Ranked: the cheapest destinations for a long-haul holiday

Travel 6 Minutes

Slide 1 of 31: The Post Office has released its annual Long Haul Holiday Report, revealing the cheapest destinations to take a long-haul trip. Based on the prices of 10 tourist items, including meals, drinks and sun cream, the report revealed the best places to grab a bargain overseas after examining 30 of the most popular destinations. Counting down to the cheapest, which might just surprise you, here's how some of the top long-haul destinations fared.

Cheapest long-haul holiday hotspots

The Post Office has released its annual Long Haul Holiday Report, revealing the cheapest destinations to take a long-haul trip. Based on the prices of 10 tourist items, including meals, drinks and sun cream, the report revealed the best places to grab a bargain overseas after examining 30 of the most popular destinations. Counting down to the cheapest, which might just surprise you, here’s how some of the top long-haul destinations fared.
Slide 2 of 31: A 45% rise in the prices of holiday essentials in Rio has made Brazil’s best-known city this year’s highest-priced destination on the list – it's more than three times as expensive as the cheapest destination in the report.
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30. Rio de Janeiro, Brazil – total costs of essentials: £160

A 45% rise in the prices of holiday essentials in Rio has made Brazil’s best-known city this year’s highest-priced destination on the list – it’s more than three times as expensive as the cheapest destination in the report.
Slide 3 of 31: Dubbed one of the flashiest countries in the world, Dubai isn’t known as a cheap break. However, prices are down 21% this year, meaning the Emirate is no longer the most expensive destination in the survey. It is, however, one of the most expensive places to eat, with the average three-course evening meal for two costing £109.63.
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29. Jumeirah Beach, Dubai: £157.75

Dubbed one of the flashiest countries in the world, Dubai isn’t known as a cheap break. However, prices are down 21% this year, meaning the Emirate is no longer the most expensive destination in the survey. It is, however, one of the most expensive places to eat, with the average three-course evening meal for two costing £109.63.

Slide 4 of 31: China Town in Singapore also offers a pricey (if not extremely delicious) food scene at £102.24 for a three-course meal.

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28. China Town, Singapore: £152.34

China Town in Singapore also offers a pricey (if not extremely delicious) food scene at £102.24 for a three-course meal.
Slide 5 of 31: Alongside Dubai, prices of holiday essentials are down 21% in Oman this year, where a cup of coffee will set you back over £3 and a glass of wine over £10.
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27. Muscat, Oman: £141.29

Alongside Dubai, prices of holiday essentials are down 21% in Oman this year, where a cup of coffee will set you back over £3 and a glass of wine over £10.
Slide 6 of 31: The capital of Australia’s Northern Territory, Darwin’s pricey restaurant scene brings up the total cost of a visit to the waterside city significantly, with the average meal for two costing around £97.58.
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26. Darwin, Australia: £138.75

The capital of Australia’s Northern Territory, Darwin’s pricey restaurant scene brings up the total cost of a visit to the waterside city significantly, with the average meal for two costing around £97.58.
Slide 7 of 31: The most expensive Caribbean island to take a holiday, Barbados is certainly more luxury than budget. A meal in the picturesque resort of St James will cost almost three times as much as the cheapest city in the report, while staples such as sun cream (£11.75) and bottled water (£1.87) are among the most expensive on the list.
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25. St James, Barbados: £134.13

The most expensive Caribbean island to take a holiday, Barbados is certainly more luxury than budget. A meal in the picturesque resort of St James will cost almost three times as much as the cheapest city in the report, while staples such as sun cream (£11.75) and bottled water (£1.87) are among the most expensive on the list.
Slide 8 of 31: Home to a plethora of super yachts and fancy bars, Auckland isn’t the place to go for a cheap trip. A meal for two will cost you around £90 and a single cocktail averages around £8.66.
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24. Auckland, New Zealand: £132.36

Home to a plethora of super yachts and fancy bars, Auckland isn’t the place to go for a cheap trip. A meal for two will cost you around £90 and a single cocktail averages around £8.66.
Slide 9 of 31: Essential holiday items have now risen by 27% in Santiago, Chile (£126.10), where a bottle of sun cream will cost as much as £12.58, and insect repellent a staggering £18.53.

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23. Santiago, Chile: £126.10

Essential holiday items have now risen by 27% in Santiago, Chile (£126.10), where a bottle of sun cream will cost as much as £12.58, and insect repellent a staggering £18.53.
Slide 10 of 31: Located on the southeastern side of the island, Scarborough is one of the most picturesque areas of Tobago. It doesn’t come with the cheap prices often found in other Caribbean islands, but you can pick up a bottle of beer for £1.62 – bargain.

