Getting from point A to point B is only part of the equation now. In the face of the dollar's declining value worldwide against foreign currencies, there is a bit of a sticker shock while traveling. To demonstrate where you can get the most bang for your buck, this monthly index compares the costs of common consumer goods around the globe. Conversions are calculated using www.xe.com/ucc.
Cairo, Egypt (Source: Egypt Tourist Authority; www.egypttourism.org)
- Movie ticket: $2.59
- Bus or subway fare: 17¢
- Cup of regular coffee: 34¢-51¢
- Bottle of local beer in bar: Ahram, $3.46
- Moderate, three-star hotel room for two: $17.31
- Moderate three-course dinner for one: $12.11
- Exchange: $1 = 6.86 Egypt Pounds
Columbus, OH (Source: Columbus Visitors and Convention Bureau; www.experiencecolumbus.com)
- Movie ticket: $6
- Bus or subway fare: $1.25
- Cup of regular coffee: $1.50
- Pint of local beer in a bar: Barleys' Brew Pub, $4
- Moderate, three-star hotel room for two: $99
- Moderate, three-course dinner for one, without alcohol or tip: $19
- Exchange: $1 = $1
Halifax, Nova Scotia (Source: Destination Halifax; www.destinationhalifax.com)
- Movie ticket: $8.46
- Bus or subway fare: $1.61
- Cup of regular coffee: .80-$1.20
- Bottle of local beer in bar: Keith's, $3.22
- Moderate, three-star hotel room for two: $75.78-$120.93
- Moderate, three-course dinner for one, without alcohol or tip: $25.79-$29.83
- Exchange: $1 = CAD$1.24
Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia (Source: Tourism Malaysia; www.tourism.gov.my)
- Movie ticket: $2.63
- Bus/subway fare: 31¢
- Cup of regular coffee: 15¢-21¢
- Bottle of local beer in bar: No local beer; Carlberg, $3.42
- Moderate, three-star hotel for two: $31.57
- Moderate, three-star dinner for one, without alcohol or tip: $14.47-$17.10
- Exchange: $1 = 3.80 Malaysian Ringgits
Lisbon, Portugal (Source: Lisbon Tourism Association; www.visitlisboa.com)
- Movie ticket: $7.13
- Bus/subway fare: 83¢-$1.42
- Cup of regular coffee: 59¢
- Bottle of local beer in bar: Super-Bock, $1.30
- Moderate, three-start hotel room for two: $142.74
- Moderate, three-course dinner for one, without alcohol or tip: $24.98
- Exchange: $1 = .84€
Los Angeles, California (Source: Los Angeles Convention and Visitors Bureau; www.lacvb.com)
- Movie Ticket: $9
- Bus or subway fare: $3
- Cup of regular coffee: $1.65
- Pint of local beer in bar: Gordon Biersch, $5
- Moderate, three-star hotel for two: $70-$220
- Moderate, three-course dinner for one, without alcohol or tip: $28.
- Exchange: $1 = $1
Melbourne, Australia (Source: Melbourne Convention and Visitors Bureau; www.mcvb.com.au)
- Movie ticket: $11.12
- Bus or subway fare: $2.29
- Bottle of local beer in a bar: Victoria Bitter, $3.70-$5.90
- Moderate, three-star hotel for two: $88.95-$111.19
- Moderate, three-course dinner for one, without alcohol or tip: $28.91-$40.77
- Exchange: $1 = $1.34 Australia dollars
Prague, Czech Republic (Source: Czech Tourist Authority; www.czechtourism.com)
- Movie Ticket: $4.75
- Bus or subway fare: 59¢
- Cup of regular coffee: $1.18
- Bottle of local beer: Pilsner Urquell, 59¢
- Moderate, three-star hotel room for two: $79.21-$158.43
- Moderate, three-course dinner for one without alcohol or tip: $8.31
- Exchange: $1 = 25.21 Czech crowns
San Juan, Puerto Rico (Source: Puerto Rico Tourism Company; www.gotopuertorico.com)
- Movie ticket: $5.50
- Bus or subway fare: $1.50 subway; 50¢ bus
- Cup of regular coffee: 75¢-$1.00
- Bottle of local beer in a bar: Medalla, $1.25-$2.25
- Moderate, three-star hotel room for two: $120-$300
- Moderate, three-course dinner for one, without alcohol or tip: $40-$50.
- Exchange: $1US = $1US
Shanghai, China (Source: U.S. Embassy of the Republic of China; www.china-embassy.org)
- Movie ticket: $3.02-$3.62
- Bus/subway fare: 12¢-36¢
- Cup of regular coffee: $2.41
- Bottle of local beer in a bar: Tiger, 36¢
- Moderate, three-star hotel for two: $45.91
- Moderate, three-course dinner for one, without alcohol or tip: $6.04-$12.08
- Exchange: $1 = 8.28 Chinese yen
We'd like to hear your feedback regarding this column. Just click over to our Frommers.com Feedback Boards and tell us what you think.
