Where Does the Dollar Do Best? Frommer's Global Price Index for May 2008

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 can be a bit of 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/convert.cgi.

Blantyre, Malawi (Source: Malawi Tourism; www.malawitourism.com)

• Movie ticket: N/A
• Bus fare: 50¢
• Cup of regular coffee: $1.09-$1.27
• Bottle of local beer in a bar: Kuche Kuche, 79¢
• Moderate, three-star hotel room for two: $60-$120
• Moderate, three-course meal for one, without alcohol or tip: $11.26-$21.08
• $1= 137.55 Malawi Kwachas

Calgary, Alberta (Source: Tourism Calgary; www.tourismcalgaray.com)

• Movie ticket: $9.34-$12.28
• Bus/subway fare: $2.45; train transport in downtown is free
• Cup of regular coffee: $2.94
• Bottle of local beer in a bar: Big Rock Brewery, $5.16
• Moderate, three-star hotel room for two: $126.83-$245.79
• Moderate, three-course meal for one, without alcohol or tip: $24.57
• $1=$1.01 CAD

Cincinnati, Ohio (Source: Cincinnati Convention & Visitors Bureau; www.cincyusa.com)

• Movie ticket: $8
• Bus fare: 75¢
• Cup of regular coffee: .95
• Pint of local beer in a bar: Rock Bottom Brewery, $4
• Moderate, three-star hotel room for two: $119
• Moderate, three-course meal for one, without alcohol or tip: $26.93

Constanta, Romania (Source: Romania Tourism; www.romaniatourism.com)

• Movie ticket: $6
• Bus fare: $1.10
• Cup of regular coffee: $1.75
• Bottle of local beer in a bar: Ursus, $1.75
• Moderate, three-star hotel room for two: $55-$110
• Moderate, three-course meal for one, without alcohol or tip: $18
• $1= 2.36 Romania Lei

Juneau, Alaska (Source: Juneau Convention & Visitors Bureau; www.traveljuneau.com)

• Movie ticket: $9.50
• Bus fare: $1.25
• Cup of regular coffee: $1.25
• Bottle of local beer in a bar: Alaskan, $4.50
• Moderate, three-star hotel room for two: $179-$215
• Moderate, three-course meal for one, without alcohol or tip: $27

Kathmandu, Nepal (Source: Nepal Tourism Board; www.welcomenepal.com)

• Movie ticket: $3.08
• Bus fare: 13¢-18¢
• Cup of regular coffee: 23¢
• Bottle of local beer in a bar: $4.62
• Moderate, three-star hotel room for two: $15.40
• Moderate, three-course meal for one, without alcohol or tip: $1.23-$3.85
• $1=64.90 Nepal Rupees

Lucerne, Switzerland (Source: Switzerland Tourism; www.myswitzerlandtourism.com)

• Movie ticket: $15.30
• Bus/subway fare: $1.91
• Cup of regular coffee: $3.63
• Bottle of local beer in a bar: Eichhof, $3.63
• Moderate, three-star hotel room for two: $181.69-$229.51
• Moderate, three-course meal for one, without alcohol or tip: $47.81
• $1= 1.04 Switzerland Francs

Port of Spain, Trinidad & Tobago (Source: Trinidad and Tobago Tourism Development Company; www.gotrinidadandtobago.com)

• Movie ticket: $7
• Bus/subway fare: 40¢-$2
• Cup of regular coffee: $1.30
• Bottle of local beer in a bar: Carib, $1.30
• Moderate, three-star hotel room for two: $121
• Moderate, three-course meal for one, without alcohol or tip: $18
• $1=6.25 Trinidad and Tobago Dollars

Tokyo, Japan (Source: Japan National Tourist Organization; www.jnto.go.jp)

• Movie ticket: $12.52
• Bus/subway fare: $1.54
• Cup of regular coffee: $2.69
• Pint of local beer in a bar: Kirin lager, $4.33
• Moderate, three-star hotel room for two: $300
• Moderate, three-course meal for one, without alcohol or tip: $28.90
• $1= 103.75 Japan yen

Valparaiso, Chile (Source: Tourism Chile; www.visit-chile.org)

• Movie ticket: $8.22
• Bus/subway fare: 82¢-90¢
• Cup of regular coffee: Information not provided
• Bottle of local beer in a bar: Escudo, $2.59
• Moderate, three-star hotel room for two: $60
• Moderate, three-course meal for one, without alcohol or tip: $26
• $1= 461.90 Chile Pesos

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