United States

Lodging
Lodging in the United States is actually quite expensive compared to most other countries, especially in regard to Airbnb’s.

Hotels: (average Cost: $171 a night)
– American hotels often come with all the regular bells and whistles (Wi-Fi, cribs, shampoo, towels, etc.) that you would expect when traveling in a developed country. They are usually kid friendly and actually tend to be less expensive than an Airbnb. Don’t let the average cost per night fool you either, as you can find a ton of $65–100 hotels throughout the states.
– For more information prices for low, mid and high-end accommodations, check out our Guide to American Hotels to American hotels.
Airbnb: (Average Cost: $216 a night)
– Be warned that there may be some huge hidden fees when trying to book an Airbnb in America. Cleaning fees are one of the worst culprits, since a lot of the Airbnb’s use cleaning companies that charge a hefty fee, which the Airbnb owners will then pass on to you.
– Don’t cast Airbnb aside however, as you can still find a ton of great deals with hosts that actually provide you with what is supposed to be the Airbnb experience.
Hostel: (Average cost: $35 a night)
– Hostels are great if you are traveling by yourself or even with others (as long as you do not have kids). They also can provide some of the cheapest places to stay with some of the best locations.
Camping: (Average cost: $30 a night, $50 for an RV spot)
– The US has no shortage of amazing campsites and camping is a great way to have a place to have a cheap and safe place to sleep while traveling. It also comes with the added bonus of being close to nature and as well as providing unique experiences.
– “Glamping” with an RV you either own or have rented is also a semi cheap option to choose from, and some of the best RV camping in the world comes from different areas throughout the United States.
– Be aware that like hotel rooms, campsites can be significantly more expensive due to their location to certain attractions and camping in the United States can get expensive pretty quickly.
– “Dispersed Camping” is legal in certain areas, most notably in areas owned by the public. This is the absolute cheapest and most authentic way to camp since there are usually no fees and for the most part, amenity free as well.

As always, Traveldex suggests comparing all the different types of lodging in order to find the best locations and prices. Narrowing your search on the Traveldex Map above to the specific city can also provide more information and suggestions.

Meals
Food/drink is one of the most important aspects of any trip and gives you the energy you need to be happy and healthy during your travels. In the United States eating out can get pretty expensive, and also comes with the added price of Americas tipping culture … Groceries on the other hand are not as expensive and can make traveling less expensive.
Groceries: (around $45-139 a week)
– You can buy groceries at any grocery store or even gas station; however, the more focused that store is towards supplying only food items the cheaper they tend to be. Furthermore, “organic ” stores and items in stores tend to cost significantly more than their non-organic counterparts.
– Most American grocery stores will have a reduced section, or stickers placed on objects to be sold at reduced prices (most of the time these items are going to expire in the next couple days). These areas are a good opportunity to buy things at a significantly lower price, since you are most likely going to be using that product in a short amount of time. HERE is a guide on how to find these places and other tips in regard to groceries stores in the US.
– Here are some suggestions for meals you can make at a hotel or rental with a kitchen.
Restaurant: (average Cost: $13.6 a person)
– The United States is home to the largest variety of restaurants in the world, you can find almost any type of food in any city.
– Not tipping is considered rude, and 15-20% is considered the norm.
– Make sure a tip is not already added to your bill before you decide to add one yourself.
Fast Food: (Cost: $5-16 a person)
– Fast food can be an efficient and cheap way to grab a meal before going out on your next adventure, although some menu items can add up fast.
– HERE is a guide on getting good fast-food deals and free addons.
Uber Eats/Delivery: (average Cost Varies)
– Uber eats is quite expensive no matter where you travel to, but knowing some simple tips might help reduce this cost and can even, if given the right circumstances, make it a cheap route to go.
– Some chain restaurants in the United States provide a cheap way to get a large amount of food at a cheap price.

Transportation
Traveling by car is the superior method of traveling within a state while flying between states is usually the better route. The freedom of being able to travel to anywhere in the country is much needed due to 97% of the USA being made up of rural areas, and a car is the only way to have that freedom. The public transportation is not as robust as some other countries, although there are some inter city and state bus lines. Also, there are few trains nationwide, and they are not as fast or efficient for traveling as other developed countries.

Car Rental: ($81 per day)
– There are many different places to rent cars from, and prices vary widely from city to city. Traveldex suggests getting as many price checks as possible before making a decision. Furthermore, the age of the driver also greatly influences the cost of renting a vehicle.
– Click HERE for more information and tips in regard to renting a vehicle in the United States.
– You can also click HERE for a comparison tool of many different car rental companies all in one place.
RV/Camper Rental: ($75-250 per day)
– Campers vary greatly by location and type of RV. For more information regarding renting an RV in the United States click HERE.
Rideshares/Uber: (Average Ride Cost: around $25)
– Rideshares like Uber and Lyft tend to be more expensive here than in most other countries. They can also be more expensive than taxis sometimes due to different circumstances.
– For money saving tips and tricks on using a rideshare like Uber or Lyft click HERE.
– It is worth looking into alternatives to rideshares alternatives to rideshares if you just need transportation from the airport to a hotel and back.
Public Transportation: ($0-10 a day)
– Public transportation is not too useful unless you are in a bigger city, but if you are in a bigger city, it is definitely the way to go! They are usually pretty cheap, while some cities even have free public transportation which can be a nice way to save a few bucks, while maximizing your ability to see everything you want to.

Gas Vehicles: (Average Cost of gas: $3.49 a gallon)
– The cost of gas varies greatly throughout the country, but the main theme is that being right next to the interstate/highway and being in a bigger city will lead to higher prices.
– Gas Stations tend to be cheaper if they come from a casino or big chain grocery store (like Fred Meyers). The reason for this is that they make back their money by enticing people to either gamble or shop at their stores.
– Gas tends to be significantly cheaper than in Europe due to the prevalence of car ownership and the abundance of America’s oil reserves/trade agreements.
– Gas usually gets more expensive during the summer months: (June, July, August)
– You can find a map of some of the cheaper gas stations HERE.

Electric Vehicles:
– Some of the charging stations in America tend to not be free to use and you will have to pay, although there are a lot of free charging stations out there.
– Charging stations are more common around bigger cities, and central American states tend to have less charging stations and longer distances in between cities. Make sure to map out your route beforehand and ensure adequate charging stations are accessible.
– Some charging stations can be inoperable due to many circumstances, so looking at reviews online forehand is suggested.