Comparing prices in the world’s top tourist cities
Enjoy dinner, drinks, and plenty of attractions within a £100 budget.
Sydney is the top destination for entertainment and offers free access to the Harbour Bridge, Darling Harbour, and Bondi Beach.
Starling’s interactive tool makes it easy to compare the prices of the world’s most popular cities.
Starling, the leading digital bank, has created a handy interactive travel tool that shows people how far a £100 daily budget can get them in top tourist attractions around the world. With the current weakness in the value of the pound against major currencies making overseas travel more expensive, UK tourists are keen to get the best value they can from their holiday money. The new tool will allow them to compare prices of food, accommodation and entertainment in different cities around the world with a few taps.
With UK tourists spending £45.4 billion abroad in the past year alone, we are spending more money than ever on our trips away. Holidays can involve some strict budgeting to make sure funds can cover the cost of travel, accommodation, entertainment, food and drink while abroad.
Best locations for attractions
Whether you prefer a day out in a theme park or a cultural day exploring landmarks, here’s where you can experience the most culture and entertainment for the least amount of money.
Top 5 for cheap entertainment*
Location
Attraction 1
Attraction 2
Attraction 3
Attraction 4
Attraction 5
Total cost
1
Sydney
Sydney Harbour Bridge
Sydney Opera House
Bondi Beach
Darling Harbour
Port Jackson
£0
2
Santiago
San Cristóbal Hill
Santa Lucía Hill
Plaza de Armas
Parque Metropolitan o de Santiago
La Moneda Palace
£0
3
Buenos Aires
La Boca
Teatro Colón
Casa Rosada
Obelisco
Recoleta Cemetry
£0
4
Warsaw
Palace of Culture and Science
Warsaw Old Town
Łazienki Park
The Royal Castle (£6.22)
Museum of King Jan III's Palace at Wilanów (£4.15)
£10.37
5
Marrakesh
Jemaa el-Fnaa
Koutoubia Mosque
Bahia Palace (£6.34)
Jardin Majorelle (£6.01)
Saadian Tombs (£0.86)
£13.21
1
Location
Sydney
Attraction 1
Sydney Harbour Bridge
Attraction 2
Sydney Opera House
Attraction 3
Bondi Beach
Attraction 4
Darling Harbour
Attraction 5
Port Jackson
Total cost
£0
2
Location
Santiago
Attraction 1
San Cristóbal Hill
Attraction 2
Santa Lucía Hill
Attraction 3
Plaza de Armas
Attraction 4
Parque Metropolitan o de Santiago
Attraction 5
La Moneda Palace
Total cost
£0
3
Location
Buenos Aires
Attraction 1
La Boca
Attraction 2
Teatro Colón
Attraction 3
Casa Rosada
Attraction 4
Obelisco
Attraction 5
Recoleta Cemetry
Total cost
£0
4
Location
Warsaw
Attraction 1
Palace of Culture and Science
Attraction 2
Warsaw Old Town
Attraction 3
Łazienki Park
Attraction 4
The Royal Castle (£6.22)
Attraction 5
Museum of King Jan III's Palace at Wilanów (£4.15)
Total cost
£10.37
5
Location
Marrakesh
Attraction 1
Jemaa el-Fnaa
Attraction 2
Koutoubia Mosque
Attraction 3
Bahia Palace (£6.34)
Attraction 4
Jardin Majorelle (£6.01)
Attraction 5
Saadian Tombs (£0.86)
Total cost
£13.21
Where to dine
It’s important to be prepared for the average cost of dining whether you’re on a weekend break with your partner or a week-long trip with your friends. You don’t want to be stung by any surprising costs when you’re seated at a table in Buenos Aires or Johannesburg.
Best for a quick meal
Of the most popular travel cities in the world, Bangkok offers the cheapest dinner and drinks, according to the crowdsourced cost of living index, Numbeo. For a local meal and a bottle of water here, you can expect to pay just £1.84. Popular local dishes include Tom Yum Goong (spicy shrimp soup), Gaeng Daeng (red curry) and Khao Pad (fried rice).
Luxury dining on any budget
Indulging in a luxury experience doesn’t have to be expensive. A sit-down meal at an up-market restaurant and a beer or wine in Istanbul will only cost £7.03 for the experience. Here, you can indulge in an opulent, three-course meal, and still have £92.91 left over for entertainment and accommodation - continue reading to find out how you can spend that budget.
