5 Countries Where Your Dollar Goes Furthest

Almost all Americans want to travel, but the only problem is that for a lot of us, it’s simply too expensive. Some of these cities across the United States are incredibly pricey, though, and there are many countries around the world where the U.S. Dollar just doesn’t go far enough to make the most out of your trip.

However, there are certainly a number of countries in which you can not only have a great vacation abroad but can live more lavishly than you do at home. If you’re searching for destinations to either travel to yourself or take your family on a vacation, check out these five countries where your dollar goes furthest.

Colombia

Back in the early 2010s, Colombia wasn’t the cheapest place for Americans to visit, but times have changed since then and the dollar has been stronger in the past few years than just about any other point in the country’s history. While people might have a negative opinion of what’s available to tourists when visiting Colombia, the country actually has a lot to offer from Medellin to Bogota to Cartagena.

Airfare is not significantly cheaper heading to Colombia compared to some other countries, but everything else costs far less. From hotels and restaurants, $50 per day will get an entire family of four very far in Colombia. You can use the money saved to visit some of the nation’s best sights including the Tayrona National Park, Salt Cathedral, and Castle San Felipe de Barajas. If traveling solo, you can spend less than $1,800 in total and live like royalty.

India

Despite being the second-largest country in the world, India doesn’t have close to a 1:1 conversion rate. Instead, it’s one of the cheapest countries for Americans to visit, costing around $35 with food and lodging. The spending power has only gotten better over time, too.

There are some obvious sites that you’ll want to see when visiting India including the Taj Mahal and the Sri Harmandir Sahib. There are also some lesser-known places for people from the west including the Mysore Palace and Mahabodhi Temple which are must-sees. There’s really no wrong place to go in India, especially if you’re a fan of architecture.

Chile

Like Mexico, Chile uses the peso, but their own version stretches further for Americans than Mexico’s does. $1 in the United States converts to over 800 Chilean pesos, and visiting the country costs an average of $36 to visit. This includes food and lodging, making it a no-brainer.

Some of the best natural beauty in the world can be found in Chile, meaning it will save you even more money when visiting the country. The Torres Del Paine National Park and Valle de la Luna are two must-see places, while Easter Island is one of the most popular tourist sites in the world. For a beautiful blend of both ancient and modern, make your way to Santiago to get a masterclass in structure.

Vietnam

Ever since the end of the Vietnam War, the country has been a friendly place for Americans to visit while also having the dollar stretch further. It has become even more so on both fronts in recent years, with $1 USD able to convert into well over 20,000₫, a currency which was adopted as the official currency in 1978. 

Vietnam is filled with a lot of natural beauty, especially if you’re a fan of islands. Halong Bay is one of the most captivating sites not just in the country, but in the world. Ho Chi Minh City is a city that only gets better with time, while places like the Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park offer up something for cave fans to enjoy.

Croatia

Croatia tends to come and go as one of the countries where the United States Dollar goes a long way, but in recent years, it has been a great place for American to visit for a low cost. Starting in 2014, the dollar had a lot more spending power in Croatia, with an average cost of $60 per day to visit.

Fans of both modern and ancient history will have something to do in Croatia from the Walls of Dubrovnik and Plitvice Lakes to the Pula Arena and Diocletian’s Palace. Zagreb is the busiest city and has the most to do, while others including Rovinj and Sibenik offer up some of the best sites in the country.