Luxury on a budget
If you are looking for affordable luxury holidays, you may be surprised to see that not all destinations cost quite so much when it comes to enjoying the lux lifestyle.
Here’s a look at where will cost you the least when it comes to affordable luxury travel in some of the world’s most popular cities.
If you want to add some luxury to your next break, but need to save up first, you may want to compare personal loans.
Most affordable luxury travel destinations
1. Bangkok, Thailand
The city which has the most affordable luxury travel is Thailand’s capital, Bangkok. Bangkok was the cheapest city for luxury car hire, as well as amongst the cheapest for the other three factors!
2. Brussels, Belgium
In second place for luxury on a budget is Brussels, Belgium. Brussels was affordable across the board, particularly when it comes to the cost of a five-star hotel (£291) and luxury car hire (£121).
Brussels is the most affordable European destination among these cities and is known for its chocolate, beer, and museums.
3. Verona, Italy
We found that Verona, Italy is the third cheapest-destination for taking a luxury holiday.
Verona has the second cheapest luxury holidays, with an average cost for booking a spa hotel, at just £164 a night. The city is perhaps best known as the setting of Shakespeare’s “Romeo and Juliet”, as well as its mediaeval old town and the huge Verona Arena.
| Rank | City | Michelin star meal | Five-star hotel (one night) | Luxury car hire (per day) | Spa hotel (one night) | Budget score /10 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Bangkok, Thailand | £121 | £238 | £48 | £195 | 9.49 |
| 2 | Brussels, Belgium | £126 | £291 | £121 | £221 | 8.8 |
| 3 | Verona, Italy | £145 | £365 | £144 | £164 | 7.68 |
| 4 | Osaka, Japan | £167 | £242 | £143 | £143 | 7.59 |
| 5 | Berlin, Germany | £154 | £402 | £130 | £270 | 7.42 |
| 6 | Frankfurt, Germany | £143 | 575 | £124 | £253 | 7.33 |
| 7 | Rio de Janeiro, Brazil | 91 | 502 | £64 | £502 | 6.9 |
| 8 | Tokyo, Japan | 174 | 330 | £143 | £259 | 6.73 |
| 9 | Lisbon, Portugal | 139 | 492 | £143 | £406 | 6.47 |
| 10 | Dublin, Republic of Ireland | 102 | 500 | £185 | £264 | 6.04 |
| 11 | Athens, Greece | 83 | 439 | £168 | £434 | 5.95 |
| 11 | Hong Kong, Hong Kong | 187 | 234 | £165 | £207 | 5.95 |
| 13 | Munich, Germany | 185 | 494 | £124 | £347 | 5.78 |
| 14 | Stockholm, Sweden | 253 | 413 | £100 | £392 | 5.6 |
| 15 | Madrid Spain | 160 | 589 | £133 | £385 | 5.52 |
| 16 | Amsterdam, Netherland | 159 | 617 | £144 | £341 | 5.35 |
| 17 | Barcelona, Spain | 164 | 841 | £129 | £382 | 5.09 |
| 18 | Vienna, Austria | 156 | 474 | £209 | £432 | 4.48 |
| 18 | Florence, Italy | 157 | 767 | £168 | £291 | 4.48 |
| 20 | Nice, France | 129 | 627 | £193 | £701 | 3.71 |
| 20 | San Francisco, United States | 201 | 739 | £143 | £545 | 3.71 |
| 22 | Venice, Italy | 158 | 910 | £153 | £724 | 3.19 |
| 22 | Milan, Italy | 180 | 765 | £160 | £459 | 3.19 |
| 24 | Rome, Italy | 174 | 968 | £144 | £679 | 3.02 |
| 25 | Copenhagen, Denmark | 315 | 491 | £187 | £500 | 2.85 |
| 26 | London, United Kingdom | 155 | 780 | £214 | £564 | 2.84 |
| 27 | New York City, United States | 219 | 1,057 | £151 | £1,662 | 1.64 |
| 28 | Los Angeles, United States | 232 | 1,205 | £153 | £900 | 1.47 |
| 29 | Zürich, Switzerland | 174 | 1,013 | £207 | £992 | 1.46 |
| 30 | Paris, France | 229 | 1,395 | £158 | £846 | 1.38 |
The most affordable city for Michelin star dining
Athens, Greece - Average cost: £83
Looking at the average cost of a set menu meal for dinner at each two and three-starred Michelin restaurant, it’s Athens that comes out as the cheapest.
Athens is only home to one two-starred restaurant, however, this establishment, Spondi, charges just €100 (£83) for a two-course meal, giving you a great option if you are looking for an affordable luxury experience.
On top of this, there are a further five one-star restaurants and three awarded the Bib Gourmand award.
The most affordable city for five-star accommodation
Hong Kong, Hong Kong - Average nightly cost: £234
Perhaps something of a surprise, Hong Kong offers the most affordable luxury experience for hotel stays, with the cheapest rate for a nightly five-star hotel at properties listed on Booking.com at £234.
While the cost of living is generally high for those living in Hong Kong, it seems that for luxury travellers, the opposite is true!
The most affordable city for luxury car hire
Bangkok, Thailand - Average daily cost: £48
If you’re going to be hiring a car to get around throughout your visit, why not do it in style?
If you want to upgrade your hire car to a more luxurious model, you’ll usually have to pay a hefty premium. However, that’s not the case in Bangkok, where you are able to experience luxury on a budget with a model such as a Mercedes-Benz, costing you just £48 a day.
The most affordable city for a spa break
Osaka, Japan - Average nightly cost: £143
A spa break is the ultimate luxury activity, allowing you to relax and forget about the worries of life back home.
The most affordable luxury destination when it comes to booking a spa hotel is Osaka, with an average nightly rate of just £143 per hour.
FAQ's
Affordable luxury travel
Enjoying a little holiday luxury can be one of life’s great pleasures but sticking to your budget is the best way to ensure you avoid the holiday blues. Explore more in our guides here:
Luxury Fashion Index
We delve into the world of luxury goods to discover the cost of iconic fashion around the world.
Read More
Last minute holiday checklist
Last minute holidays can be a great way to bag a top deal, but there are still a few things you cannot afford to forget. Here is what you need for a safe last minute trip that won’t break the bank.
Read our last minute holiday checklist
Do you need travel insurance for your trip?
If you fall ill or have an accident while travelling the bills can be huge, so it pays to have cover in place. Here are the basics to help you find the right travel insurance policy.
When to take out travel insurance
The most beautiful five-star hotels around the world
Discover the most beautiful luxury hotels around the world to give you inspiration for your future getaways.
Read More
Highest-rated destinations according to travellers
We all have our own travel bucket lists that we’ve been adding to over the years. Planning and saving up for the But which are the highest-rated destinations according to travellers?
Read More