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22. Scarborough, Tobago: £124.80

Located on the southeastern side of the island, Scarborough is one of the most picturesque areas of Tobago. It doesn’t come with the cheap prices often found in other Caribbean islands, but you can pick up a bottle of beer for £1.62 – bargain.
Slide 11 of 31: The biggest price rise this year was Lima, which was 8th in last year’s survey, which is now 54% more expensive. At £120.62 for all essential items on the list, this sent Peru’s capital tumbling to 21st place.

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21. Lima, Peru: £120.62

The biggest price rise this year was Lima, which was 8th in last year’s survey, which is now 54% more expensive. At £120.62 for all essential items on the list, this sent Peru’s capital tumbling to 21st place.
Slide 12 of 31: In 2014, China became the world’s biggest economy, meaning it’s no longer the budget destination it used to be. Prices for tourist staples average at £120 in the capital.

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20. Beijing, China: £120.18

In 2014, China became the world’s biggest economy, meaning it’s no longer the budget destination it used to be. Prices for tourist staples average at £120 in the capital.
Slide 13 of 31: The biggest fall in prices on this list has been in Antigua (Jolly Beach), where the cost of being a tourist has plummeted 27% to £114.72, taking the island from 32nd to 19th place.

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19. Jolly Beach, Antigua: £114.72

The biggest fall in prices on this list has been in Antigua (Jolly Beach), where the cost of being a tourist has plummeted 27% to £114.72, taking the island from 32nd to 19th place.
Slide 14 of 31: The exotic island of Mauritius isn’t known for being a cheap holiday destination, but eating and drinking when you’re there won’t break the bank – the main expenditures aside from fights and accommodation will cost around £114.31.

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18. Grand Baie, Mauritius: £114.31

The exotic island of Mauritius isn’t known for being a cheap holiday destination, but eating and drinking when you’re there won’t break the bank – the main expenditures aside from fights and accommodation will cost around £114.31.
Slide 15 of 31: The bustling city of Vancouver isn’t the cheapest city to visit, but the prices of holiday essentials are all fairly average. The cost of a three-course meal for two is likely to hover around £81, while the average bottle of sun cream will you set you back 50% less than in Mauritius.

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17. Vancouver, Canada: £113.34

The bustling city of Vancouver isn’t the cheapest city to visit, but the prices of holiday essentials are all fairly average. The cost of a three-course meal for two is likely to hover around £81, while the average bottle of sun cream will you set you back 50% less than in Mauritius.
Slide 16 of 31: One of the most popular long-haul city breaks for tourists, New York isn’t known for being a cheap destination, however it’s this far down for a reason. In the Big Apple, you can dine on a three-course meal with wine for £71 for two, and grab a cup of coffee for £1.33.

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16. New York City, USA: £113.23

One of the most popular long-haul city breaks for tourists, New York isn’t known for being a cheap destination, however it’s this far down for a reason. In the Big Apple, you can dine on a three-course meal with wine for £71 for two, and grab a cup of coffee for £1.33.

Slide 17 of 31: Eating out in Seoul is expensive, but everything else comes pretty cheap. The cost of a meal for two in the metropolitan capital will cost around £81.02, but a bottle of lager is just £2.95.
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15. Seoul, South Korea: £108.43

Eating out in Seoul is expensive, but everything else comes pretty cheap. The cost of a meal for two in the metropolitan capital will cost around £81.02, but a bottle of lager is just £2.95.
Slide 18 of 31: Prices in Montego Bay, Jamaica, have dropped 24% to £107.50 and the island has now climbed 15 places to 14th in the table.

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14. Montego Bay, Jamaica: £107.50

Prices in Montego Bay, Jamaica, have dropped 24% to £107.50 and the island has now climbed 15 places to 14th in the table.
Slide 19 of 31: The biggest year-on-year falls have been in three of the leading Caribbean islands, which had been looking expensive in past Post Office surveys. A 25% fall to £105.36 in St Lucia (Rodney Bay) has helped the island move up to 13th place from 28th last year.
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13. Rodney Bay, Saint Lucia: £105.36

The biggest year-on-year falls have been in three of the leading Caribbean islands, which had been looking expensive in past Post Office surveys. A 25% fall to £105.36 in St Lucia (Rodney Bay) has helped the island move up to 13th place from 28th last year.
Slide 20 of 31: Cancún, Mexico has dropped to 12th in the table from 6th in 2016 after prices rose 30%. Dining out in the popular holiday hotspot will set you back £69.83.
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12. Cancún, Mexico: £96.84

Cancún, Mexico has dropped to 12th in the table from 6th in 2016 after prices rose 30%. Dining out in the popular holiday hotspot will set you back £69.83.
Slide 21 of 31: Phuket, Thailand fell from 7th to 11th place on the back of a 17% rise to £88.84, making Thailand’s top resort over 15% more expensive than rival backpacking destination Hoi An in Vietnam.

