3500.

Congratulations on your SITS Day.

Thanks SWG! I hesitated to make a post about something that can vary quite a bit, but it’s been pretty standard for most of our vacations. I thought it would be helpful for others to see how the numbers all come together!

Perfect Timing, We are trying got budget for a family vacation for 9 to Disney this December, this gives us a start.

How fun! A big spot to keep in mind for Disney are the admission passes and parking fees. They can really add up. Food can also be priced higher, but not as high as I’ve seen at other theme parks. Are you heading to Disneyland or Disney World?

We are doing Disneyland. 7 Adults and two kids, so 4 hotel rooms. We found our hotel which is about 2 miles from the park so it is cheaper, but it has a direct shuttle to the front gates of Disney. We also found its cheaper to book a limo from the airport to move all of us and our luggage than it would be to travel any other way. Any other tips anyone has would be great!

Happy SITS Day! Great post. I’ve dragged my boys all over the world, transportation is always the priciest!

Hi Barbara! Yeah, you can try to save money in a lot of areas, but transportation is kind of a non-negotiable area! Sounds like you’ve given your boys a bunch of great experiences!

A family vacation can add up quick that is for sure! We cut costs by using our timeshare that we purchased on our honeymoon. That saves on accommodations and we cook most of our meals in the condo so that helps as well. Then every few years we do a cruise so that I can get a real vacation of no laundry, cooking, or straightening up! Happy SITS Day!

Sounds great Alecia! We don’t have a timeshare, but we do like to save by making our own meals. Or we stay at a hotel that offers breakfast (and sometimes weekday dinners) to help cut costs.

I love that you take so many trips with your family :) My mom is German so all of her family is in Europe. I consider myself so incredibly lucky to have had the opportunity to travel at a young age and I think it has played a huge role in my overall sense of adventure and willingness to roll with the punches. You are teaching your children invaluable lessons they’ll carry with them forever :)

Happy happy SITS day–hope you enjoyed your day in the spotlight and keep up the great posts (don’t yet have a family but I enjoy how you broke this down)! It’s always good to know!

What an awesome experience for you Charlotte! My husband and I both agree that traveling has a lot of benefits for our girls. Thanks for stopping by, it’s been a great SITS day!

We have never in 26 years had even $1000 to spend on a vacation, how fun that must be. We have been able to have many weekend trips though and are thankful for that. Keep encouraging!

Hi Christa, everyone has different budgets and goals. It’s great that you’ve enjoyed your weekend trips and what you’re able to budget. I love how travel can just let you reset from the daily grind, even weekends away do that! :)

That’s just about what our trip to Disney is gonna cost. Happy sits day!

Have fun Melissa! We always love Disney trips!

Kim, Great post on the average cost of a vacation for a family of 4! I love how you broke it all down…just FYI, if you have boys, the price definitely rises when they hit their teens….the food budget goes crazy! Love your blog…Warmly, Gracia at Gracious Offering

Hello Gracia, thank you for stopping by! That is a great point about teen boys food intake, and one I can absolutely believe. My in-laws have two teen daughters, and buy an extra room just so their girls can have their own bathroom!

Interesting to see what other people budget for vacation! There are so many factors that go into budgeting, but this is a good place to start.

Hi Chamisa! Yes, it really is different. Especially for international travel!

That seems like a pretty realistic budget. Our family has stuck to a $5000 budget for week-long trips to Hawaii, Italy, and Puerto Rico (camping, visiting friends, and living large, respectively). We try to spend as little as possible on accommodation, which is usually the most expensive part (after the flights). We have had great luck using vacation rental websites like airbnb and vrbo to cut costs and get more space (and a kitchen) while traveling. Looking forward to reading more on your site!

Hi Paige! Vacation rentals really are becoming a great option for saving money. They make a lot of sense for traveling families. Thanks for stopping by!

I am planning my first travel trip EVER this summer so this is a great breakdown. Love it! Thanks so much :)

Congrats Shantalle! Feel free to contact me if you have any questions about your trip planning. Hopefully the Vacation Budget Planner and Customizable Packing List can help you plan!

My budget is $1000. Our trips are regional so we drive; we stay in friends’ homes, so we have no hotel expenses; we bring lots of food and wine for cookouts with our friends. We take little vacations during the year rather than one big one. To note: my husband is from South Africa, and went to RSA during Thanksgiving due to excellent SAA rates (that is a separate budget). It is cheaper to send him to RSA than for us to travel in the USA.

That’s great that you have so many friends and family to stay with along the way. Sounds like a fun way to travel and stay in contact!

Great post. Love how you break it down.

Thank you Cris!

You forgot to mention preparing for the vacation :) new outfits bthing suits, mani pedi, family travel insurance and of course the shopping while you are away gifts for friends and family memorabilia. We just got back from Virginia Beach and we spent about $500

We normally make due Mo, so our pretrip purchases aren’t too bad. However, it’s a great point to recognize that sometimes you do buy new things for the trip. We travel too often to buy gifts for all our friends while away, so they’re stuck with an occasional postcard. :) Trip insurance is a great point and something some people will want to add into their plans.