However, if you do prefer to spend a little more on your dining experience, head to Dubai in the United Arab Emirates. Here, you’ll expect to pay around £44.13 for a luxury meal. This would mean spending the night in a budget hotel and making the most of the free attractions this city has to offer, such as The Dubai Mall, Palm Jumeirah, and The Dubai Fountain.
How you can live the life of luxury on £100 a day
Which cities offer tourists the greatest luxury?
In Istanbul, you can experience the greatest variety of culture while living in luxury, as with a £100 budget, you can get a mid-range night stay, and a variety of entertainment options including visiting the Hagia Sophia Museum, Blue Mosque, Topkapi Palace Museum, Grand Bazaar and the Basilica Cistern, and taxis between all locations! Also within the budget, you can experience two luxury meals, a three-course meal, two bottles of wine, and six bottles of water, all for £97.81.
A trip to Delhi also offers a life of luxury for its guests. With exactly £100 you can visit the Red Fort, Qutub Minar, Humayun's Tomb, India Gate and the Jama Masji, enjoy a night’s stay at a mid-range hotel and eat two meals in luxury restaurants and one up-market three-course meal, paired with 6 bottles of water to deal with the day’s heat and a bottle of wine with dinner. No need to rely on public transport as you can afford taxis to transport you across the city for the day.
Most luxury for least money
City
Average hotel room cost
Average luxury meal cost
Average attraction cost
Items you can get for £100 (how many are luxury)
1
Istanbul
£18.07
£5.52
£3.92
23 (17)
2
Delhi
£15.80
£6.42
£3.21
23 (16)
3
Cairo
£14.42
£6.82
£3.96
22 (13)
4
Buenos Aires
£31.99
£19.51
£0
20 (13)
5
Marrakesh
£31.75
£9.22
£4.40
20 (12)
1
City
Istanbul
Average hotel room cost
£18.07
Average luxury meal cost
£5.52
Average attraction cost
£3.92
Items you can get for £100 (how many are luxury)
23 (17)
2
City
Delhi
Average hotel room cost
£15.80
Average luxury meal cost
£6.42
Average attraction cost
£3.21
Items you can get for £100 (how many are luxury)
23 (16)
3
City
Cairo
Average hotel room cost
£14.42
Average luxury meal cost
£6.82
Average attraction cost
£3.96
Items you can get for £100 (how many are luxury)
22 (13)
4
City
Buenos Aires
Average hotel room cost
£31.99
Average luxury meal cost
£19.51
Average attraction cost
£0
Items you can get for £100 (how many are luxury)
20 (13)
5
City
Marrakesh
Average hotel room cost
£31.75
Average luxury meal cost
£9.22
Average attraction cost
£4.40
Items you can get for £100 (how many are luxury)
20 (12)
Most expensive luxury options
City
Average hotel room cost
Average luxury meal cost
Average attraction cost
Items you can get for £100 (how many are luxury)
1
Miami
£84.26
£21.58
£22.32
10 (3)
2
Auckland
£62.66
£18.11
£15.46
10 (3)
3
New York City
£109.95
£33.40
£15.73
11 (3)
4
Los Angeles
£89.40
£36.99
£39.94
10 (4)
5
Singapore
£57.28
£22.11
£9.33
11 (6)
1
City
Miami
Average hotel room cost
£84.26
Average luxury meal cost
£21.58
Average attraction cost
£22.32
Items you can get for £100 (how many are luxury)
10 (3)
2
City
Auckland
Average hotel room cost
£62.66
Average luxury meal cost
£18.11
Average attraction cost
£15.46
Items you can get for £100 (how many are luxury)
10 (3)
3
City
New York City
Average hotel room cost
£109.95
Average luxury meal cost
£33.40
Average attraction cost
£15.73
Items you can get for £100 (how many are luxury)
11 (3)
4
City
Los Angeles
Average hotel room cost
£89.40
Average luxury meal cost
£36.99
Average attraction cost
£39.94
Items you can get for £100 (how many are luxury)
10 (4)
5
City
Singapore
Average hotel room cost
£57.28
Average luxury meal cost
£22.11
Average attraction cost
£9.33
Items you can get for £100 (how many are luxury)
11 (6)
How far can £100 take you?
Travelling the globe doesn’t have to break the bank, you can have a great holiday in the world’s greatest cities and experience what these unique and diverse cities have to offer for less than £100. Explore for yourself.