Where Does the Dollar Do Best? Frommer's Global Price Index for January 2009

Getting from point A to point B is only part of the equation now. In the face of the dollar's fluctuations, there can be 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 cost of common consumer goods around the globe. Conversions are calculated using www.xe.com/ucc/convert.cgi.

Christiansted, St. Croix (Source: U.S. Virgin Islands Department of Tourism; www.usvitourism.vi)

• Movie ticket: $7
• Bus fare: $1
• Cup of regular coffee: $1.50
• Pint of local beer in a bar: Blackbeard's Ale, $4
• Moderate, three-star hotel room for two: $155-$180
• Moderate, three-course meal for one, without alcohol or tip: $31.50

Espoo, Finland (Source: Visit Finland; www.visitfinland.com)

• Movie ticket: $12.71
• Bus fare: $3.53
• Cup of regular coffee: $2.82
• Bottle of local beer in a bar: Koff, $3.53
• Moderate, three-star hotel room for two: $127.14
• Moderate, three-course meal for one, without alcohol or tip: $45.20
• $1= €.71

Guayaquil, Ecuador (Source: Ecuador Tourist Board; www.ecuadortouristboard.com)

• Movie ticket: $5
• Bus/subway fare: 25¢
• Cup of regular coffee: 50¢-$1
• Can of local beer in a bar: Pilsener, 90¢
• Moderate, three-star hotel room for two: $40-$70
• Moderate, three-course meal for one, without alcohol or tip: $8-$15

Hong Kong (Source: Hong Kong Tourism Board; www.discoverhongkong.com)

• Movie ticket: $6.41-$9.67
• Bus/subway fare: 28¢-$3.22
• Cup of regular coffee: $2.83
• Bottle of local beer in a bar: San Miguel, $1.93-$3.22
• Moderate, three-star hotel room for two: $67.74-$89.80
• Moderate, three-course meal for one, without alcohol or tip: $45.15-$51.61
• $1= 7.75 Hong Kong Dollars

Jerash, Jordan (Source: Jordan Tourism Board North America; www.na.visitjordan.com)

• Movie ticket: $7.07-$9.90
• Bus fare: $1.41
• Cup of regular coffee: $1.41-$4.24
• Bottle of local beer in a bar: , $2.82
• Moderate, three-star hotel room for two: $84.86
• Moderate, three-course meal for one, without alcohol or tip: $21.21
• $1= .70 Jordanian Dinars

Providence, Rhode Island (Source: Providence Warwick Convention & Visitors Bureau; www.goprovidence.com)

• Movie ticket: $9
• Bus/trolley fare: $1.75
• Cup of regular coffee: $1.85
• Bottle of local beer in a bar: Trinity IPA, $4
• Moderate, three-star hotel room for two: $169
• Moderate, three-course meal for one, without alcohol or tip: $30

Pusan, South Korea (Source: Korea Tourism Organization; http://kto.visitkorea.or.kr)

• Movie ticket: $5-$6
• Bus/subway fare: $1
• Cup of regular coffee: $3
• Bottle of local beer in a bar: OB, $1.50
• Moderate, three-star hotel room for two: $80-$90
• Moderate, three-course meal for one, without alcohol or tip: Information not provided
• $1= 1,268 South Korea Won

Shreveport, Louisiana (Source: Shreveport-Bossier Convention & Tourist Bureau; www.louisianasotherside.com)

• Movie ticket: $8
• Bus fare: $1.25
• Cup of regular coffee: $1.80
• Bottle of local beer in a bar: Abita, $4
• Moderate, three-star hotel room for two: $80-$90
• Moderate, three-course meal for one, without alcohol or tip: $39

Valencia, Spain (Source: Tourist Office of Spain; www.spain.info/us/tourspain)

• Movie ticket: $8.43
• Bus/subway fare: $2.10
• Cup of espresso: $1.75
• Half pint of local beer in a bar: Cerveza Turia, $2.81
• Moderate, three-star hotel room for two: $84.39-$126.59
• Moderate, three-course meal for one, without alcohol or tip: $35.16
• $1=€.71