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11. Phuket, Thailand: £88.84

Phuket, Thailand fell from 7th to 11th place on the back of a 17% rise to £88.84, making Thailand’s top resort over 15% more expensive than rival backpacking destination Hoi An in Vietnam.
Slide 22 of 31: Another of the Caribbean islands to have seen a price drop over the past year is the Dominican Republic. In Punta Cana, the easternmost tip of the island, essentials average at around £85.34 in total.

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10. Punta Cana, Dominican Republic: £85.34

Another of the Caribbean islands to have seen a price drop over the past year is the Dominican Republic. In Punta Cana, the easternmost tip of the island, essentials average at around £85.34 in total.
Slide 23 of 31: Prices have fallen by 7% in Penang, Malaysia, down to £81.77. An evening meal costs just £46.38.
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9. Penang, Malaysia: £81.77

Prices have fallen by 7% in Penang, Malaysia, down to £81.77. An evening meal costs just £46.38.
Slide 24 of 31: Orlando has managed to retain its place in the top 10 cheapest destinations, primarily due to cheap food and drinks. Dinner for two averages at around £49 – over half the price of dining out in Rio.

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8. Orlando, USA: £80.60

Orlando has managed to retain its place in the top 10 cheapest destinations, primarily due to cheap food and drinks. Dinner for two averages at around £49 – over half the price of dining out in Rio.
Slide 25 of 31: A new entrant to the list, Costa Rica, was named alongside Japan and Vietnam as a hot holiday choice for 2017, and visitors attracted by the direct flights now available to the country will find prices down 8% in Tamarindo. This has taken Costa Rica from 12th to 7th place.

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7. Tamarindo, Costa Rica: £79.94

A new entrant to the list, Costa Rica, was named alongside Japan and Vietnam as a hot holiday choice for 2017, and visitors attracted by the direct flights now available to the country will find prices down 8% in Tamarindo. This has taken Costa Rica from 12th to 7th place.
Slide 26 of 31: Known for its volcanic mountains and beaches, Bali is a popular long-haul holiday destination for many, and it’s easy to see why. It’ll set you back just £76.95 for some of the main expenditures.
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6. Bali, Indonesia: £76.95

Known for its volcanic mountains and beaches, Bali is a popular long-haul holiday destination for many, and it’s easy to see why. It’ll set you back just £76.95 for some of the main expenditures.
Slide 27 of 31: The ancient town of Hoi An is similarly as cheap – a bottle of water will set you back just 56p and a three-course evening meal for two £50.84.
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5. Hoi An, Vietnam: £76.74

The ancient town of Hoi An is similarly as cheap – a bottle of water will set you back just 56p and a three-course evening meal for two £50.84.
Slide 28 of 31: Princes in Colombo, Sri Lanka are up by 7% this year, but it still remains the fourth cheapest long-haul destination to visit, thanks to low dining costs.
28/31 SLIDES © Stefano Ember/Sri Lanka

4. Colombo, Sri Lanka: £75.83

Princes in Colombo, Sri Lanka are up by 7% this year, but it still remains the fourth cheapest long-haul destination to visit, thanks to low dining costs.
Slide 29 of 31: One of the cheapest places in the world for food and drink, it’ll cost just £1.37 for a cup of coffee in Mombasa and £45.78 for an evening meal for two.

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3. Mombasa, Kenya: £68.59

One of the cheapest places in the world for food and drink, it’ll cost just £1.37 for a cup of coffee in Mombasa and £45.78 for an evening meal for two.
Slide 30 of 31: Cape Town isn’t necessarily the cheapest city to visit for accommodation (a double room here will set you back around £310 for two nights), but the money you'll save on eating out will make up for it. The average three-course meal for two costs just £40.12, and it’s worth going for the food alone.
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2. Cape Town, South Africa: £64.50

Cape Town isn’t necessarily the cheapest city to visit for accommodation (a double room here will set you back around £310 for two nights), but the money you’ll save on eating out will make up for it. The average three-course meal for two costs just £40.12, and it’s worth going for the food alone.
Slide 31 of 31: Japan has a reputation for being a little more expensive than your average long-haul destination, mainly due to a dearth of affordable hotels, but the capital is growing increasingly affordable for UK travellers. In fact, the food in Tokyo was found to be the cheapest across all cities. A three-course evening meal will set you back an average £35 for two people. This means that the price of three meals in Japan will cost around the same as just one meal in Singapore.
31/31 SLIDES © Sean K/Shutterstock

1. Tokyo, Japan: £48.90

Japan has a reputation for being a little more expensive than your average long-haul destination, mainly due to a dearth of affordable hotels, but the capital is growing increasingly affordable for UK travellers. In fact, the food in Tokyo was found to be the cheapest across all cities. A three-course evening meal will set you back an average £35 for two people. This means that the price of three meals in Japan will cost around the same as just one meal in Singapore.

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