Getting from point A to point B is only part of the equation now. With the dollar's fluctuating value, there can be both sticker shock and awe while traveling -- best know before you go. 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.
Alice Springs, Australia (Source: Tourism Australia; www.australia.com)
- Movie ticket: $10.55
- Bus/subway fare: $1.45
- Cup of regular coffee: $2.91
- Pint of local beer in a bar: Victoria Bitter, $3.49
- Moderate, three-star hotel room for two: $85.60
- Moderate, three-course meal for one, without alcohol or tip: $27.32
- $1=A$1.37
Encarnacion, Paraguay (Source: Paraguay Tourism; www.senatur.gov.py)
- Movie ticket: $2.96
- Bus fare: 41¢
- Cup of regular coffee: 59¢
- Pint of local beer in a bar: Brahma, 98¢
- Moderate, three-star hotel room for two: $39.48-$49.35
- Moderate, three-course meal for one, without alcohol or tip: $5.92
- $1= 5,065 Paraguay Guarini
Ghent, Belgium (Source: Visit Flanders; www.visitflanders.us)
- Movie ticket: $11.30
- Bus/subway fare: $2.25
- Cup of regular coffee: $1.99
- Bottle of local beer in a bar: Jupiter, $1.99-$3.32
- Moderate, three-star hotel room for two: $86.26-$132.69
- Moderate, three-course meal for one, without alcohol or tip: $39.80
- $1=€.75
Lloydminster, Saskatchewan (Source: Lloydminster Tourism; www.lloydminstertourism.ca)
- Movie ticket: $8.33
- Bus/subway fare: N/A
- Cup of regular coffee: $1.08
- Pint of local beer in a bar: Great Western, $4.70
- Moderate, three-star hotel room for two: $99.99
- Moderate, three-course meal for one, without alcohol or tip: $25.41
- $1=C$1.20
Montgomery, Alabama (Source: Alabama Tourism Department; www.alabama.travel)
- Movie ticket: $7.50-$9
- Trolley/bus fare: 50¢-$1
- Cup of regular coffee: $1.50
- Bottle of local beer in a bar: Riverboat Red, $3.25
- Moderate, three-star hotel room for two: $70-$90
- Moderate, three-course meal for one, without alcohol or tip: $20
Oulu, Finland (Source: Oulu City Tourist Office; www.oulutourism.fi/en)
- Movie ticket: $11.96
- Bus fare: $3.85
- Cup of regular coffee: $2.12
- Bottle of local beer in a bar: Koff, $5.31
- Moderate, three-star hotel room for two: $106.35
- Moderate, three-course meal for one, without alcohol or tip: $33.23
- $1=€.75
San Juan del Sur, Nicaragua (Source: Nicaragua Tourism Promotion; www.visitnicaragua.com)
- Movie ticket: $2.67
- Bus fare: 12¢
- Cup of regular coffee: 49¢
- Bottle of local beer in a bar: Tona, 75¢
- Moderate, three-star hotel room for two: $50
- Moderate, three-course meal for one, without alcohol or tip: $15
- $1= 20.16 Nicaragua Cordobas
Tucson, Arizona (Source: Metropolitan Tucson Convention & Visitors Bureau; www.visittucson.org)
- Movie ticket: $9
- Bus fare: $2
- Cup of regular coffee: $1.75
- Pint of local beer in a bar: Nimbus, $3.70
- Moderate, three star hotel room for two: $69-$119
- Moderate, three-course meal for one, without alcohol or tip: $26-$35
Tumon, Guam (Source: Guam Visitors Bureau; www.visitguam.org)
- Movie ticket: $8.75
- Bus fare: $1
- Cup of regular coffee: $2.50
- Bottle of local beer in a bar: Jeff's Pirates Cove, $3.50
- Moderate, three-star hotel room for two: $65-$149
- Moderate, three-course meal for one, without alcohol or tip: $19.50-$24.00