I feel like $50 for dinner for 4 would be tricky when you have to eat at a restaurant (assuming you can’t make things at your hotel) especially if you are in a touristy location. All the meal prices sound low for 4 people if the idea is that it will be bought at a restaurant.. but maybe I’m wrong.. I’m not very traveled..

Hi Kioku, it definitely depends on they type of restaurant you’re eating at. I decided an average could be around $14 per adult and $6 per child, totaling $40 then you might have tax and tip. Some dinners could be less depending on where you dine. If you’re choosing sit down restaurants for your meals, then you probably will need to bump up the $50 amount. These are just averages based on our own traveling experiences.

We are going across two states to visit family in Colorado. We have 6 kids and a tiny budget, so we are driving our 15 passenger van, and camping along the way. I’m cooking our food over a fire….and we’ll drive to see some sites and go visiting. I’m hoping we can do it for $1,000….but stuff adds up quickly!

Wow – that’s great Angela! Driving and camping will certainly help! I’ve got a great camping Pinterest board you might find helpful, https://www.pinterest.com/stuffedsuitcase/camping-is-cool/ , it’s got some great tips and lots of recipes! Safe travels!

3 Tickets to Dominican Republic. =1500 7 Nights beach front hotel =500 Food per day 120 x 3 = 840 Activities = 500 Spending cash = 600 Long term parking 50 Total 3990

It helped that the exchange rate was 46 to 1 My wife, 9yr and I lived like kings. Will be doing it again next spring worth ever cent.

Very nicely done Pat! That’s a great deal on airfare. From Seattle to the DR we’re looking at around $700-$800 pp. It’s great to hear that you enjoyed your vacation so much as well. When you go through all the time, effort, and money for a trip, it only works if it’s worthwhile. Happy traveling and thanks for sharing!

usually you dont want the economy car and dinner can be way more when you factor in tip and drinks especially in touristy areas. Your going to need a drink or two ;} But I guess you could skimp on other meals even without a kitchen a trip to the supermarket making sandwiches i the car or pack a foldable cooler. dont forget the extras trips to the pharmacy for bandaids, aspirin, forgotten items like batteries . there are so many random expenses that seem to pop up.

AirBNB can be a good option and sometimes can be close to attractions with no need for a car. Rates are much cheaper and you can have a kitchen and the hosts can often make suggestions on activities, deals and recommendations on restaurants. Sometimes they will even drive you around. Our experience last summer in Japan at a beach fairly close to Tokyo. We didn’t want to travel far from Tokyo like the other lemmings with the traffic and expense and went to a beach fishing village near Tokyo.

camping for a few nights is also an option and kids always love it.

International trips are ridiculous now all that budget you mentioned and then some. But try Thailand or Bali everything else is cheaper! This year my daughter in I will visit the US. from Tokyo Tip: buy tickets early and just a day or two before school holidays. A longer trip is better and multi city flights aren’t that much more. We are going to stay with relatives (is it really a vacation?) to lower costs and hopefully since we’ve traveled so far we can bum a few home cooked meals off of them. Benefit of staying with family you can pawn your kids off for a night or two out! And probably the kids wont fight as much. Also you get access to all their amenities and stuff so you don’t have to pack all that crap.

Rental cars are really expensive though because I don’t have a car in Tokyo so I have to pay Liability. But I am cutting that Damage Waiver cost by enrolling in American Expresses Premium insurance- a flat rate fee $25.00 a rental not per day! Also rent a car away fro the airport because those premium locations make you basically pay for the airport extra $200 in fees! Booking with a travel agent can cut these fees and sometimes included extra insurance especially for International travelers with non US or Canadian licenses. If you have a US license you don’t get that break.

A word about staying in a city as opposed to a rural area- i find that even though hotels may be a bit more but not always, you save lots in transportation and hassle.

Great tips, thanks for sharing Mark! As a family we rarely want the economy car since they can’t fit our luggage! And the food costs seem to be increasing since I first created this, so I need to update it. Thanks again, happy travels!

The husband and I recently spent 7 days driving around Florida and it ended up costing about $1200. We had it pretty well budgeted before we left because we’d already booked all the overnight stays (and paid for about half) and we’d already bought food for most of our meals. Still we splurged on an awesome meal the first night and a great B&B the last night.

That’s great Neliza! Some advance planning and wise choices can really help drop the costs down.

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I am not at all amazed at the cost of vacations. I have always been observant about spending since growing up poor. Since I have always lived below my means and have always vacationed on purpose, this has never been a problem.

Oh wow! This vacation cost calculator is seriously cool. I will have to remember this for my next trip!

This is so on point. When you think how much a coffee and lunch on the go can add up, you can soon save by taking a packed lunch. I also like the concept of ride share- we don’t have that here!

Honestly, I always assume $5000, especially when we go abroad. In the US, we will do it a bit cheaper, but mostly because we drive a lot of places.

thank you so much for the direction…i’m 69 and have never gone on vacation..my best friend, Kim, and i are going to new mexico for 12 days and i was clueless as to what i needed to take. now i have a ballpark figure….thanks again

Great, Mary! I’m glad it was helpful and hope you have a wonderful trip!

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR SHARING THIS IT GAVE ME A HOPE AND A GOOD IDEA THAT I CAN GO ON VACATION SOON WITH MY FAMILY :)

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