Calculate the total budget
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Trip budget
“How much does a holiday in this city cost?” rarely has one useful answer. Your hotel, flight, baggage and even the airport transfer can move the total more than any generic daily average.
A better budget starts with the real bookings and options you are considering.
This calculator does not preload supposedly current market prices. Enter the quotes and estimates that apply to your dates. That keeps the result useful even when hotel, flight and local-service prices move.
Calculate the total budgetYour inputsTravelersNightsMain return transport, total (€)Accommodation per night (€)Food per person per day (€)Local transport per person per day (€)Activities and tickets, total (€)Other one-off costs (€)Planning buffer (%)Calculate budgetfunction n(id){return Math.max(0,Number(document.getElementById(id).value)||0)}function calcBudget(){const p=Math.max(1,n('people')),nights=Math.max(1,n('nights')),days=nights+1;const fixed=n('mainTransport')+n('activities')+n('other');const variable=n('stay')*nights+(n('food')+n('local'))*p*days;const subtotal=fixed+variable;const total=subtotal*(1+n('contingency')/100);const perPerson=total/p;document.getElementById('result').innerHTML=`Estimated total: <strong>€${total.toFixed(0)}<br>About €${perPerson.toFixed(0)} per traveler · ${days} days · including your selected buffer.`}calcBudget();
Split the budget into three kinds of costOne-off costs include the main journey, insurance, an airport transfer, pre-booked events and fees paid once.Per-night costs are mainly accommodation and sometimes parking or a car-related expense.Per-person, per-day costs commonly include food, local transport and some activities. Keeping these categories separate makes it easy to see what one extra night or one extra traveler really changes.
Costs that often disappear from the first draft of a budgetairport or station transfers;checked baggage, seat selection or ticket add-ons;travel insurance;parking, tolls or fuel;local tourist taxes not included in accommodation;bank, foreign-exchange or ATM fees;local transport between neighborhoods;the first and last partial day, which are often not free days.Destination-average sites can still be useful orientation. Budget Your Trip, for example, breaks costs into categories such as accommodation, local transport, food and entertainment, while showing how much spending can vary by travel style and season. For a real booking decision, your own current quotes are a stronger input.
Run three scenarios before bookingScenarioChangeQuestion it answersLower-costCheaper accommodation, fewer paid activities, lower food spendHow far can I reduce the total without making the trip unattractive to me?RealisticThe options you are most likely to bookWhat should I reasonably expect to spend?More comfortableBetter location, easier transport, larger bufferWhich extra costs actually improve the trip?This often exposes what “cheapest” misses. A central hotel can cost more per night but reduce transport. A cheap flight to a distant airport can create a long and expensive transfer. Compare the total cost and friction of the trip, not one headline price.
The buffer is not a forecastThe buffer field simply leaves room for uncertainty. There is no universal correct percentage. If most large costs are confirmed and flexible, you may want less. If much of the trip is still variable or paid on arrival, you may want more.A useful final check: once you have the total, look at the three biggest categories. That is usually where meaningful savings can actually be found.
Source and methodBudget Your Trip — Varna travel costs: an example of category-based travel-cost data and variation by travel style.Checked September 7, 2026. Default calculator values are interface examples, not current market prices.
