Cultural hotspot named cheapest destination in the world

For those who are being careful with money, you will be keen to know where to go on holiday next thanks to new research.

By Chloe Dobinson, Lifestyle Reporter

Clock Tower at Sardar Market in Jodhpur

India was ranked as the cheapest in the world (Image: Getty)

If you're a keen traveller then you will know it can cost a pretty penny each time you go away.

However, for those who can't help but explore what the world has to offer and all without breaking the bank you'll be keen to know new research has found the cheapest destinations in the world.

Research, compiled by Go.Compare, looked at 2023 Travelpac data on UK holidaymakers’ expenditure and nights spent in over 30 countries.

Go.Compare and then calculate the destinations where travellers spend the most and least per night.

The comparison site then separated the research into two categories - Europe and the rest of the world.

New Zealand

New Zealand was ranked fourth on the list (Image: Getty)

They found Poland and Spain have been named among the cheapest destinations in Europe to go on holiday.

Researchers found that travellers spend an average of £72 per night while visiting Poland, equivalent to £1,000 over two weeks - less than anywhere else in the continent.

Meanwhile, Spain also ranked in the top 10, with travellers spending an average of £91 per night during their visit. This is equal to £1,278 over a fortnight.

Portugal, Sweden, Hungary and Turkey are also named in the list. This makes them good options for those looking to take an affordable break while living costs remain high.

However, overall they found India as the cheapest holiday destination with travellers spending £62 per night on average.

Porto Cristo, Majorca, Spain on a sunny summers day

Spain was ranked as the cheapest in Europe (Image: Getty)

This is equal to only £878 for two weeks, making it an extremely low-cost break for travellers once they step off the plane. However, the high cost of flying to India likely makes it a less realistic option for UK travellers.

The top 10 cheapest destinations with the average cost per night are:

  1. India - £62.73
  2. Poland - £72.02
  3. Turkey - £85.51
  4. New Zealand - £85.94
  5. Thailand - £86.15
  6. Australia - £89.00
  7. Spain - £91.30
  8. Portugal - £93.68
  9. Sweden - £96.17
  10. Hungary - £98.60

At the other end of the scale, nordic countries like Iceland and Finland are the most expensive to visit on holiday.

Based on the figures, those looking to keep costs low should avoid all four of these countries.


Iceland was named as being the priciest of them all. The average expenditure in this country is over £200 per night, which comes to £2,890 over two weeks - £1,882 more than a fortnight in Poland.

Switzerland was found to be the most expensive destination outside of the Nordic region, where holidaymakers’ average expenditure is £173.56 per night - £2,428 across a two-week break.

Meanwhile, the United States of America is the most expensive country outside of Europe, where travellers spend an average of £157 per night, equal to £2,206 across a fortnight.

Rhys Jones, travel expert at Go.Compare, said: “Times have been tight over the last few years, but you still deserve some time off and it’s not impossible to travel on a budget. Looking into which destinations are cheapest once you arrive can help you identify which places will get you the most value for money.

“Poland and Spain look to be the best options for holidaymakers looking to keep costs down, as they’re not too far to travel and offer relatively low expenditure once you arrive.

"Although, plenty of other European destinations can make good options, too. It might be best to avoid the Nordic countries, as these tend to be on the more expensive end of the scale, particularly Iceland and Finland."

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