Countries Where the American Dollar Is Strong Right Now

Updated November 11, 2024

Frommer’s got its start in 1957 with a series of guidebooks about seeing the world on 5 dollars a day. As you might have noticed, prices have gone up a little since then.

But there are still places across the globe where U.S. travelers can get plenty of bang for their bucks. This list gathers the best options for a cost-conscious international getaway.

Unless otherwise noted, prices have been converted to U.S. dollars. 

1 USD = 20.44 Mexican pesos (2024)

The dollar goes a long way south of the border right now, meaning hotel bargains are easy to find and you can budget for gluttonous meals in the land of mole and tortas. Getting there is pretty affordable, too, with numerous airfare deals to and from major U.S. cities.

To find the biggest savings in Mexico—as well as a rich and rewarding experience—skip the been-there, done-that beach resorts along the Caribbean, heading instead for magical villages with colorful architecture, tequila tastings, natural landmarks, and mysterious ruins. Visiting cutting-edge art museums and sampling world-renowned street food in Mexico City are other worthwhile ways to put pesos to use. 

Pictured above: Guanajuato

1 USD = 4.09 złoty (2024)

A smart strategy for saving money in Europe is to travel east. Prices for hotels and airfare tend to drop as you move away from Western Europe.

In Poland, Krakow ranks fourth among Europe's most affordable places on the 2024 City Costs Barometer compiled by the U.K.'s Post Office. The city entices visitors with its castle, cathedral, and lively market square. Poland's historic capital, Warsaw (pictured above), also appears in the top 10 for affordability.

1 USD = 17.93 rand (2024)

Bucket lists are easily vanquished in South Africa, where elephants lumber through national parks, waves crash into craggy cliffs at the Cape of Good Hope, and cable cars ascend the iconic Table Mountain for dazzling views of the Atlantic Ocean and the vibrant city of Cape Town. The country also has beaches, vineyards, and, most important, penguins.

Though airfare to South Africa is usually steep, Americans benefit once they get here from a favorable exchange rate and hotel rooms that often go for less than $100 a night. Once in a lifetime? At these prices, you might be tempted to come back again and again.

1 USD = 25,329.99 dong (2024)

Prices in Vietnam are famously low. Personal finance site GoBankingRates ranks the capital, Ho Chi Minh City, among your best bets for spending less than $100 a day during a visit—and that includes hotel accommodations, restaurant meals, and transportation.

Beyond the capital's French Colonial architecture and Vietnam War landmarks, Vietnam offers similarly budget-friendly adventures on its rivers, beaches, and historic sites such as the centuries-old shops and temples of Hoi An.

1 USD = 5.78 Brazilian reais (2024)

When compared to Brazil's real, the dollar has strengthened by nearly 17% over the past year, according to an analysis of exchange rate data released by NetVoucherCodes. That gives U.S. travelers more spending power while visiting South America's largest country and its famed beaches, vibrant cities, unparalleled natural wonders, and impressive cultural landmarks.

The comparatively low prices will help offset the extra charge for Brazil's soon-to-relaunch visa requirement for tourists from the United States.

1 USD = 0.94 euro (2024)

Portugal consistently ranks among the most affordable places in Western Europe. The Iberian charmer may not be as cheap as points east, but it's a penny pincher's dream compared to, say, London or anywhere in Scandinavia.

Despite a recent rise in hotel rates, capital Lisbon came in second on the 2024 City Costs Barometer ranking of "value city breaks," and riverside Porto likewise boasts low prices for meals, drinks, and other tourist-friendly features. You'll have only your willpower to keep you from ordering extra servings of fresh seafood and locally made port.

Also easy on the wallet: rides on Lisbon's low-cost, old-timey trams (pictured above) through steep, winding streets that empty into picture-perfect plazas. And you've still got Portugal's surfing beaches, medieval villages, and monasteries to explore.

1 USD = 49.19 Egyptian pounds (2024)

A perennial dream destination for travelers, Egypt's currency has weakened against the dollar by almost 60% this year due to raised interest rates. In addition to making Nile River cruises and tours of storied ancient sites even more attractive, the favorable exchange rate puts pharaonic luxury within reach at ritzy hotels near monuments and at beach resorts in Sharm el-Sheikh next to the Red Sea.

1 USD = 998.50 Argentine pesos (2024)

Persistent economic issues have caused a dramatic devaluing of the Argentine peso in recent years. Consequently, the U.S. dollar stretches as far as the view from Mount Aconcagua. After strolling Buenos Aires's wide boulevards and stopping in at cafes and art museums, you’ll have plenty to spend on the country’s favorite reds—wine and meat—or you could put those savings toward airfare, which tends to be expensive to Argentina from North America.

You might even have room left in the budget for a trip to the Perito Moreno Glacier in Patagonia or, up along the Brazilian border, mighty Iguazu Falls (pictured above), which makes Niagara look like a trickle. 

1 USD = 15,765.63 rupiah (2024)

Indonesia’s extremely favorable exchange rate, along with residents' knack for simple, low-cost living, add up to to one of the most affordable destinations on the globe. Hotels in the Southeast Asian archipelago can be booked for less than $50 per night, and you don't have to skimp on meals, tours, and spa days, either. 

Bali—long the country’s tourism capital—ranks among the world's cheapest tourism spots, according to GoBankingRates. But for a less crowded experience, head for equally fascinating isles like Sulawesi, Lombok (pictured above), and Komodo. Adventures involving hidden temples, surfing beaches, monkey-filled forests, and giant lizards are easy to find and easy to pay for. 

1 USD = 0.94 euro (2024)

The Lithuanian capital of Vilnius tops the 2024 City Costs Barometer ranking of affordable European destinations. The city ties for the cheapest hotel rates in Europe, according to the study, and a three-course meal at a restaurant in Vilnius will cost less than half what you'd pay in Oslo, Copenhagen, or Vienna.

Quintessential European experiences like strolling cobblestoned streets and gawking at medieval buildings are easy to come by in Vilnius, especially in the oldest part of town, with its historic churches and castles. Or you can make like Russian nobility and vacation in the classic resort towns along the Baltic Sea. Lithuania's portion of the narrow Curonian Spit (the southern part belongs to Russia) is a pristine stretch of shifting sand dunes and untamed nature reserves. 

Pictured: Trakai Island Castle near Vilnius