Short answer: Traveling in the United States, plan on roughly $100–150 per person per day on a hostel, transit and food-truck budget, $250–400 in a mid-range hotel shared by two with restaurant meals, tax and tip and a paid attraction or two, and from about $600 for upscale hotels, fine dining and shows. A week therefore costs about $700–1,050, $1,750–2,800 or from about $4,200 per person, before flights. For a reality check, overseas visitors spent an average of $1,829 each during their stay in 2025, over 16.9 nights, according to the US government’s National Travel and Tourism Office.
The United States is one of the more expensive countries to travel in, and two habits surprise many visitors: most prices are shown before sales tax, and tipping is expected for table service, so the final bill is often 25–30% higher than the menu. Costs also vary hugely by place. A hotel room in New York costs about twice the national average, while the South, the Midwest and smaller cities are much cheaper, and many of the best sights, from the Smithsonian museums to most national park land, are free or cost little. This guide breaks it all down with figures from official sources, so you can build a realistic budget for your own trip to the United States. All prices are in US dollars; our Money exchange tool converts them into your own currency.
United States daily costs at a glance
These example days are built from the prices further down this page: one person, one day in a big city such as Chicago, New Orleans or Washington, D.C. They leave out flights and souvenirs. In New York City and San Francisco, expect the top of each range or more.
| Per person, per day | Budget | Mid-range | Comfort |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bed | Hostel dorm bed, or half of a motel room outside the center: $40–70 | Half of a mid-range hotel room at about $160–330 with tax: $90–190 | Half of an upscale hotel room: from about $350 |
| Food | Diners, food trucks and supermarket meals, with tax and tip: $30–45 | Breakfast, a casual lunch and half of an $80 dinner for two, plus tax, tip and a drink: $70–100 | Fine dining and bars: about $150 |
| Transport | Subway, bus or a transit day pass: $5–15 | Half of a rental car with gas and parking, or rideshares: $30–60 | Taxis, car service or a domestic flight leg: about $60 |
| Sights | Free museums, parks and walks: $0–20 | One paid museum, tour or park entry: $30–60 | Shows, guided tours and observation decks: from about $80 |
| Total | About $100–150 | About $250–400 | From about $600 |
Hotel averages come from CoStar’s 2025 hotel data; entry fees and fares are official 2026 prices; meal prices are typical October 2026 national averages from the crowd-sourced Numbeo index, before tax and tip; the daily totals are the same planning ranges used in our United States guide. Treat them as typical ranges, not quotes.
What visitors actually spend in the United States
The National Travel and Tourism Office (NTTO), part of the US Department of Commerce, surveys international air travelers. In 2025, the average overseas visitor stayed 16.9 nights and spent $1,829 while in the United States. That is only about $108 a night, because many overseas visitors stay with friends or family or travel for long periods; travelers on a typical one- or two-week vacation in hotels spend much more per day.
Our Travel costs by country scale uses the United States as the yardstick: it is 100, and every other country is measured against it. Canada scores 108 and the United Kingdom 114, so visitors from those countries will find US travel prices broadly similar to home, while Mexico (69) and most of Latin America and Asia are far cheaper. Within the country, the gap between expensive coastal cities and the rest is wider than between many countries.
Accommodation costs
Hotels are the biggest cost of most US trips. According to CoStar’s hotel data, the average US hotel room cost $160.54 a night in 2025, before taxes and fees. City averages were much higher in some places:
| Market | Average daily rate, 2025 |
|---|---|
| United States, all hotels | $160.54 |
| New York City | $333.71 |
| San Francisco | $225.82 |
| Las Vegas | $199.79, before resort fees |
Budget travelers can find hostel beds in the big cities and motels along highways and on the edges of towns, which are usually the cheapest private rooms. National park lodges and gateway towns such as those near Yellowstone, Yosemite and the Grand Canyon book out months ahead and charge peak prices in summer. Hotel bills carry their own taxes, and many hotels, above all in Las Vegas, add a mandatory daily resort or destination fee; see the taxes section below.
Food and drink costs
Numbeo’s October 2026 national figures show a meal at an inexpensive restaurant at about $20 and a three-course dinner for two at a mid-range restaurant, without drinks, at about $80. A half-liter of draft beer costs about $6 and a cappuccino about $5.50. Remember that these are menu prices: add sales tax and an 18–22% tip for table service, and an $80 dinner for two becomes about $100–105.
To eat well for less, look for food trucks, diners, food halls, taquerías and lunch specials, and pick up breakfast and picnic food at supermarkets. Tap water is free and safe to drink, and restaurants serve it without being asked.
Getting around: transit, car hire, trains and flights
- City transit: good and cheap in a handful of cities. As of October 2026, the New York subway costs $3 a ride by tapping a card or phone, the Washington Metro sells a one-day pass for $13.50, and San Francisco’s historic cable cars cost $9 a ride. Most other cities are built for cars, so budget for rideshares.
- Car hire: the only practical way to see most national parks, the West and the South. Rental rates are highest in summer and at holiday weekends; add taxes, insurance if you need it, and city parking, which can be expensive. Regular gasoline averaged $4.35 a gallon nationally in early October 2026, according to the US Energy Information Administration.
- Domestic flights: the fastest way to cover long distances, such as coast to coast. Basic economy fares often exclude a full-size carry-on and seat selection, so compare total prices.
- Trains and buses: Amtrak is useful along the Northeast Corridor between Washington, Philadelphia, New York and Boston, and long-distance trains are a scenic, slower option. Intercity buses are the cheapest way between cities.
