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.
Anchorage, Alaska (Source: Anchorage Convention and Visitors Bureau; www.anchorage.net)
- Movie ticket: $9.25
- Bus fare: $1.75
- Cup of regular coffee: $1.50
- Pint of local beer in a bar: Glacier Brewhouse, $4.50-$4.95
- Moderate, three-star hotel room for two: $79-$179
- Moderate, three-course dinner for one, without alcohol or tip: $24.95
Brussels, Belgium (Source: Belgian Tourist Office; www.visitbelgium.com)
- Movie ticket: $9.37
- Bus/subway fare: $1.17
- Cup of regular coffee: $2.34
- Bottle of local beer in a bar: Stella Artois, $1.17
- Moderate, three-star hotel room for two: $117-$204
- Moderate, three-course dinner for one, without alcohol or tip: $29.26-$46.82
- $1=.85 €
Bucharest, Romania (Source: Romania Tourist Office; www.romaniatourism.com)
- Movie ticket: $3.21
- Bus/subway fare: 32¢-38¢
- Cup of regular coffee: 64¢-83¢
- Bottle of local beer in a bar: Ursus, 64¢-94¢
- Moderate, three-star hotel room for two: $64.31-$106.10
- Moderate, three-course meal for one, without alcohol or tip: $6.43-$12.21
- $1= $3.10 Romania New Lei
Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island (Source: Tourism Prince Edward Island; www.gov.pe.ca)
- Movie ticket: $6.83
- Bus fare: $1.70
- Cup of regular coffee: $1.11
- Bottle of local beer in a bar: Keith's, $3.20
- Moderate, three-star hotel room for two: $102
- Moderate, three-course dinner for one, without alcohol or tip: $26-$29
- $1=$1.17 CAD
Detroit, Michigan (Source: Detroit Metro Convention & Visitors Bureau; www.visitdetroit.com)
- Movie ticket: $8
- Bus/subway fare: 50¢-$1.50
- Cup of regular coffee: $1.40
- Pint of local beer in a bar: Detroit Red, $3.75
- Moderate, three-star hotel room for two: $80
- Moderate, three-course dinner for one, without alcohol or tip: $29.85
Hobart, Tasmania (Source: Tourism Tasmania; www.discovertasmania.com.au)
- Movie ticket: $9.63
- Bus fare: $1.18-$2.74
- Cup of regular coffee: $1.85-$2.22
- Bottle of local beer in a bar: Cascade Premium, $4.45
- Moderate, three-star hotel room for two: $92.60
- Moderate, three-course dinner for one, without alcohol or tip: $29.63-$37.04
- $1=$1.34 AU
Jerusalem, Israel (Source: Israel Ministry of Tourism; www.goisrael.com)
- Movie ticket: $7.49
- Bus fare: $1.11
- Cup of regular coffee: $3.21
- Bottle of local beer in a bar: Goldstar, $3.85
- Moderate, three-star hotel room for two: $100
- Moderate, three-course dinner for one, without alcohol or tip: $16.06
- $1=4.67 New Israeli Shekel
Nairobi, Kenya (Source: Kenya Tourist Board; www.magicalkenya.com)
- Movie ticket: 4.07
- Bus/subway fare: 54¢
- Cup of regular coffee: $1.08
- Bottle of local beer in a bar: Tusker, $1.35
- Moderate, three-star hotel room for two: $90.64
- Moderate, three-course dinner for one, without alcohol or tip: $16.28
- $1=73.69 Kenya Shillings
Osaka, Japan (Source: Japan National Tourism Organization; www.jnto.com)
- Movie ticket: $14.94
- Bus/subway fare: $1.66
- Cup of regular coffee: $1.49
- Pint of local beer in a bar: Sapporo, $4.97-$6.63
- Moderate, three-star hotel room for two: $141.10-$365.08
- Moderate, three-course dinner for one, without alcohol or tip: $12.44-$24.39
- $1=120.47 Japan Yen
Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic (Source: Dominican Republic Ministry of Tourism; www.dr1.com)
- Movie ticket: $4.99
- Bus fare: 50¢
- Cup of regular coffee: 90¢
- Bottle of local beer in a bar: Presidente, $1.50
- Moderate, three-star hotel room for two: $99.84
- Moderate, three-course dinner for one, without alcohol or tip: $24.06
- $1=33.25 Dominican Republic Pesos
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