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 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/convert.cgi.
Bern, Switzerland (Source: Switzerland Tourism; www.switzerland.com)
- Movie ticket: $12.95
- Bus/tram fare: $1.53-$2.59
- Cup of regular coffee: $2.83-$3.64
- Glass of local beer in a bar: Gurten Bier, $3.23-$4.04
- Moderate, three-star hotel room for two: $108.40-$194.15
- Moderate, three-course dinner for one, without alcohol or tip: $32.35-$56.62
- $1=1.23 Swiss francs
Birmingham, Alabama (Source: Greater Birmingham Convention and Visitors Bureau; www.thediversecity.org)
- Movie ticket: $8
- Bus fare: $1.25
- Cup of regular coffee: $1.39
- Bottle of local beer in a bar: Red Mountain, $2
- Moderate, three-star hotel room for two: $99
- Moderate, three-course dinner for one, without alcohol or tip: $26.85
Busan, Republic of Korea (Source: Korea National Tourism Organization; http://english.tour2korea.com)
- Movie ticket: $6.30
- Bus/subway fare: 94¢-$1.15
- Cup of regular coffee: $2.62
- Bottle of local beer in a bar: Hite, $3.15
- Moderate, three-star hotel room for two: $73.54-$105.06
- Moderate, three-course dinner for one, without alcohol or tip: $21.01-$31.51
- $1= 951.74 South Korea Won
Kigali, Rwanda (Source: Rwanda Tourist Board; www.rwandatourism.com)
- Movie ticket: $2.72
- Bus fare: 27¢
- Cup of regular coffee: 90¢
- Bottle of local beer in a bar: Primus, 72¢
- Moderate, three-star hotel room for two: $54.50
- Moderate, three-course dinner for one, without alcohol or tip: $6.34
- $1=551.46 Rwanda Francs
Noumea, New Caledonia (Source: New Caledonia Tourism; www.visitnewcaledonia.com)
- Movie ticket: $8.52
- Bus fare: $1.59
- Cup of regular coffee: $1.73
- Bottle of local beer in a supermarket: Number One, $1.09
- Moderate, three-star hotel room for two: 10,000 XPF $106.56
- Moderate, three-course dinner for one, without alcohol or tip: $35.16-$42.61
- $1=93.81 French Pacific Francs
Pittsburgh, PA (Source: Greater Pittsburgh Convention and Visitors Bureau; www.visitpittsburgh.com)
- Movie ticket: $7-$8
- Bus/subway fare: $1.25
- Cup of regular coffee: $2
- Bottle of local beer in a bar: Iron City, $3
- Moderate, three-star hotel room for two: $139-$169
- Moderate, three-course dinner for one, without alcohol or tip: $30
Riga, Latvia (Source: Riga Tourism; www.rigatourism.com)
- Movie ticket: $3.61-$7.27
- Bus/tram fare: 36¢
- Cup of regular coffee: $1.80
- Pint of local beer in a bar: Piebalgas, $1.80-$3.61
- Moderate, three-star hotel room for two: $90.48
- Moderate, three-course dinner for one, without alcohol or tip: $9.04-$10.85
- $1= .55 Latvia Lati
Victoria, British Columbia (Source: Tourism Victoria; www.tourismvictoria.com)
- Movie ticket: $8.79
- Bus fare: $1.76
- Cup of regular coffee: $1.65
- Pint of local beer in a bar: Piper's Pale Ale, Vancouver Island Brewery, $3.75
- Moderate, three-star hotel room for two: $140.99
- Moderate, three-course dinner for one, without alcohol or tip: $29.17
- $1US=$1.13 CAD
Willemstad, Curaçao (Source: Curaçao Tourism Corporation; www.curacao.com)
- Movie ticket: $7.58
- Bus fare: 87¢
- Cup of regular coffee: $3.68
- Bottle of local beer in a bar: Polar, $1.54
- Moderate, three-star hotel room for two: $44.94-$84.26
- Moderate, three-course dinner for one, without alcohol or tip: $25.84
- $1=356.01 Netherlands Antilles Guilders
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