Sightseeing fees and free things to do
The National Park Service runs 63 national parks and hundreds of other sites. Most are free; only some charge an entrance fee, typically $20–35 per vehicle for seven days. In 2026, the NPS introduced separate prices for non-US residents. As of October 2026:
| Sight or pass | Price | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Grand Canyon, Yosemite or Yellowstone, private vehicle | $35 | Valid for seven days |
| Non-resident fee at 11 popular parks | $100 per person aged 16 and over | Includes Grand Canyon, Yellowstone, Yosemite, Zion, Glacier and Everglades, unless you hold an annual pass |
| America the Beautiful annual pass | $80 for US residents, $250 for non-residents | Covers entrance fees at all federal recreation sites for a year |
| Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island ferry | $26 adult | Statue City Cruises is the only authorized operator |
| Alcatraz day tour, San Francisco | $47.95 adult | Sold only by Alcatraz City Cruises; can sell out weeks ahead |
| Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York | $30 adult | Free for children 12 and under |
| Smithsonian museums, Washington, D.C. | Free | The Air and Space Museum needs free timed passes |
| US Capitol tour, Washington Monument | Free; Monument tickets carry a $1 reservation fee | Book ahead |
If you plan to visit several of the fee-charging parks, the annual pass pays for itself quickly, especially for non-residents, since it also covers the $100 per-person charge. Free fun is everywhere: walking the National Mall, Central Park, the Brooklyn Bridge, the French Quarter and Chicago’s lakefront, the beaches of California and Florida, scenic drives and hiking trails, and free museum days in many cities.
Taxes and visitor fees
- Sales tax: there is no national sales tax or VAT; states, counties and cities add their own at the till, typically about 6–10%. New York City’s combined rate is 8.875%, and Los Angeles’ rose to 10.25% on October 1, 2026. Five states have no statewide sales tax: Alaska, Delaware, Montana, New Hampshire and Oregon. Visitors cannot claim it back.
- Hotel taxes: often 13–19% in total once state, city and tourism taxes are added, sometimes with a flat charge per night.
- Resort and destination fees: mandatory daily charges at many hotels. Since May 12, 2025, a Federal Trade Commission rule requires hotels to show the total price, including such fees, up front.
- ESTA: visitors from Visa Waiver Program countries pay $40.27 for the travel authorization, rising to $40.62 from October 16, 2026. Apply only on the official site, esta.cbp.dhs.gov.
- Park fees: see the table above, including the $100 non-resident fee.
Tipping in the United States
Tipping is part of the price in the US, because in many states servers and bartenders earn a low base wage. Typical amounts: 18–22% of the bill before tax for table service, unless a service charge is already included; $1–2 a drink at a bar; $2–5 a night for hotel housekeeping and $1–2 a bag for porters; and 15–20% for tour guides and taxi or rideshare drivers. Tip screens at counters are optional. Our tip calculator does the sums for you.
Money-saving tips for the United States
- Mix big and small places. A few nights in Chicago, New Orleans, Nashville or San Antonio cost much less than the same time in New York or San Francisco. Our United States itinerary has routes for one and two weeks.
- Travel in spring or fall. Late spring and September to October, after Labor Day, bring lower prices at parks and beaches than summer. See our best time to visit the United States guide.
- Buy the annual park pass if you will visit three or more fee-charging parks, or any as a non-resident.
- Eat a big lunch, when many restaurants offer specials, and use supermarkets for breakfast.
- Skip the car in cities with good transit, and rent one only for the national park and road-trip parts of your trip.
- Compare total hotel prices, including taxes, resort fees and parking.
For help choosing where to go, see our list of the top places to visit in the United States.
Plan your trip: our free trip planner can build a day-by-day plan for the United States from our guides, including New York City, Washington, D.C., Las Vegas and the Grand Canyon. Then use the Money exchange tool to turn dollars into your own currency, and the Destination weather tool to pick your dates.
Frequently asked questions
How much money do I need for a week in the United States?
Using the example days above, seven days cost roughly $700–1,050 per person on a tight budget, $1,750–2,800 mid-range, and from about $4,200 in comfort, before flights. A week in New York or San Francisco sits at the top of each range; a road trip through the South or the Midwest can come in lower.
Is the United States expensive to visit?
Yes, compared with most of the world, mainly because of hotels, eating out once tax and tip are added, and car rental. The average hotel room cost about $161 a night in 2025, and $334 in New York City. Free museums, parks and cheap food trucks help balance the budget.
Do I need cash in the United States?
Very little. Cards and tap-to-pay are accepted almost everywhere, including on the subways and buses of the big cities. Carry some small bills for tips, food trucks and the occasional cash-only bar.
Are taxes included in US prices?
Usually not. Shelf and menu prices are shown before sales tax, which is added at the till, typically about 6–10%. Hotels add higher taxes, and tips for table service are on top of that.
How much are national park fees for foreign visitors?
As of October 2026, entry is typically $20–35 per vehicle for seven days at parks that charge, and non-US residents aged 16 and over pay an extra $100 at 11 of the most popular parks, including Grand Canyon, Yellowstone and Yosemite. The $250 non-resident annual pass covers both.
What is the cheapest time to visit the United States?
It depends on the place. National parks and beaches are cheapest outside the summer school holidays, especially in late spring and fall, while big cities often have their best hotel deals in January and February. Avoid holiday weekends, such as Thanksgiving, July 4 and Labor Day, if price matters most.